OurCallingandGod'sGlory

GeneEdwardVeith

theirfamilies, strugglingtomake "Justificationbyfaithalone"issurelythemostimportant endsmeet,living contributionoftheReformation.Thesecondmostimportant, arguably,isthe"doctrineofvocation." theirmundanelives "areallinastateof Whereasthedoctrineofjustificationhaswidecurrency,the holiness,"according doctrineofvocationhasbeenallbutforgotten.Thewordvocationcanstillbeheard sometimes,buttheconceptisgenerallymisunderstoodorincompletelyunderstood.The toLuther,"livingholy doctrineofvocationisnot"occupationalism,"aparticularfocusuponone'sjob.Theterm livesbeforeGod."

OnlyleteachpersonleadthelifethattheLordhasassignedhim,Christian's andtowhichGodhascalledhim. preoccupiedwith 1Corinthians7:17

means"calling,"butitdoesnothavetodowithGod'svoicesummoningyoutodoagreat workforhim.ItdoesnotmeanservingGodbyevangelizingonthejob.Nordoesthe doctrineofvocationmeanthateveryoneisaminister,thoughitisaboutthepriesthoodofallbelievers.Itdoesnoteven meandoingeverythingforGod'sglory,ordoingourverybestasawaytoglorifyGod,thoughitisaboutGod'sglory,at theexpenseofourown. ThedoctrineofvocationisthetheologyoftheChristianlife.Itsolvesthemuchvexedproblemsoftherelationship betweenfaithandworks,Christandculture,howChristiansaretoliveintheworld.Lesstheoretically,vocationisthekey tostrongmarriagesandsuccessfulparenting.ItcontainstheChristianperspectiveonpoliticsandgovernment.Itshows thevalue,aswellasthelimits,ofthesecularworld.AnditshowsChristiansthemeaningoftheirlives. TheSwedishtheologianEinarBilling,inhisbookOurCalling ,notedhowourtendencyistolookforourreligioninthe realmoftheextraordinary,ratherthanintheordinary.(1)Invocation,however,Godishiddeneveninthemundane activitiesofoureverydaylives.Andthisishisglory.

Luther'sDoctrineofVocation
Tounderstandfullythedoctrineofvocation,oneshouldbeginnotwiththePuritanswhotendedtoturnthedoctrineof vocationintoaworkethicbutwithLutherandwithLutherans,fromthecomposersoftheBookofConcord tomodern theologianssuchasBillingandGustafWingren.Itgoessomethinglikethis:WhenwepraytheLord'sPrayer,weaskGod togiveusthisdayourdailybread.Andhedoes.Thewayhegivesusourdailybreadisthroughthevocationsoffarmers, millers,andbakers.Wemightaddtruckdrivers,factoryworkers,bankers,warehouseattendants,andtheladyatthe checkoutcounter.Virtuallyeverystepofourwholeeconomicsystemcontributestothatpieceoftoastyouhadfor breakfast.AndwhenyouthankedGodforthefoodthatheprovided,youwererighttodoso. Godcouldhavechosentocreatenewhumanbeingstopopulatetheearthoutofthedust,ashedidwiththefirstman. Butinstead,hechosetocreatenewlifewhich,howevercommonplace,isnolessmiraculousbymeansofmothersand fathers,wivesandhusbands,thevocationsofthefamily. Godprotectsusthroughthevocationsofearthlygovernment,asdetailedinRomans13.Hegiveshisgiftsofhealing usuallynotthroughoutandoutmiracles(thoughhecan)butbymeansofthemedicalvocations.Heproclaimshisword bymeansofhumanpastors.Heteachesbymeansofteachers.Hecreatesworksofbeautyandmeaningbymeansof humanartists,whomhehasgivenparticulartalents. Manytreatmentsofthedoctrineofvocationemphasizewhatwedo,oraresupposedtodo,inourvariouscallings.Thisis partofit,asarethevariousaspectsthatIoutlinedabove,butitisessentialingraspingthemagnitudeofthisteachingto understandfirstthesenseinwhichvocationisGod'swork.

Godismilkingthecowsthroughthevocationofthemilkmaid,saidLuther.AccordingtoLuther,vocationisa"maskof God."(2)Heishiddeninvocation.Weseethemilkmaid,orthefarmer,orthedoctororpastororartist.But,looming behindthishumanmask,Godisgenuinelypresentandactiveinwhattheydoforus. ThesenseofGodactinginvocationischaracteristicallyLutheraninthewayitemphasizesthatGodworksthrough physicalmeans.LutherandhisfollowersstresshowGodhaschosentobestowhisspiritualgiftsbymeansofhisWord (inkonpaperthesoundwavesemanatingfromapulpit)andSacrament(waterbreadandwine).Andhebestowshis earthlygiftsbymeansofhumanvocations. Morebroadly,intermsReformedfolkcanrelateto,vocationispartofGod'sprovidence.Godisintimatelyinvolvedinthe governanceofhiscreationinitseverydetail,andhisactivityinhumanlaborisamanifestationofhowheexerciseshis providentialcare. ForaChristian,consciousofvocationasthemaskofGod,alloflife,eventhemostmundanefacetsofourexistence, becomeoccasionstoglorifyGod.Wheneversomeonedoessomethingforyoubringsyourmealatarestaurant,cleansup afteryou,buildsyourhouse,preachesasermonbegratefulforthehumanbeingswhomGodisusingtoblessyouand praisehimforhisunmeritedgifts.Doyousavoryourfood?GlorifyGodforthehandsthatpreparedit.Areyoumovedby aworkofartapieceofmusic,anovel,amovie?GlorifyGodwhohasgivensuchartisticgiftstohumanbeings. Ofcourse,thatvocationisamaskofGodmeansthatGodalsoworksthroughyou,inyourvariouscallings.ThatGodis hiddeninwhatwedoisoftenobscuredbyourownsinfulandselfishmotivations.ButthatdoesnotpreventGodfrom acting.

FaithandWorks
WasthefarmerwhogrewthegrainthatwentintothatpieceoftoastIhadthismorningaChristian?Howabouttheartist whosemoviemadesuchapowerfulimpression?IhappentoknowthatheisnotaChristian.HowcanIglorifyGodfor theworkorfarmingofanunbeliever?Thedoctrineofvocationanswersthatquestion.Inhisgovernanceoftheworld, Godusesthosewhodonotknowhim,aswellasthosewhodo.EverygoodandperfectgiftcomesfromGod(James 1:17).Buthumanbeingssinintheirvocationsandsinagainsttheirvocations,resistingandfightingagainstGod's purpose. Onthesurface,theredoesnotseemtobeagreatdealofdifferencebetweenaChristianfarmertillinghisfieldandanon Christianfarmerwhodoesessentiallythesamething.Godcanusebothtobringforthdailybread,whichhe,inturn, distributestoChristianandnonChristianalike.Butthereisahugedifference.TheChristianfarmerworksoutoffaith, whilethenonChristianfarmerworksoutofunbelief. LutheractuallyusestwodifferentwordsforwhatIhavesofarbeencollapsingunderthegeneraltermvocation:"station" ( Stand )and"calling"( Beruf).NonChristiansaregivenastationinlife,aplacewhereGodhasassignedthem.Christians, though,aretheoneswhohearGod'svoiceinhisWord,sotheyunderstandtheirstationintermsofGod'spersonal "calling." God'sWordcallspeopletofaith.ThisistheChristian'sprimaryvocation,beingachildofGod.ButGodhasalsostationed thatChristiantolivealifeintheworld.TheChristian,infaith,nowunderstandshislifeandwhatGodgiveshimtodoas acallingfromtheLord.AscontemporarytheologianJohnPlessexplainsit, LutherunderstoodthattheChristianisgenuinelybivocational.HeiscalledfirstthroughtheGospeltofaith inJesusChristandheiscalledtooccupyaparticularstationorplaceinlife.Thesecondsenseofthis callingembracesallthattheChristiandoesinservicetotheneighbornotonlyinaparticularoccupation butalsoasamemberofthechurch,acitizen,aspouse,parent,orchild,andworker.HeretheChristian livesinlovetowardotherhumanbeingsandistheinstrumentbywhichGoddoesHisworkintheworld. (3) "Weconclude,therefore,thataChristianlivesnotinhimself,butinChristandtheneighbor,"saidLuther."Helivesin Christthroughfaith,andinhisneighborthroughlove."(4) TheChristian'srelationshiptoGod,forLuther,hasnothingtodowithourgoodworks,buteverythingtodowiththe workofChristforourbehalf.ButGod,havingjustifiedusfreelythroughtheCrossofJesusChrist,callsusbackintothe world,changed,toloveandserveourneighbors. Luther'smonasticopponentsarguedthatwearesavedbyourgoodworks,bywhichtheymeantrejectingtheworld, performingspiritualexercises,andbytheirvowsofcelibacy,poverty,andobediencehavingnothingtodowith"secular" vocations.ButLutherdeniedthatsuchprivate,isolatedpietyintendedtoserveGodhadanythingtodowithgoodworks. Hewouldask,Whoareyouhelping?GoodworksarenottobedoneforGod.Rather,theymustbedoneforone's

neighbor.Goddoesnotneedourgoodworks,saidWingrensummarizingLuther,butourneighbordoes. IfyoufindyourselfinaworkbywhichyouaccomplishsomethinggoodforGod,ortheholy,oryourself, butnotforyourneighboralone,thenyoushouldknowthatthatworkisnotagoodwork.Foreachone oughttolive,speak,act,hear,suffer,anddieinloveandserviceforanother,evenforone'senemies,a husbandforhiswifeandchildren,awifeforherhusband,childrenfortheirparents,servantsfortheir masters,mastersfortheirservants,rulersfortheirsubjectsandsubjectsfortheirrulers,sothatone'shand, mouth,eye,foot,heartanddesireisforotherstheseareChristianworks,goodinnature.(5) WesometimestalkaboutservingGodinourvocations.Luthermighttakeissuewiththisformulation,ifbyitweimagine thatweareperforminggreatdeedstoimpresstheLordandifweneglectourfamiliesormistreatourcolleaguesindoing so.ButJesushimselftellsusthatwhatwedoordonotdoforourneighborinneed,wedo(ordonotdo)tohim(Matt. 25:3146).Sowhenweserveourneighbor,wedoserveGod,thoughneitherthesheepnorthegoatsrealizedwhom theywerereallydealingwith.Godishiddeninvocation.Christishiddeninourneighbors.

TheFourEstates
AsChristianslivetheirordinarylives,Godassignsthemcertainneighborstoloveandcallsthemtomultiplerealmsof service.TheseconstitutetheChristian'svocationsintheworld. Vocationsaremultiple.LutherspokeofGod'scallingsintermsofthreeinstitutionsthatGodhasestablished,alongwitha fourthrealmofhumanactivity.Thedoctrineofvocationandthedoctrineofthefourestatesarethemesthatrun throughoutLuther'swritings.AparticularlysuccincttreatmentcanbefoundinLuther'sConfessionof1528.After criticizingmonasticism,bywhichsomethinktheycanmeritsalvation,Luthercontraststhesehumanlydevisedorderswith theordersdevisedbyGodhimself:"ButthetrueholyordersandpiousfoundationsestablishedbyGod,"Lutherwrites, "arethesethree:thepriestlyoffice,thefamilyandthecivilgovernment."(6) AllthosewhoareengagedinthepastoralofficeortheministryoftheWord,areinagood,honest,holy orderandstation,thatiswellpleasingtoGod,astheypreach,administertheSacraments,presideoverthe poorfundsanddirectthesextonsandotherservantswhoassistinsuchlabors,etc.Theseareallholy worksinGod'ssight. ThisLutherwouldtermtheestateofthechurch. Likewise,thosewhoarefathersormothers,whoruletheirhouseholdswellandwhobegetchildrenforthe serviceofGodarealsoinatrulyholyestate,doingaholywork,andmembersofaholyorder.Inthesame waywhenchildrenorservantsareobedienttotheirparentsormasters,thisalsoistrueholinessandthose livinginsuchestatearetruesaintsonearth. ThisforLutheristheestateofthehousehold.Thisincludesaboveallthefamily,whichitselfcontainsmultiplecallings: marriage,parenthood,childhood.Thisestatealsoinvolvesthelaborbywhichhouseholdsmaketheirlivings.Lutherhad inmindwhatisexpressedintheGreekwordoikonomia,referringto"themanagementandtheregulationoftheresources ofthehousehold,"(7)thetermfromwhichwederiveourwordeconomy.Thus,theestateofthehouseholdincludes boththefamilyvocationsandthevocationsoftheworkplace. Lutherconflateshumanlaboralsowiththethirdestate,thestate,whichincludes,moregenerally,thesocietyandculture: Similarlyprincesandoverlords,judges,officialsandchancellors,clerks,menservantsandmaids,andall otherretainers,aswellasallwhorendertheservicethatistheirdue,areallinastateofholinessandare livingholylivesbeforeGod,becausethesethreeestatesorordersareallincludedinGod'sWordand commandment.WhateverisincludedinGod'sordermustbeholy,forGod'sWordisholyandhallowsallit touchesandallitincludes. MedievalCatholicismexaltedreligiousandmonasticordersasthewayofspiritualperfection.Indoingso,therequired clericalvowssuchascelibacyandpovertyineffectdenigratedthesocalledsecularlifestylesofmarriage,parenthood,and economicactivity.Luther,though,boldlyreversesthatparadigm.Fathers,mothers,andchildrenservants,maids,clerks, andrulersthesearethetrueholyorders. Christianspreoccupiedwiththeirfamilies,strugglingtomakeendsmeet,livingtheirmundanelives"areallinastateof holiness,"accordingtoLuther,"livingholylivesbeforeGod." AndthenLuthergoesbeyondthespecificrolesGodhasgivenustoplayinthisworldtoanoverarchingestate: AbovethesethreeestatesandordersisthecommonorderofChristianlove,bywhichweministernotonly tothoseofthesethreeordersbutingeneraltoeveryonewhoisinneed,aswhenwefeedthehungryand

givedrinktothethirsty,etc.,forgiveenemies,prayforallmenonearth,sufferallkindsofevilinour earthlylife,etc. HereisanotherofLuther'sgreatphrases:"thecommonorderofChristianlove."ThisistherealmoftheGoodSamaritan. Peopleofallthreeorderscometogetherhere,ministeringtoeachotherand"toeveryonewhoisinneed."

ThePriesthoodofAllBelievers
ThedoctrineofvocationisanintegralpartoftheReformationteachingofthepriesthoodofallbelievers.Thisdoesnot mean,atleastforLuther,thatthepastoralofficeisnolongernecessary.Rather,beingapastorisadistinctvocation.God callscertainindividualsintothepastoralministry,andheworksthroughthemtogivehisWordandSacramentstohis flock. Thepriesthoodofallbelieversmeans,amongotherthings,thatonedoesnothavetobeapastorortodopastoral functionsinordertobeapriest. JohnPlessshowshowthemedievalRomanCatholicview,whichconsideredcallingstothereligiousorderstobetheonly holyvocationfromGod,isreplicatedinAmericanevangelicalism: MedievalRomanCatholicismpresupposedadichotomybetweenlifeinthereligiousordersandlifein ordinarycallings.Itwasassumedthatthemonasticlifeguidedbytheevangelicalcounsels(i.e.,the SermonontheMount)providedamorecertainpathtosalvationthansecularliferegulatedbythedecalog. AmericanEvangelicalismhasspawnedwhatmaybereferredtoas"neomonasticism."Likeitsmedieval counterpart,neomonasticismgivestheimpressionthatreligiousworkismoreGodpleasingthanother tasksanddutiesassociatedwithlifeintheworld.Accordingtothismindset,thebelieverwhomakesan evangelismcall,servesonacongregationalcommittee,orreadsalessoninthechurchserviceisperforming morespirituallysignificantworkthantheChristianmotherwhotendstoherchildrenortheChristianwho workswithintegrityinafactory.Forthebeliever,allworkisholybecauseheorsheisholyandrighteous throughfaithinChrist. Similartoneomonasticismistheneoclericalismthatlurksbehindtheslogan,"Everyoneaminister."This phraseimpliesthatworkisworthwhileonlyinsofarasitresemblestheworkdonebypastors.Layreaders arecalled"AssistingMinisters"andthispracticeisadvocatedonthegroundsthatitwillinvolveothersin thechurchasthoughthefaithfulreceptionofChrist'sgiftswasinsufficient.Itisnolongerenoughtothink ofyourdailylifeandworkasyourvocation,nowitmustbecalled"yourministry."(8) EinarBillingmadethepointthatLutherandtheLutheransdisplacedthemonasticspiritualdisciplinesawayfromthe cloisterandintotheworld,tobepracticedinvocation.(9)Celibacy?Besexuallyfaithfulwithinmarriage.Poverty? Struggletomakealivingforyourfamily.Obedience?Dowhatthelawandyouremployertellyoutodo.Almsgiving?Be generoustoyourneighbors.Selfdiscipline?Steelyourselfagainstthetemptationsthatyouwillencounterineverydaylife. Priestsperformsacrifices.Christ'ssacrificeforoursinswasonceandforall.Wenolongerneedtorepeatthatsacrifice, whichistaughttohappenintheMass.ButChrist'sdisciplesarecalledtotakeuptheirowncrossesandtofollowhim.His royalpriesthoodwillsacrificethemselvesintheircallings,astheyloveandservetheirspouses,children,customers, employees,andfellowcitizens."Lutherrelocatedsacrifice,"saysPless."Heremoveditfromthealtarandrepositionedit intheworld."(10) "TheChristianbringshissacrificeasherenderstheobedience,offerstheservice,andprovesthelovewhichhisworkand callingrequireofhim,"writesVilmosVatja."TheworkoftheChristianinhiscallingbecomesafunctionofhispriesthood, hisbodilysacrifice.Hisworkinthecallingisaworkoffaith,theworshipofthekingdomoftheworld."(11) "Youyourselveslikelivingstonesarebeingbuiltupasaspiritualhouse,tobeaholypriesthood,toofferspiritual sacrificesacceptabletoGodthroughJesusChrist"(1Pet.2:5)."Presentyourbodiesasalivingsacrifice,holyand acceptabletoGod,whichisyourspiritualworship"(Rom.12:1).Thesesacrificesare,precisely,"eucharisticsacrifices" thatis,"sacrificesofthanksgiving"inresponsetowhatGodhasdoneforusinJesusChrist.(12) Itmayseemstrangetothinkthatsuchmundaneactivitiesasspendingtimewithyourspouseandchildren,goingtowork, andtakingpartinyourcommunityarepartofyour"holy"calling,andthatthedailygrindcanbea"spiritualsacrifice." Itisnotasstrange,though,aswhatcurrentlytearsmanyChristiansapart:a"spiritual"lifethathaslittletodowiththeir families,theirwork,andtheirculturallife.ManyChristianstreatotherpeoplehorribly,includingtheirspousesand children,whilecultivatingtheirownpersonalpiety.ManywellintentionedChristianslosethemselvesinchurchworkand churchactivities,whileneglectingtheirmarriages,theirchildren,andtheirothercallings.

ButordinarylifeiswhereGodhasplacedus.Thefamily,theworkplace,thelocalchurch,theculture,andthepublic squarearewherehehascalledus.Vocationiswheresanctificationtakesplace. True,wesinbadlyinallofthesevocations.Insteadoflovingandservingourneighbors,wewanttobelovedandtobe served,puttingourselvesfirst.ButeverySunday,wecangotobenourishedbyGod'sWord,wherewefindforgiveness forourvocationalsinsandarebuiltupinourfaith.Thatfaith,inturn,canbearfruitinourdailyvocations. ThedivorcerateamongevangelicalChristians,theirspiritualescapism,andtheirculturalinvisibilityareallsymptomsof thelossofvocation.Conversely,recoveringvocationcantransfigurealloflife,suffusingeveryrelationshipandeverytask putbeforeuswiththegloryofGod.

1[Back]EinarBilling,OurCalling (Philadelphia:Fortress,1964),p.30. 2[Back]ExpositionofPsalm147 ,quotedbyGustafWingren,LutheronVocation(Evansville,Ind.:BallastPress,1994), p.138. 3[Back]JohnT.Pless,"TakingtheDivineServiceintotheWeek:LiturgyandVocation."ConcordiaTheological Seminary.Onlineathttp://www.ctsfw.edu/academics/faculty/pless/DS_Into_Week.html. 4[Back]"FreedomoftheChristian,"inLuther'sWorks,eds.JaroslavPelikanandHelmutT.Lehman(St.Louis: ConcordiaPublishingHouseandPhiladelphia:FortressPress,19551986),31:371. 5[Back]Adventspostille,1522,quotedbyWingren,p.120. 6[Back]QuotationsfromLuther'sConfessionofMarch1528aretakenfromTheAugsburgConfession:ACollectionof Sources,ed.M.Reu,inthepublicdomainandpostedonlineathttp://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/pc.html. 7[Back]"PoliticalEconomy,"CatholicEncyclopedia.Onlineathttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12213b.htm. 8[Back]Pless,"LiturgyandVocation." 9[Back]Billing,OurCalling ,pp.30ff. 10[Back]Pless,"LiturgyandVocation." 11[Back]VilmosVatja,LutheronWorship (Philadelphia:MuhlenbergPress,1958),p.169. 12[Back]ThepointismadeinPless,"LiturgyandVocation." GeneE.VeithisacademicdeanatPatrickHenryCollege(Purcellville,Virginia)andculturaleditorforWorldMagazine. Issue:"UsingGod"Nov./Dec.2007Vol.16No.6Pagenumber(s):2228 Permissions:Youarepermittedandencouragedtoreproduceanddistributethismaterialinanyformatprovidedthat youdonotalterthewordinginanyway,youdonotchargeafeebeyondthecostofreproduction,andyoudonot makemorethan500physicalcopies.Forwebposting,alinktothisdocumentonourwebsiteispreferred.Any exceptionstotheabovemustbeexplicitlyapprovedbyModernReformation.

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