TheDoctrineofVocation

HowGodHidesHimselfinHumanWork
GeneEdwardVeith

Theword"calling,"orinitsLatinateform"vocation,"had Thepurposeofone's longbeenusedinreferencetothesacredministryandthe vocation,whateverit religiousorders.MartinLutherwasthefirsttouse mightbe,isserving "vocation"toreferalsotosecularofficesandoccupations. others.Ithastodo Today,thetermhasbecomecommonplace,another synonymforaprofessionorjob,asin"vocationaltraining." withfulfillingChrist's Butbehindthetermisthenotionthateverylegitimatekind injunctiontolove ofworkorsocialfunctionisadistinct"calling"fromGod, one'sneighbor. requiringuniqueGodgivengifts,skills,andtalents. Moreover,theReformationdoctrineofvocationteaches thatGodhimselfisactiveineverydayhumanlabor,familyresponsibilities,andsocial interactions. Forinstance,totakeoneofLuther'sexamples,weprayintheLord'sPrayerthatGodgive usourdailybread,whichhedoes.Hedoesso,notdirectlyaswhenhegavemannatothe Israelites,butthroughtheworkoffarmersandbakersandwemightaddtruckdriversandretailers.Ineffect,thewhole economicsystemisthemeansbywhichGodgivesusourdailybread.Eachpartoftheeconomicfoodchainisa vocation,throughwhichGodworkstodistributehisgifts.Similarly,Godhealsthesick.Whilehecanandsometimesdoes dosodirectly,inthenormalcourseofthingsheworksthroughdoctors,nurses,andothermedicalexperts.Godprotects usfromevil,withthevocationofthepoliceofficer.Godteachesthroughteachers,orderssocietythroughgovernments, proclaimstheGospelthroughpastors. LutherpointedoutthatGodcouldpopulatetheearthbycreatingeachnewgenerationofbabiesfromthedust.Instead, Heordainedthathumanbeingsshouldcometogethertobringupchildreninfamilies.Theofficesofhusband,wife,and parentarevocationsthroughwhichGodworkstorearandcareforchildren.(1) Inotherwords,inhisearthlykingdom,justasinhisspiritualkingdom,Godbestowshisgiftsthroughmeans.God ordainedthathumanbeingsbeboundtogetherinlove,inrelationshipsandcommunitiesexistinginastateof interdependence.Inthiscontext,Godisprovidentiallyatworkcaringforhispeople,eachofwhomcontributesaccording tohisorherGodgiventalents,gifts,opportunities,andstations.EachtherebybecomeswhatLuthertermsa"maskof God": Allourworkinthefield,inthegarden,inthecity,inthehome,instruggle,ingovernmenttowhatdoesit allamountbeforeGodexceptchild'splay,bymeansofwhichGodispleasedtogivehisgiftsinthefield, athome,andeverywhere?ThesearethemasksofourLordGod,behindwhichhewantstobehiddenand todoallthings.(2) God,whopoursouthisgenerosityonthejustandtheunjust,believerandunbelieveralike,hideshimselfintheordinary socialfunctionsandstationsoflife,eventhemosthumble.TouseanotherofLuther'sexamples,Godhimselfismilking thecowsthroughthevocationofthemilkmaid.(3)

DemonstratingLoveofNeighbor
AllofthevocationsarethuschannelsofGod'slove.GustafWingren,theSwedishtheologianwhoseLutheronVocations isprobablythebestbookonthesubject,summarizesthepoint: InhisvocationmandoesworkswhicheffectthewellbeingofothersforsoGodhasmadealloffices. Throughthisworkinman'soffices,God'screativeworkgoesforward,andthatcreativeworkislove,a profusionofgoodgifts.Withpersonsashis"hands"or"coworkers,"Godgiveshisgiftsthroughtheearthly

vocations,towardman'slifeonearth(foodthroughfarmers,fishermenandhuntersexternalpeace throughprinces,judges,andorderlypowersknowledgeandeducationthroughteachersandparents,etc., etc.).Throughthepreacher'svocation,Godgivestheforgivenessofsins.ThuslovecomesfromGod, flowingdowntohumanbeingsonearththroughallvocations,throughbothspiritualandearthly governments.(4) Thus,Godisgraciouslyatwork,caringforthehumanracethroughtheworkofotherhumanbeings.Behindthecarewe havereceivedfromourparents,theeducationwereceivedfromourteachers,thebenefitswereceivefromourspouse, ouremployers,andourgovernmentstandsGodhimself,bestowinghisblessings. Thepictureisofavast,complexsocietyofhumanbeingswithdifferenttalentsandabilities.Eachservestheothereach isservedbyothers.WeAmericanshaveanidealofselfsufficiencyandoftendreamofbeingabletogrowourownfood, buildourownhomes,andliveindependentlyofotherpeople.Butourproperhumanconditionisdependence.Becauseof thecentralityoflove,wearetodependonotherhumanbeingsand,ultimatelyandthroughthem,onGod.Conversely, otherpeoplearetodependonus.InGod'searthlykingdom,wearetoreceivehisblessingsfromotherpeopleintheir vocations. Thepurposeofone'svocation,whateveritmightbe,isservingothers.IthastodowithfulfillingChrist'sinjunctionto loveone'sneighbor.Thoughjustificationhasnothingtodowithgoodworks,vocationdoesinvolvegoodworks.The Christian'srelationshiptoGodisbasedonsheergraceandforgivenessonGod'sparttheChristian'srelationshiptoother people,however,istobebasedonlove.AsWingrenputsit,"Goddoesnotneedourgoodworks,butourneighbor does."(5) Certainly,humanbeingsstillsininvocation.(6)WeviolateGod'slawandneglectourresponsibilitiestoloveandserve othersselflesslyinourworkandoffices.ThoughweresistGod'sprojectofworkingthroughus,thereissomethingabout vocationitselfthatmakesgoodthingshappendespiteourselves.Thereis,infact,asWingrenshows,agreatconflictand irony,betweenourgenerallyselfishmotivationsandthewaythemaskedGodworksinvocation: HerewecomeacrosswhatforLutheristhedecisivecontrastbetweenGod'sselfgivingloveandman's egocentricity.Thehumanbeingisselfwilled,desiringthatwhateverhappensshallbetohisown advantage.Whenhusbandandwife,inmarriage,serveoneanotherandtheirchildren,thisisnotdueto theheart'sspontaneousandundisturbedexpressionoflove,everydayandhour.Rather,inmarriageasan institutionsomethingcompelsthehusband'sselfishdesirestoyieldandlikewiseinhibitstheegocentricity ofthewife'sheart.Atworkinmarriageisapowerwhichcompelsselfgivingtospouseandchildren.Soit isthe"station"itselfwhichistheethicalagent,foritisGodwhoisactivethroughthelawonearth.(7) Thevocationofmarriageitselfcausesselfishhumanbeingstocareforeachotherandsupporteachothermorethanthey wouldontheirown.Thevocationofparenthoodcausesnormallyselfishadultstosacrificethemselvesforthewellbeing oftheirchildren. Bythesametoken,theownerofacompanymayhavenointerestwhatsoeverinlovinghisneighbororservingothers.His solemotivationmaybegreed.Andyet,becauseofhisvocation,hemanagestogivejobstohisemployeessothatthey cansupporttheirfamilies,hiscompanyprovidesproductsthatotherpeopleneedorenjoy,and,heis,inadvertently,a blessingtohisneighbors.

BeginningWhereWeAre
Howdoweknowourvocation?Strictlyspeaking,avocationisnotsomethingwechooseforourselvesrather,itisgiven byGod,who"calls"ustoaparticularworkorstation.Talents,skills,andinclinationsarepartofone'scalling.Soare externalcircumstances,whichareunderstoodasbeingprovidentiallyarrangedbyGod.Sincevocationisnotselfchosen, itcanbeknown,too,throughtheactionsofothers.Gettingofferedajob,beingelectedtoanoffice,findingsomeone whowantstomarryyouareallcluestovocation. Essentially,one'svocationistobefoundintheplaceoneoccupiesinthepresent.Apersonstuckinadeadendjobmay havehigherambitions,butforthemoment,thatjob,howeverhumble,isone'svocation.Flippinghamburgers,cleaning hotelrooms,emptyingbedpansallhavedignityasvocations,spheresofexpressingloveofneighborthroughselfless service,inwhichGodismasked.Perhapslater,anothervocationwillpresentitself.Butvocationistobefoundnotsimply infuturecareerdecisions,butinthehereandnow.Norcanoneusetheexcuseof"nothavingavocationformarriage" forgettingadivorce,orclaim"nothavingavocationforparenthood"asawaytodumpchildraisingresponsibilities.If youaremarried,that'syourvocation.Ifyouhavechildren,theyareyourvocation. Vocationsarealsomultiple.(8)Anygivenpersonhasmanyvocations.Atypicalmanmightbe,simultaneously,ahusband (servinghiswife),afather(servinghischildren),ason(servinghisstilllivingparents),anemployer(servinghisworkers), anemployee(servinghisbosses),acitizen(servinghiscountry).Notehowapersonataparticularjobcanbebotha

"master,"chargedwithsupervisingsubordinates,and,atthesametime,a"servant,"answerabletosuperiors,whethera CEOorstockholders.Leadershipandsubmissionmaybothbecalledfor,asthedifferentvocationsmaketheirclaims. Differentvocationshavetheirownkindsofauthorityandspheresofaction,andtheyoperateunderdifferentrules.It wouldbethegrossestimmoralityforsomeonetomakeperfectstrangerstakeofftheirclothesandcutthemopenwitha knife.Butthisispermissibleforsomeonewhoiscarryingoutthevocationofbeingadoctor.(9)Havingsexisimmoral outsideofmarriage,butitisagreatgoodwithinthevocationofmarriage. Whensomeoneinjuresus,ourimpulseistotakepersonalrevenge,whichissharplyforbiddenbyScripture.Punishing crimeswhetherthisinvolveshighspeedchases,shootouts,throwingsomeoneinjail,orexecutingthemsimplyisnotour vocation.Thisis,however,thevocationofpoliceofficers,judges,andtherestofthelegalsystem(Rom.12:1913:4). Acorollaryisthatproblemswillarisewhenpeopletrytoactoutsideoftheirvocations.Whenweworkoutsideofour vocationthatis,withoutregardtoourGodgivenabilities,authority,andstationinlifeweusuallybunglethejobor,more seriously,violatethemorallaw.Itispossibleandcommontopursueoccupationsforwhichwehavenoaptitude.Ihave taughtmanystudentswhochoosetheirmajorincollegebasedonwhichjobpaysthemost,regardlessoftheirowngifts. Theyturnthemselvesintoaccountantsormanagersorengineers,thoughtheyenduphatingtheirworkandnotbeing verygoodatwhattheyaretryingtodo.Theirtruevocationmightbemusicorart,buttheyaretryingtobe"practical"as ifvocationwereselfchosenandtheydenytheirtrueGodgivengiftstopursuetalentstheydonotreallyhave.Thereare peopleintheteachingprofessionwhodonotreallyhavegiftsthatenablethemtobegoodteachers.Therearepoliticians whojustarenotcutouttoberulers.Ontheonehand,thepersoninthosestationsdoeshaveacallinganda responsibilitytoserveaspoliticianorteacher,buttheywoulddobettertobuildontheirownspecificgifts. Moreseriousconfusioncomeswhenthosewithonevocationtrespassontheprerogativesofanothervocation.Again, privatecitizenshavenorightto"takethelawintotheirownhands,"nordorulersofthestatehavetherighttotakeover therearingofchildren,whichisthevocationofparents.Lutherwasparticularlyvehementwhenearthlyrulerspresumed totellpastorswhattopreach,expressinghimselfinawaythatshouldputtoresttheaccusationthathewasservileto secularrulers:"Youfool,"hetoldthem,"yousimpleton,looktoyourownvocationdon'tyoutaketopreaching,butlet yourpastordothat."(10) AllChristiansare"called"bytheGospelintofaith.Thepastor's"calling"is,ofcourse,avocationofparticularimportance. Throughthepastor'spreaching,teaching,shepherding,andadministeringofthesacraments,Godhimselfisworking, bringingsinnerstohimselfthroughtheworkofahumanbeing.Laypeopletoohavevocationstheycanbringintothelife ofthechurchplayingtheorgan,administeringproperty,singinginthechoir,helpingwiththevariouscommitteesand programs,andotherwiseusingtheirgiftsinservicetothechurch.Thenotionthat"everyoneisaminister,"however,isa confusionofvocation.(11) TherehavebeentimeswhenIhavehadchurchobligationseverynightoftheweeksometimestotheneglectofmy vocationashusband(Ineedtospendtimewithmywife)andmyvocationasfather(Ineedtospendtimewithmy children).Thosevocationsare"myministry,"moresothanexplicit"churchwork."Tobesure,laypeopleneedtowitness totheirfaithbutwecanbemosteffectiveindoingso,notwhenwedothesamethingsapastordoes,butwhenwe witnessinourvocation.Attheworkplace,weareincontactwithpeoplethepastormayneversee.Inthefamily,wecan witnesstoourspouseandchildren.Asweservepeopleinvocation,wecanhelptobringthemintothechurch.Butto thinkthatthe"churchworkprofessions"constitutetheonlytrueserviceofGodistorepeatthemistakesofthemedieval church,whichexalted"thereligiousorders"butconsideredthesecularordersincludingmarriageandordinaryproductive workashavinglessspiritualvalue. Thus,makingaliving,goingshopping,beingagoodcitizen,andspendingtimewithone'sfamilythatis,the"ordinary routine"areallspheresinwhichGodisatwork,throughhumanmeans.Inatimewhenwedefineourselvesbyourwork andyetquestionitsvalue,whenwecravefamilyvaluesbutareconfusedaboutoursocialroles,thedoctrineofvocation cantransfigureeverydaylife.

1[Back]ExpositionofPsalm147 ,quotedbyGustafWingren,LutheronVocation(Evansville,IN:BallastPress,1994), 138. 2[Back]ExpositionofPsalm147 ,quotedbyWingren,138. 3[Back]CitedbyWingren,9. 4[Back]Ibid.,2728. 5[Back]Ibid.,10. 6[Back]Andtherearesomeoccupationssuchasrobber,drugdealer,hitman,orpornographerthatarenotvocations atall,sincetheyareintrinsicallysinful,beingincompatiblewiththeloveofneighbor,aimingtohurtandcorruptrather thantoserve. 7[Back]Wingren,6.

8[Back]Ibid.,5. 9[Back]Adoctorwhodoessuchthingsoutsideofhisvocation,ontheotherhand,wouldstillbeliableforthecrimes ofsexualassaultormurder. 10[Back]ExpositionofJohn1and2 ,quotedinWingren,114. 11[Back]SeeModernReformation,March/April1997,especiallyMichaelHorton,"WhatAboutBob?,"815,andD.G. Hart,"RecoveringtheKeysoftheKingdominanAgeofEquippedSaints,"1620. GeneE.VeithisacademicdeanatPatrickHenryCollege(Purcellville,Virginia)andculturaleditorforWorldMagazine. Issue:"BytheSweatofOurBrow"May/June1999Vol.8No.3Pagenumber(s):47 Permissions:Youarepermittedandencouragedtoreproduceanddistributethismaterialinanyformatprovidedthat youdonotalterthewordinginanyway,youdonotchargeafeebeyondthecostofreproduction,andyoudonot makemorethan500physicalcopies.Forwebposting,alinktothisdocumentonourwebsiteispreferred.Any exceptionstotheabovemustbeexplicitlyapprovedbyModernReformation.

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