AJ Moyes

Dr. Chase

Senior Seminar

November 15th, 2021

Christian Liberal Arts Education on Vocation

The essence of a liberal arts education especially in a Christian setting can bring us to the

idea of vocation or calling. It can be very messy throwing those two words around without any

validity. I want to introduce Placher’s spin on the topic. He claims, “Central to the many

Christian interpretations of vocation is the idea that there is something -- my vocation or calling

-- God has called me to do with my life, and my life has meaning and purpose at least in part

because I am fulfilling my calling” (Placher, 2005). It is also extremely important to balance this

idea of calling and vocation, which one could be directed through a Christian liberal arts

education through the lens of acquiring skills to become a leader or expertise in that area. A

Christian Liberal arts education will show people how to live righteously, live well, and to fulfill

one’s calling on their life.

Liberal arts through a Christian lens can equip us to learn various skills to position us as

leaders in each of our respective vocations. Yes, vocation could mean an actual “job” in one’s

vocabulary but it is not limited to that sort of language. After all, vocation is just the Latin word

for “calling.” That is for God to determine. Not everyone is called to be a leader in a certain field

or even in their life, however it can be crucial for one to still possess the natural characteristics

and qualities of a leader to bring into whatever field or environment they feel called to. That is

what Christian liberal arts are trying to do. What does this look like? It can be seen in the form of
various communicative skills through problem solving, critical thinking, group think, team work,

and creativity. The education provided would offer a basis of knowledge for which the

understanding should be thought of from “outside the box,” as some would say. It is these human

cognitive and communication skills through practice in which this liberal arts focus is coming

out to thrive. The term “problem solving” may sound plastic to an outside ear but can be very

revealing to a group of people given tasks in which they must work together, develop a plan,

conduct a strategy, and demonstrate various leadership techniques for something larger than

themselves. This foundation of learning is supposed to translate into real world workplace and

life relationships.

Specific classes at Wheaton College did equip myself with these skills. Principles of

Management was a class that stretched our comfort zone through group projects. Learning to

reach out to real companies for interviews, developing a strategy for a project and presentation

for the company, and having us keep accountability of leadership and servantship within the

group are all clear examples of problem solving and critical thinking. This is wrapped neatly in a

bow by incorporating teamwork with other individuals who might have a different approach or

perspective. This very idea is what Christian liberal arts challenges and wants to bring out of its

students. On the other hand, it was hard for this to be demonstrated through some of the STEM

classes here at Wheaton. Mathematics and Geology were two classes that come to mind when

speaking about being hindered through creativity. These classes were lecture based with no

opportunity for real world application. It reminded me of most public high school classes, just

memorizing for homework or a test. Hartnett would add, “I am asking us to turn, then, from the

model of the isolated genius hammering away at some silver-thin riddle in a cloistered office to a

more community-based, team-building, project-centered mode of action (Hartnett, 2010).”

 Classes in which I could actively engage and participate have contributed to my calling

immensely. Learning leadership skills for my next chapter in life will ultimately prove to be

constructive to my sense of vocation, which is what God would want for my life.
 Works Cited

Hartnett, Stephen John. “Communication, Social Justice, and Joyful Commitment.” Western

Journal of Communication, vol. 74, no. 1, 2010, pp. 68–93.

Placher, William Carl. Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom on Vocation. W.B.

Eerdmans Publishing, 2005.