Introduction to Lutheran Theology

Lecture 10

“God Calls You and Everyone Else”

Vocation

Reflection on journal entries from previous

session “God Cares for Us in Two Ways” –

The Two Kingdoms

This Session

Today we examine….

1. The meaning of the concept of ‘vocation’

2. How vocation relates to our work

“Vocation”

• ‘voco’ – latin meaning “I call”

• at Reformation referred to ‘divine’ calling (ecclesiastical - orders)

• Luther expanded to the Christian’s “calling”.

Law and Gospel

• God cares for this world through the Law. Important use.

• God establishes many different “stations” – orders/institutions/offices/hierarchies.

• “God is a great lord and has many kinds of servants” –

–fathers & mothers–servants–lords & subjects–Pastors

• three basic stations–economic – including marriage (pre industrial revolution).–political–ecclesiastical – also including parents

• They are the means by which God creates and preserves humanity.

• They establish order, justice and peace in our world.

Our Vocation

The call to follow Christ leads not to any religious vocation removed from daily life, but instead it transforms the attitude and understanding one has of the situation in which one already is.

The Gospel frees God’s people and motivates us to serve.

Frees us for the good of our neighbours and this world.

We are called back into the world

• all of equal importance

• God calls each person to his/her station in life

• it is more than work – includes parenting/ teaching/ helper / etc.

• one may have various ‘vocations’

• part of vocation is our work

Vocation a channel for love

“Vocation without gospel is only drudgery or condemnation, for then the purpose of the law as love for the neighbour will not be seen. However, love is drudgery only for the old self. The gospel invites us to see our vocation as a concrete way of expressing our faith — not as a limitation on love but as a channel for it.” http://www.elca.org/jle/articles/vocation/article.kolden_marc.html

Radical change

• Luther’s understanding caused radical change

– Monasteries emptied– the education process changed

• Vocation = job can = self-serving life

• Still today Luther’s wider understanding brings an amazing challenge – task becomes huge.

God’s working people

• God created people to work (Gen.1:17&28, 2:15)

• work was created before the Fall and it was good!

• the Fall changed one’s view/approach to work, but not the role (Gen. 3:17 – 19; Eccl 2:18 – 23)

• Along with work, God rested and created rest (Ex 20:9)

Work in the N.T.

• supports the call for work, but not for selfish gain, but as a response to THE call (Matt 6:25-34 Luke 16:13)

• Jesus accepted all legitimate work

• Paul promoted work as service (Acts 20:33 – 35)

• all to give glory to God ( 1 Cor 10:31 Eph. 4:1, 4:28) c.f. selfishness is destructive (1Tim 6:3-21)

• n.b. the results of idleness – those who despise work (2 Thess 3:6 – 15)

• it is there to meet the needs of others (Acts 6:1-7)

Protestant Work Ethic

• Calvinistic background

• work is an opportunity to express faith

• gain was a manifestation of working to God’s glory

• later Puritans saw a direct correlation between success and salvation and between personal wealth and righteousness

• modern capitalism was legitamized by this concept

But…

• a misrepresentation of equal status of all ‘calling’

• can easily lead to despair

• unemployment is utterly destructive

• this tends to lead from service to selfishness

• theology of glory (security in achievement) and not a theology of the cross (solace in Christ)

• n.b. Job – wealthy, yet suffered

• Jesus, “Blessed are the poor” (Luke 6:20)• bigger barns can be destructive! (Luke 12:14 – 21)

Some further points to ponder…

• How do I know what God wants me to do?

• Changing jobs – is that a denial of the Christian view of vocation?

• How can work be a witness to one’s faith?

•At what age should I retire?

• Is retirement a vocation?

What about unemployment?

• a real problem for christians?

• (solution is very much an economic one – not particularly christian) discussion point.

• the care for the unemployed is very much the role of the christian – need to be the voice of the voiceless

• must not link work and value / unemployment and non-value

3 Suggested principles

1. Debunk the notion that the unemployed are losers (c.f. the danger of Protestant Work Ethic)

2. Church needs to lead the way in giving meaningful opportunity to those who are unemployed (encourage the christian businessman to consider the unemployed)

3. Revalue work – does not have to be paid (c.f. volunteers / cottage industries) Humankind was created to be creative)

Teaching as Vocation

• a call from God

• along with other callings

• a part of God’s care for the world – be a good teacher

• in the Lutheran/Christian School it is seen as a call to serve Christ

• as servants of Christ teachers are priests bringing God’s will / rule into the lives of others (along with parents)

• the Christian teacher brings his/her specific care (grace) so that the Holy Spirit is able to do his work!

• not just through teaching, but by being a teacher

• role relates to all areas of curriculum, because it relates to students

• the non-christian teacher can also be good at teaching

• the christian teacher operates under law/gospel, both personally and also ‘professionally’

Journal/Reflection Topic

“By comparison to some European countries, teachers in Australia are poorly paid. That devalues the role of the teacher.” Do you agree?

Next Week – Lecture 11

Subject : “God’s principles are central to what you do”

Christian/Lutheran Ethics