Lutheran Vocational Evangelism

(Understanding Vocation)

So we have been talking about and hearing the word vocation. What is a vocation? Vocation comes from Latin vocatio, meaning a calling, summoning. The dictionary defines vocation as a regular occupation or profession, an urge or predisposition to undertake a certain kind of work, especially a religious career; a calling. More often than not the term, vocation is used in its religious context.

A good understanding of one’s vocation may best be found in Luther’s Small Catechism as he outlines what he calls the “Table of Duties.” This section, section three of the Small Catechism lays out “certain passages of Scripture for various holy orders and positions, admonishing them about their duties and responsibilities.” The various vocations Luther lists include: “To Bishops, Pastor and Preacher, What the Hearers Owe Their Pastors, Of Civil Government, Of Citizens, To Husbands, To Wives, To Parents, To Children, To Workers of All Kinds, To Employers and Supervisors, To Youth, To Widows, To Everyone.” From this list we can understand that each person resides with several vocations at the same time and that these vocations do change from time to time, from age to age.

The purpose of one’s vocation is to be of service. Now, certainly as a Christian, our greater and greatest service is first from God to us in that He gives, He loves us first, and then we give, we love in return. With that said, as a response of faith, our desire is to be of service to God and we are of service to God, as we serve others. Thus, in our vocation we service God by serving others.

The question then is how do we serve others in our various vocations? And the answer is usually self evident, such as a parent raising and caring for their children, serving God by raising Godly children. Ultimately, as we serve God by serving others, as we live lives of faith, it is our prayer that others may see our faith through our example and service, that they may ask, and we may have an opportunity to give an answer for our faith and hope in Jesus. And we do give an answer with gentleness, with God’s authority, with His promise to be with us, to give us the words and the confidence to speak.

11 of 52    © Rev. Dr. Ronald A. Bogs (2018)