From November on Theology of Vocation

Now that we have settled the understanding of Definitions, we can address the real challenges around answering the question: What does a congregation look like that lives out a theology of vocation?
In the Augsburg Confession, the Lutheran Princes had to address the issue of Monks, Bishops, and Priests being declared the only Holy Vocations. They write: 
[15] Furthermore, whoever was so ensnared and ended up in the monastery learned little about Christ. At one time there were schools of Holy Scripture and other disciplines useful for the Christian church in the monasteries, so that pastors and bishops were taken from the monasteries. But now the picture is quite different. [16] In former times, people adopted the monastic life in order to study Scripture. Now they pretend that the monastic life is of such a nature that through it a person may earn God’s grace and righteousness before God—indeed that it is a state of perfection, far above all other walks of life instituted by God. [17] All this is mentioned, without any disrespect intended, in order that everyone may better grasp and understand what and how our people teach and preach.
Hopefully in the modern world we do not have this same issue. But Pastors, even myself, still get the comment: “You have an in with the Big Guy!” There are even those that desire their Pastor’s prayers rather than their neighbor’s prayers, because the Pastor has some kind of Holier connection to God. 
This concept that Pastors or Ministers or Bishops have some greater connection with God, or even Holier vocation, is an obstacle to the Theology of Vocation. The Pastor has a God given Vocation to serve the people of God just as much as any other Vocation. Father or Mother may even have a greater vocation than the Pastor in instructing their Children in the True Faith and raising them for a moral life. Son or Daughter is given their holy vocation by God to help support their family as well. God gives all Vocations to us.
When St Paul talks about masters and slaves, especially in how they are to work and treat one another, he expresses how this is in service to God. God places us in our various vocations so that by means of that vocation you can proclaim God’s Love. I often think of waitresses, bartenders, or other service providers, because their service can reflect the company or business for which they work. But as Christians in those vocations it also reflects the one who first served them, namely Jesus Christ.
All Vocations may not be equal, but all vocations can be God pleasing (exceptions being sinful vocations: smuggler, drug dealer, or some other illegal job).

Next Month, we look at the challenge of having Purpose in every Vocation.

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