The Work Of A Christian: Vocation In Lutheran Perspective Essay Examples

Lutheran Christians have a very broad conception of the idea of work. They believe in working faithfully in order to attain God’s divine purpose for their lives. Martin Luther’s 1520 treatise clearly expounded the relationship between work and God. It distinguished the element of an inner person and outer person in Christians. The inner person was defined by faith alone and not any works as he was more of a spiritual person united with teachings of God through the scripture and sacraments. The outer person was more involved in carrying out activities that were meant to give back to society in various ways as long as it not to their advantage, but for the service of others. However, this did not mean that there were two components of a Christian being, but rather their manifestations of responding to God’s call through vocations.
Employment is mainly understood to be a calling of higher purpose to become a priest or a member of avowed order in religious life. This perception is disputed by Lutheran Christians who believe through our daily activities in life we are actually in God’s service as Christians. Catholics and Anabaptists have always conceived vocation as a way of setting yourself apart from the secular world and being more of a spiritual and religious person. This is not the case entirely according to Lutheran Christians. One cannot distance himself or herself from the world on the pretext of secularism. In our contemporary world, there are many professions that are secular, but involve service to society through leadership in government or companies. If one carries out these roles honestly and with no selfish interests of their own, they are fulfilling their vocations as Christians. According to Lutheran Christians, We are expected as Christians to accomplish God’s divine calling in the service of others in our activities. A Christian is expected to not withdraw from their present circumstances but rather utilize it in the service of God through their specific roles and responsibilities.
Every occupation or job is equal to a vocation in the Lutheran perspective. The two kingdoms doctrine expounded by Martin Luther shows that God is at work through the scripture in the Gospel by offering forgiveness and a new relationship with him. God is also considered to be at work through our laws that bring order to the world through his divine will. The secular world is also available for God’s service. Luther’s perspective of vocation is also deeply founded on the dynamism doctrine of creation. This doctrine states that to confess and accept God a transcendent being who is our creator is also to acknowledge the fact that God sustains his Creation. Our daily bread in the form of stable government, physical health, food, clothing and shelter is out of God’s providence. God grants gifts thoroughly earthly vocations and as Christians we are expected to use these gifts to serve our neighbours.
Lutheran Christians are not supposed to have the fear of the possibility of failure in their vocations. They cannot do everything but are expected to do something at least in return. The Lord Jesus Christ died for our true sins but not fictitious sins; therefore, Lutheran Christians strongly believe in the victory of Christ in the battles they could not win here on earth. In the repentance and confession of our sins, as Lutheran Christians we examine our consciousness based on how we have performed our specific roles and responsibilities in our society. These roles and responsibilities may include our duties as parents, citizens and employer or employees among other things. We can, therefore, conclude that the conception of vocation in Christianity is wide and not necessarily according to the conventional thinking of a calling for a higher purpose in our current lives.