LUTHER’S VIEW ON VOCATION
To many, vocation involves taking some time off their daily schedule and going to have fun in various ways. Luther says that that this should not be so. By doing so he does not mean that people should not enjoy themselves, but that they should do this with some sense of purpose. Many people take time to celebrate days they have not a clue of their meaning. This is why Luther is suggesting that these days be attached with religious doctrines.
According to him vocation is about God’s calling to us. Vocation according to Luther is a special calling in which each and every one of us has been called in our various sectors of life. He views vocation as God’s manifestation of himself in all of human activities. Everything we do is aided by the power and presence of God through this doctrine of vocation.
God works in mysterious ways. Ways we cannot understand. Every provision in our life is from God through other people. That farmer, or doctor, or driver who in one way or another helps in adding quality to our lives does so by the power of God. This is what is according to Luther is called vocation. It is the way God provides to our needs through the physical actions of various people.
It is not only the clergy who have the power to manifest God’s actions to the human race. Each and every one of us has a special calling. Which means God provide to us and to other people through our everyday actions.
Vocation is God at work through human beings. Human actions shape this world. Very few people sit back and reflect about the wonderful and mysterious things that man does. According to Luther, this are not merely human actions, it is Gods work through human beings. That is why a doctor is able to diagnose a disease and provides its cure. Vocation involves also the issues of procreation. Where a man and a woman come together and bring forth a new life. All these are vocations. God’s holy callings on humans on various sectors of life.
God at work through others
Luther continues to show that God does not want to explicitly show Himself to his children. But through vocation which Luther says that it is the mask of God, he makes sure that he does everything to make our lives bearable. He ensures that every soul plays a part in his work through us. Whether you are in the farm, in the office at war, in the hospital, anywhere you could be, it’s all God’s manifestation but behind this mask. This explains why we do all the work and then thank God for what we have done. This shows that we actually but unconsciously acknowledge that all that we have done is actually God’s work.
We should all be conscious of God’s work, for us to be in a position to appreciate what others do for us no matter how little. This is because, what we assume is done by humans is actually God who is at work through these people. We would be appreciating God as a result.
It is not only those serving in the churches that have been called but according to this doctrine, we have all been called to what Luther calls “holy orders” in the family and the “common order of Christian love” as people interact with others from other vocations. The main purpose of this vocation is to establish a peaceful society where every body loves and serves willingly their neighbors.
Gods work through others is what sums up this doctrine of vocation. No matter how you perceive it, it is all Gods actions. We may sometimes do wrong things in the course of our daily lives, but God acts through the pastors who act on behalf of Him to forgive us. The ultimate issue here is all about love and service to one another.
