Vocation Day III: The purpose of our callings
The purpose of our vocations, according to the Reformation theologians, is to love and serve our neighbors. Each vocation has "neighbors." In the calling of marriage, the husband is to love and serve his wife ("as Christ loved the church"), and the wife is to love and serve her husband ("submit to your husband as to the Lord"). The parents' neighbor is their children, whom they are to love and serve. A child's neighbor is his or her parents, whom they are to love and serve. In the workplace, the neighbors would be customers and fellow workers. In the church, each member is to love and serve the rest. In the calling of citizenship, we are to love and serve our fellow-citizens.
Our vocations can be defined by our relationships with people, and how we serve and love them is defined by our vocations.Notice that this understanding of the purpose of vocation clarifies moral issues. A mother is to love and serve her child, not kill her child through abortion, or harm her child through child abuse. A husband is to love and serve his wife, not dominate or abuse her. A doctor is to love and serve his patients, not kill them through euthanasia or malpractice. A ruler is to love and serve his subjects, not tyrannize them or oppress them. In this way we all serve one another through our vocations. Since our vocation is how we serve our neighbors, we should not be idle, but have and actively participate in our vocations.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
The purpose of our vocations, according to the Reformation theologians, is to love and serve our neighbors. Each vocation has "neighbors." In the calling of marriage, the husband is to love and serve his wife ("as Christ loved the church"), and the wife is to love and serve her husband ("submit to your husband as to the Lord"). The parents' neighbor is their children, whom they are to love and serve. A child's neighbor is his or her parents, whom they are to love and serve. In the workplace, the neighbors would be customers and fellow workers. In the church, each member is to love and serve the rest. In the calling of citizenship, we are to love and serve our fellow-citizens.
Our vocations can be defined by our relationships with people, and how we serve and love them is defined by our vocations.Notice that this understanding of the purpose of vocation clarifies moral issues. A mother is to love and serve her child, not kill her child through abortion, or harm her child through child abuse. A husband is to love and serve his wife, not dominate or abuse her. A doctor is to love and serve his patients, not kill them through euthanasia or malpractice. A ruler is to love and serve his subjects, not tyrannize them or oppress them. In this way we all serve one another through our vocations. Since our vocation is how we serve our neighbors, we should not be idle, but have and actively participate in our vocations.
No comments:
Post a Comment