17Only let each person lead the lifethat the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21Were you a bondservantwhen called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
In 2017, Lutheran Churches, and even church bodies at large, celebrated the 500th anniversary of Luther nailing the 95 theses on the church doors at Wittenberg. This event is widely hailed as starting the Reformation, and bring such themes as “Faith alone,” “Grace alone,” and “Scripture alone” to the front and center of Christian life.
As Luther begins to explore and develop these themes, another important doctrine begins to take shape and is affected by these themes: vocation. Even though I went to a Concordia and grew up in the church, this was a doctrine and teaching that I never really learned about. I learned about it in passing, but it was not until I was my roommate’s student reader for his Senior Paper that I began to learn about it. His topic? Vocation.
Vocation is the place and standing that God has placed us in life. Everyone has a different and unique vocation, although there may be some overlaps. One can be brother, sister, son, daughter, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, or granddaughter. One can be mailman, police officer, doctor, nurse, lawyer, computer repair person, mechanic, or zoo keeper. These are just the tip of the iceberg! There are so much more! Which of these vocations do you have? Which ones do you have?
Over the next year, we will study this theological theme and truth. But, why this year? It is the 500th anniversary of when Luther begins to develop this theme in 1520 in such writings as To the German Nobility and The Babylonian Captivity. Starting this fall and going into next year, we will learn more about vocation. Will we learn…
- What is Christian Vocation?
- Why does it matter?
- What does it mean for me? For others? My relationship with God?
In Christ,
Pastor Nick Kooi
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XX, Number 11, June 2019)