Midweek Musing- 8/28/24

There was a man, a baker by trade, who taught Sunday school at his church and attended faithfully.

One day, while waiting to board a subway train, he was approached by an overzealous woman he’d never seen before who was trying to evangelize people.

She was a street preacher that folks tried to avoid. The baker, however, made the mistake of making eye contact. She approached him, shouting “Do you believe in Jesus?!” He nodded in the affirmative.

She then asked him loudly, “So, what work do you do for God?” He replied, “I bake bread.”

She said, “I don’t mean your job, but what service do you do for our Savior to promote salvation?” “I bake bread,” he said.

She tried again, “I mean, how are you seeking to glorify Christ and spread his gospel?” “I bake bread,” he said once more.

About that time the train arrived and he scurried on while she scolded him telling become a true believer and follower!

However, his answer was actually a perfect response. See, in the Christian tradition going back to the very early church, believers were encouraged to see all they did including jobs or daily tasks as opportunities to serve God.

Later this idea was expounded upon and was described as the Doctrine of Vocation.

Now the word “vocation” comes from the Latin term “vocatio,” which means “a calling” or “a summons.”

The root of this word is “vocare,” which means “to call.” In its original context, “vocatio” referred to a divine call or an invitation, often with religious connotations, indicating a summons by God to a particular way of life or service.

Over time, the concept of “vocation” expanded beyond religious contexts to refer to any occupation or profession that a person feels drawn to or called to pursue, often with a sense of purpose or mission. However, the idea of a vocation still retains its original sense of being a calling, implying that it is something more than just a job; it is a significant, meaningful, and purposeful pursuit.

The Doctrine of Vocation (about which volumes have been written) thus teaches that God calls every person to specific roles and responsibilities in life, including their work, relationships, and community involvement. The idea is that all aspects of life—whether secular or sacred—are part of God’s design and are ways in which people can serve God and neighbor.

While I can’t cover everything in those volumes, I did want to share a few things about the Doctrine of Vocation:

      1.   Holy Calling: Vocation is understood as a holy calling, meaning that every person’s roles in life—whether as a parent, worker, citizen, or friend—are considered callings from God.

      2.   Equality of Callings: The doctrine emphasizes that no vocation is inherently more “holy” or valuable than another. A pastor’s calling is not more sacred than that of a farmer, teacher, or parent. Each role is an opportunity to serve God.

      3.   Service to Neighbor: Central to the doctrine is the idea that vocation is not just for personal fulfillment but for the service of others. In fulfilling one’s vocation, a person contributes to the common good and helps to meet the needs of their neighbors.

      4.   Integration of Faith and Life: The doctrine rejects the division between secular and sacred, suggesting that faith should permeate every aspect of life. Work, family life, and community involvement are all seen as expressions of one’s faith.

      5.   Suffering and Struggle: The doctrine acknowledges that vocations can be difficult and involve suffering. The struggles within one’s calling are seen as opportunities to grow in faith and reliance on God.

      6.   Continuous Call: Vocation is not static; it can change over time. People may be called to different roles or responsibilities at different stages of their lives, and they are encouraged to discern God’s guidance in these changes.

Friends, the doctrine of vocation is about realizing we should live out our life as a response to God’s gifts to us and the grace we have been given. We should therefore, see all aspects of life as ways to serve God and others.

Thus because of the way the baker viewed his vocation—his calling—the answer he gave on the subway platform was both exactly right and completely faithful.