A word from Dan on calling.

Covenant Seminary believes the Lord distributes varied gifts to his people. In his sovereignty and grace, he gives pastors and other church leaders positions of strategic influence and authority. Following Paul’s principle, we entrust the comprehensive gospel message to men and women who will train others. This applies to every other area of life. Therefore our alumni strive to equip all workers to live out their faith within their vocation. Our goal through this is to help them transform their workplaces for the glory of God, through principled innovation.

The believer, by rights, is best able to bear bad news. After all, we believe that we are morally corrupt, unable to reform ourselves, and so incorrigible that the only solution was that the Son of God live and die in our place. If we can accept that, we should be able to face hard truths about our health and the economy. And there are hard truths.

Ideally, a calling begins with an innate or developed ability or skill, coupled with an interest, even a passion, that wells up from the core of one’s being. We have a talent when we pick up complex skills quickly. We may have a call if we delight in that talent. Thinking biblically, we call that a gift. When we add mentors and opportunities, a calling may develop. Because gifts and passions originate within, they have a self-focus, but they should not be self-ish. Western culture unduly exalts choosing. But God appoints places for his people.

Believers often wonder how they can serve God and neighbor at work, and often doubt the value of their work. But pastors can help, and the strategic sermon illustration is a leading tool in our arsenal. A good illustration is like a parable, presenting a case that is both particular and universal, specific and common.

When Western Christians speak of their calling, they probably mean their work, but when Scripture speaks of God’s call, it normally describes God’s call to faith. Paul speaks of a call to faith, to holiness, and to conformity to Christ. God calls believers to places and roles. This concept is difficult to appreciate if we suffer dissatisfaction at work or dislike our geographical location.

Everyone believes in transformation in the workplace, for believers can improve the work environment by doing excellent work, showing integrity, and loving their co-workers. But some doubt that we can change the workplace itself, given that a market economy demands efficiency and profitability from most enterprises. As humans, everyone matters equally, but at work, some have more strategic impact than others.

The experience of calling is gratifying and we can recognize a calling in clear cases, but the concept has been long fraught with confusion and debate.

Luther advanced the Christian view of work in essential ways. First, he dignified all work, even if menial or unsavory. Next, while Roman Catholicism stressed the self-oriented benefits of work Luther described work as the place to serve God and neighbor. But if all work is a divine calling, how can anyone seek a new position or try to reform abuses in the workplace? If we follow Luther too rigidly, the distance between what we do today and what we might do tomorrow evaporates and the motive to reform the conditions of labor dwindles.