Vocation as a Mask of God

Do you want to know how you can influence the culture? How to have a strong family? Do you want to know the meaning of your life? Then attend to the Reformation doctrine of vocation. This strangely neglected doctrine has to do with how God providentially governs the world of human beings. It also constitutes the theology of the Christian life.

The doctrine of vocation, a term that is just the Latin word for “calling,” deals with how God works through human beings to bestow His gifts. God gives us this day our daily bread by means of the farmer, the baker, the cooks, and the person at the check-out counter. He creates new life – the most amazing miracle of all – by means of mothers and fathers. He protects us by means of police officers, firemen, and our military. He creates beauty through artists. He heals by working through doctors, nurses, and others whom He has gifted, equipped, and called to the medical professions. He proclaims His Word, administers His sacraments, and cares for His sheep through the calling of pastors.

Luther called vocation a “mask of God.” He said: “God milks the cows by means of the milkmaid. We see a menial worker and may even be so presumptuous as to look down upon her, but behind that humble facade looms God Himself, providing milk for His children.” And we too are masks of God in all our multiple callings. We have callings in the church (pastors, elders, choir members, parishioners); in the state (rulers, subjects, voters); in the work-place (employer, employee, factory worker, milkmaid, businessman); and in the family (husband and wife; father and mother; child; grandparent).

Before God, all vocations are equal. The purpose of every vocation is to love and serve our neighbor. “God does not need our good works,” commented Luther, “but our neighbor does.” In our vocations we encounter specific neighbors whom we are to love and serve through the work of that calling. Husbands and wives are to love and serve each other; parents love and serve their kids; office and factory workers love and serve their customers; rulers love and serve their subjects; pastors and congregations are to love and serve each other. And God is in it all.

Adapted from:
Gene Edward Veith
Tabletalk (March 2009)