It’s heart breaking to hear people say “I’m only a _______” in relation to their God-given vocations. “I’m only a mom.” “I’m only a layperson in the church.” “I’m only a waiter.” “I’m only a low-level engineer.” What a pity more Christians don’t see the privilege of their vocations and the impactful contributions they make in the social realm of their lives.
Many believers downplay the importance of social/vocational development by overemphasizing some realms/vocations and underemphasizing others. For example, some Christian leaders say, “If you are going to be a pastor or evangelist, your family or your health need to come second.” Some Christians claim that serving publicly in the church is the “highest calling” and will diminish other vocations by comparison. Some speak of public ministry as a “sacred calling” as if other vocations are only “secular callings.” These are all well-intentioned but mistaken—even dangerous—ideas. Martin Luther fought heroically against the idea that certain vocations were more “spiritual” or “godly” than others. In his treatise “To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation” he wrote:
It is pure invention that Pope, bishops, priests, and monks are called the “spiritual estate” while princes, lords, artisans, and farmers are called the “temporal estate.” This is indeed a piece of deceit and hypocrisy. Yet no one need be intimidated by it, and that for this reason: all Christians are truly of the spiritual estate, and there is no difference among them except that of office…We are all consecrated priests by baptism, as St. Peter says: “You are a royal priesthood and a priestly realm” (1 Pet. 2:9). The Apocalypse says: “Thou hast made us to be kings and priests by thy blood” (Rev. 5:9–10).
God exalts all righteous vocations and works through them to bless the world, as Luther illustrated colorfully: “God is milking the cows through the vocation of the milkmaid.” A faithful pastor or evangelist is not more spiritual or more important than a faithful butcher, carpenter, homemaker, or businesswoman because God is working through them all to care for his creation in different ways. In his Christmas service homily on Luke 2, Martin Luther preached: “. . . [All] works are the same to a Christian, no matter what they are. For these shepherds do not run away into the desert, they do not don monk’s garb, they do not shave their heads, neither do they change their clothing, schedule, food, drink, nor any external work. They return to their place in the fields to serve God there!” Gene Vieth adds:
…the doctrine of vocation encourages attention to each individual’s uniqueness, talents, and personality. These are valued as gifts of God, who creates and equips each person in a different way for the calling He has in mind for that person’s life. The doctrine of vocation undermines conformity, recognizes the unique value of every person, and celebrates human differences; but it sets these individuals into a community with other individuals, avoiding the privatizing, self-centered narcissism of secular individualism.”[1]
In light of this, a gospel-centered mentor helps mentees develop wholehearted character by addressing all four realms of their lives.
Activity: Thinking More about the Realms
As you consider your own life, list 6 ways you could grow emotionally, physically, and/or socially/vocationally and how each of these ways could benefit your whole person. If you are already doing these things, still list them out and explain how they benefit your whole person.
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In your own words, how would you answer a mentee who said to you, “I don’t have to worry about my physical and emotional health because I read my Bible and pray every day”?
Next: What Will You Get with “Gospel-Centered Mentoring”?
[1] Veith Jr., Gene Edward. God at Work (p. 21). Crossway. Kindle Edition.