Thoughts on Vocation (Part 2)

Kingdom Confusion and the Doctrine of Vocation

"The Church always points, at least primarily, on towards eternity, up toward heaven. Vocation points to the present, to the present day, to this world." Wingren, Gustaf, Luther on Vocation, 28 (1957).

"So vocation belongs to this world, not to heaven; it is directed toward one's neighbor, not toward God. This is an important preliminary characteristic. In his vocation one is not reaching up to God, but rather bends oneself down toward the world. When one does that, God's creative work is carried on. . .Good works and vocation (love) exist for the earth and one's neighbor, not for eternity and God. God does not need our good works, but our neighbor does. It is faith that God wants." (emphasis added) Id. at 10.