Discipleship

One of the (many) things we can appreciate that the Reformers did for us was to dispense with the idea that some callings are “holy” callings while others are not. Prior to the Reformation,  those who were in “full time Christian work”  (monks, nuns, priests, etc.) were engaged in “holy” work, while all other callings were seen as somewhat inferior. Unfortunately, we see some of this same old pre-Reformation attitude among Christians when they say or think that if they are really sold out to Jesus, they will go to the mission field. As though being really sold out to Jesus can’t mean going to college or working at a grocery store or bringing up children.

The Reformers saw from the Bible that God calls us to our vocation. Some are called to be preachers and missionaries full time. Some are called to be doctors and lawyers and fishermen and pilots. Each of us should have a sense of our own calling and thank God for it. Then Christian discipleship means actively serving God in our calling in a way that honors and glorifies Him.

I think it was John Own who said something like, “There is a vast difference between preaching a sermon and changing a diaper. But in God’s eyes, both are holy work.”

Why should this matter? When we know that God is pleased with what He has given us to do, and He is pleased when we do it heartily unto Him, then it gives us much greater satisfaction in our work. Rather than thinking we are second-class citizens (spiritually speaking) because we are not “full time Christian workers,” we can laugh and realize that we are all engaged in full-time Christian work. What other kind is there?