In general, in recent decades we have been taught to understand work from two great perspectives: economic and hedonistic, we invariably think about choosing a career on a very pragmatic basis, and the aspects that end up having greater preponderance for it. The options are: the money we will earn or the pleasure we will feel when developing a particular activity.
However, there is something of fundamental value in that we do most of that in our choices, something before money and pleasure, that should help us discover who we really are and warn against the idolatry of the old idols of this new century. What we have missed, I propose, is a keen sense of what vocation is, a frank conversation about what God has called us to do in the world he has created.
- Brazil is now one of the 10 largest Protestant nations in the world in total numbers.
- There are approximately 43 million Brazilians who identify as Protestant Christians.
- However.
- Even though they are so numerically representative.
- We are part of the reality of one of the most corrupt.
- Underdeveloped.
- Under-educated and unequal nations on the planet.
- This throws us.
- As Protestants.
- Into a place of awkward questions.
- Such as: why is our faith historically so influential in countless first-world countries?Who is reaping the rewards to date?Why are there so many of us in so many places and at the same time our nation remains immersed in this tying of ignorance and deprivation.
- Without the slightest prospect of truly meaningful change?.
I propose that we lack the constant appreciation and teaching of the biblical theology of vocation, rediscovered during the Protestant Reformation, both in our homes and in our churches Was it brazilian professor Olavo de Carvalho?Certainly Roman Catholic? Who, in one of his courses, attracted the attention of Brazilian Protestants to cease to be lazy and ignorant, and to take, at the very least, to know the theology of the vocations taught by Luther, who, according to him, would cooperate for the development of the country in various ways.
Ear pulls like these, from people outside our evangelical field, should at least make us blush with shame, for they reveal the sad reality that we have in our hands the theology of the most beautiful and effective vocation in history, but which, unfortunately, is not appreciated or known, much less taught to the vast majority of Brazilian evangelical Christians. We must work to transform this reality.
The vocation comes from the Latin “Vocare”, which means to call. For the Christian, this call comes nothing more and nothing less than from God Himself, who gives him power and commissions him a concrete mission in the world. This formation is usually a gift, a talent, an ease, a skill, a sensitivity, a nuisance, a revolt, a breach of something, or a combination of several of these aspects, which will encourage you to work and deliver, if necessary, life itself to this particular cause.
Vocation refers to something much deeper and more meaningful than the mere ephemeral search for feelings, money or pleasure, on the contrary, the idea of vocation dialogues with the idea of meaning of life, is the ultimate reason why you exist. This unique mission that has been entrusted to you and no one else, which awakens you a sense of responsibility to do a fundamental work for God Himself.
He who discovers his life call, overcomes the moments in which the fulfillment of this call does not bring him so much money, or gives him so much pleasure, this overcoming occurs, therefore, the convicted person knows himself and also who he is. He called, and knows that his ultimate mission is not to idolize usurping gods like money and pleasures, but to glorify and obey the One who must be glorified and obeyed.
However, we must not confuse or restrict our vocation only to large, structural or highly visible activities. Nothing more distant from Christian teaching about vocation than this. Are there mission calls with these profiles? Of course, but not all, not most of them.
The beauty of the theology of the vocation developed from the Reformation is the redemption of the value that God gives to all the activities of life, from the most sumptuous to the simplest and seemingly incessant. Does this divided idea of the world no longer exist, where certain activities and places – such as cults, religious rites, temples or monasteries – are most important to God. The idea of reformers is that before God there is no secular life. Either life belongs entirely to God, or God is not truly Lord. in a lifetime.
God is the Lord and owner of all things, and as such, he is absolutely interested both in what is happening in the higher courts of government and in the work that a sweeper does on the block under his responsibility. Offices have courage, importance and beauty, and the politician, CEO or sweeper, will be responsible for the work they do, because in the end they do a service first to God, then to men. . God calls men and women to perform the most diverse tasks of their creation, it is up to us, so we discern what these tasks are and perform them in the best possible way.
This sense of vocation would certainly change the way we choose a profession. Hypothetically, imagine an entire nation operating on these bases, or that only more than 40 million Protestant Christians faithfully live on a commitment to a Mission designated by God Himself. that we must face with joy, as a person who has received from the Lord the privilege of working for the construction of a new reality, which points to the consumption of his eternal Kingdom among us, which, unequivocally and naturally, would make us a less corrupt person. , less unequal country, better educated, better organized, safer, fairer and even richer.
It is time to think of our vocation in prayer before the Lord, if you may not yet be sure or have no idea what God has called you to do, you must focus your attention on that. Seriously look at you and try to identify what your gifts and abilities are, realize where you feel useful, what moves you, what outrages you, what inspires you, pushes, in short, we must take steps to illuminate this path.
However, even if you are not completely sure of your professional vocation, do not despair, remain in prayer and sensitive to the reality around you, and remember that, just or not, your vocation is our duty to honor God where He has implanted us, here and now. We must not wait for undeniable vocational certainty before facing life as something that must be lived in its entirety for the glory of God.
If you are not yet in the work you consider ideal, whatever, do it as a step, as part of your path, your goal, and do your best, because that is where God has put you, and at least for the time being, that is where you must honor Him. I may present you with an excellent opportunity for maturity, growth and adaptability, which you would never have if you weren’t exactly where you are.
There is no more powerful formula for subverting, or at least appeasing, the advancement of chaos in the world than a human being aware of his vocation before God; there is no safer enterprise for the promotion of good and justice than men and women who are aware of their individual and professional responsibilities before the Lord and who, on the basis of this ethic, educate their children and their children’s children, it is from this perspective that God does not take away their place as Creator , Lord and Redeemer in History that all initiatives to promote peace, education, beauty, justice, health, fraternity, equity, well-being and wealth must arise throughout the world.
My expectation is that we will leave behind two of the great idols of the modern world?Money and pleasure ?, and let us understand the intrinsic and historical relevance of our faith, so that in this way we can teach our children, grandchildren in a continuous and convincing way. and brethren in Christ, like our vocation to the Lord, is one of the true and most fruitful pillars of the life of those who pretend to be disciples of Jesus, here and now.
May God reach us!