“The Priesthood of All Believers” -Feb. 2012

Each month in 2012, I am reflecting on some of the bedrock beliefs of our Christian faith. Coinciding with the Season of Epiphany and the Baptism of our Lord, I began our year-long journey with the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Baptism is our entrance into the Church, the Redeemed Body of Christ. This month I am reflecting on a related topic, namely: “The Priesthood of All Believers” and the gift of “Vocation”. In baptism we are called to “let our lights shine before others so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven”. We are saved for a purpose! We are God’s calling cards. We are God’s portable temples of worship and praise in daily life. Once again hymnody leads the way: “We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly. We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God”—ELW #720. “Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart”—ELW #574. “Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult of our life’s wild restless sea, day by day his clear voice sounding, saying ‘Christian, follow me.’”—ELW #696.

Who’s calling? God is the author of our calling. Whose calling? The call belongs to the priesthood of all believers. Scripture recites numerous call narratives. In the Creation Story, God calls Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply, to till the earth and keep the Garden. God calls Cain to be Brother Abel’s keeper. God calls Abraham to be a seed of blessing for all nations. When God calls Jeremiah, the prophet complains that he’s too young and inexperienced. When God calls Isaiah, the prophet says, “Here Am I LORD. Send Me!” It took three tries for Eli to recognize a call from God and on the fourth try Samuel said, “Speak LORD for your servant is listening.” God called a reluctant and run-away Jonah to speak words of repentance to sinful Nineveh. People usually catch fish, but God uses a big fish to catch Jonah, and forgiveness to catch sinners. God is a persistent caller, refusing to take “No” for an answer. The call creates the response and guarantees the catch. God goes fishing and never gets skunked. “Rabbi, where are you abiding?” Jesus says, “Come and you will see.” Jesus guarantees Epiphany! Walking along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus commands four fishermen: “Follow Me and I WILL MAKE YOU fish for people.”

I Peter is a baptismal homily. St. Peter reminds us of our priestly calling: “We are scattered seeds and living stones. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s own people.” We are consecrated for a purpose: “To proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called us out darkness into His marvelous light.” In baptism we receive a new birth and an imperishable inheritance; the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life. In Baptism we receive a “Great Commission” Calling/Vocation. Baptism, prefigured in the waters of the Flood, now saves us (I Peter 3:21). Baptism is our ordination rite (I Peter 2:5).

Martin Luther writes, “All Christians have the same status. Citing I Peter 2:9 (‘You are a royal priesthood and a priestly realm’) and Rev. 5:9-10 (‘Thou has made us to be priests and kings by thy blood’), Luther describes that status as ‘priest’ and ascribes it to every Christian, ‘As far as that goes, we are all consecrated priests through baptism.’ So what differentiates Christians is simply the work that God has given them to do: There is no true, basic difference between laymen and priests, princes and bishops, between religious and secular, except for the sake of office and work, but not for the sake of status. They are all of the spiritual estate….But they do not all have the same work to do. For whoever comes out of the water of baptism can boast that he is already a consecrated priest, bishop, and pope.”—WA 6:407.22-23 and WA 6:408.11-12, 26-30. Our stations in life differ, but our calling is the same: “Having put on Christ in the waters of regeneration, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. We are all one in Christ Jesus”—Galatians 3:27-28. We have different roles to play, but equal value to share!

So what’s your calling, and how are you living it out your priestly vocation publicly in daily life? The Latin word for calling is “vocation”. Lutherans use the word “vocation” to refer to our common calling as sons and daughters of God living out our lives in the world. “Vocation” is not merely a reference to clergy who are paid professionals living out their baptismal calling in the station of Church. Each of us is called to glorify God and serve our neighbor in our various stations of daily life; as spouse, parent, child, citizen, student, employee, boss, etc. “Vocation” includes one’s occupation or job, but is not limited to what one does for a living. Our baptismal calling demands that we build an altar in the workplace, home-place, and play-place. Christians are on call 24-7. In truth, there is no distinction between secular and sacred work. All work is sacred service, because our justified-by-faith-alone-bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Vocation is God’s work; a mask of God. God is hidden in vocation; Christ is hidden in our neighbors. Our stations and callings in life are all opportunities, as well as duties, for faith to be lived out fruitfully, publicly, for the sake of the neighbor and the glory of God. Worship is what we do 24-7, not just for an hour on Sunday mornings. They may, or may not, know we are Christians by our love; “vocation” allows us to show and tell!

Vocation doesn’t mean that daily life is all fun and games. We may not always enjoy our jobs or the tedious elements of our daily stations. Our callings are not intended to simply increase self-esteem or bring us personal fulfillment. The Rev. Dr. Marc Kolden, in his book Called by the Gospel, writes, “The creative purpose of vocation is to help us to serve God and keep his world going; but the redemptive purpose of our vocation is to discipline us.” “Without vocation, the gospel would be cheap grace—resurrection without crucifixion.” “Vocation is the way of life with a cross at its center.” “In the demands and sufferings of our callings we are crucified with Christ.”—Pages 57-58. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book The Cost of Discipleship writes, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Martin Luther reminds us that “Christians preoccupied with their families, struggling to make ends meet, living their mundane lives are all in a state of holiness, living holy lives before God.” The doctrine of vocation is the theology of the Christian life.

St. Paul writes, “Let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned you, to which God called you”—I Corinthians 7:17. As members of the “priesthood of all believers” we are called to practice our vocations in daily life, for the love of Jesus, the glory of God, and the good of the neighbor. We priests and priestesses present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). Baptism gives us our calling. God lives and breathes in our portable temples at home, at work, and at play. Build an altar and enjoy your callings!

Vocationally Challenged,
Pastor Dave