The Way of Life: A Theology of Christian Vocation

by Badcock, Gary D.

• ISBN13: 9781579109578
• ISBN10: 1579109578
• Format: Textbook Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-05-01
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers

Summary

The concept of vocation is often at the heart of religious experience, yet surprisingly few serious theological studies have been written about it. The Way of Life seeks to remedy this oversight and to outline a sane alternative to the more questionable versions of the idea of vocation found at the popular level. Beginning with the Bible, and drawing on theological sources both Protestant and Catholic, Gary Badcock develops a constructive theology of Christian vocation, rescuing it from both secular and sacred distortions.Badcock argues that Christian vocation is essentially the call to love God and neighbor. Through a consideration of several theologians, including in particular Martin Luther and Hans Urs von Balthasar, Badcock links this theme to another ruling idea of Christian spirituality - discipleship in the way of the cross. Viewed theologically, Christian vocation finally comes to be seen as a sharing in the reconciling mission of Jesus. Vocation should be seen as a way of life - indeed, as the way of life, the way which follows Jesus himself. A ChristianÕs vocation is not, therefore, to be confused with with an occupation. Even though work itself is of great significance, vocation is fundamentally less about what one does than about what one is.For those struggling to discover a proper sense of vocation in a society obsessed with prestige and financial gain, this volume provides a solid, readable, and theologically informed account of what it truly means to be Òcalled of GodÓ.

Author Biography

Gary D. Badcock is the Meldrum Lecturer in Dogmatic Theology and associate dean, Faculty of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. x
Vocation and Christian Theology	p. 1
Vocation as a Religious Question	p. 1
Vocation in the Bible	p. 3
Work and Human Dignity	p. 10
Faith and Work	p. 14
Approaches to God	p. 14
Action and Meaning	p. 19
Troeltsch and Weber	p. 21
Work as Response to God	p. 29
Calling	p. 32
Luther	p. 32
Providence and Vocation	p. 39
The Ethic of the Kingdom	p. 44
Identity	p. 53
Vocation in the Theology of Karl Barth	p. 54
Sharing Christ's Mission: Hans Urs von Balthasar	p. 58
Between Barth and Balthasar	p. 67
The Source	p. 71
God as Source	p. 71
The Role of the Bible	p. 74
The Voice of God	p. 77
The Will of God	p. 81
Sacred and Secular	p. 84
The Heavenly Calling	p. 84
Religious Vocation	p. 89
The Call to Ministry	p. 93
Ministry as Service	p. 95
Lay Ministry	p. 99
The Secular "Calling"	p. 105
Love	p. 108
"The Greatest of These"	p. 108
Love in Theology	p. 110
Carrying the Cross	p. 113
Community	p. 116
Sanctity	p. 121
Choosing	p. 124
A Parable	p. 124
Vocation and Career Choice	p. 126
Virtue Theory and Religious Knowledge	p. 128
The Struggle	p. 134
Vocation and Mission	p. 136
The Way of Life	p. 139
Select Bibliography	p. 143
Index	p. 145
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