Once again, a wonderful view of vocation and it's effects on the broader culture. Notice that Keller makes a distinction between the individual of the church and "the Church." Very important distinction. The culture is not changed by legislation or any other mass force feeding, but rather one person at a time.
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The first attempt to leave a comment didn't seem to stick (so I apologize if this is a duplicate).
Culturalization vs. Salvation
Is it the role of the Church (either individually or corporally) to affect the culture for culture's sake? What is the purpose of altering culture except for the redemption of those provided with faith by the Word of God through Jesus Christ our Lord? This video seems to indicate that our role in Christ at our workplace is to make people want to be better people (not what I think the speaker was intending, but nonetheless what this particular clip sounds like).
The first minute of the clip sounds no different than any do-good religion (or social group). Then a transition starts: living according to a gospel world view. While it's entirely possible that there is more meaning packed into these statements than I'm understanding, this clip seems to stop short of introducing the power of God's Word into our individual vocations (skills/jobs) to save sinners such as ourselves.
I heard 1 Peter 3:9, but not 1 Peter 3:15 - that we should be prepared to give an answer to those who ask for the reason for the hope given to us. In other words: was Romans 10:14ff for Israel's sake alone?
To the point of communicating the need for the gospel in our individual vocations, amen. To the point of summarizing what that means in a 2-minute video clip, not so sure.
I would like to hear more on this topic of vocational sanctification (how God sets us apart daily in Christ as holy while we each perform our God-given skills)...
Check out this June '08 post:
http://joyousexchange.blogspot.com/2008/06/doctrine-of-vocation.html
It has a link to an article concerning this topic that is worth reading.
I appreciate the references, Tony. I read the blog but didn't follow the reference to the Veith article at the time.
There's only a single sentence in the Veith article that seems to assume that we all already understand the relationship between the spoken Word and our individual vocations, "God's Word calls people to faith. This is the Christian's primary vocation, being a child of God." Aside from this brief statement, I do not understand the seemingly intentional separation of this doctrine from the call to not only recognize but also to share the spoken gospel message in our various vocations. And this not for the sake of personal piety but instead in the recognition both that sinners are condemned apart from receiving faith in Christ and that faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
Also helpful: Article 27 of the Defense of the Augsburg Confession (Of Monastic Vows)...
http://www.bookofconcord.org/defense_24_vows.php
...though also mentioning vocation apart from mention of sharing the gospel.
Hey Ben,
I noticed in your first comment that you had referenced 1 Peter 3:15. You probably already noticed this, but I think it's interesting that the apologetic command by Peter there is given as a response to people "asking" us.
The idea is that people would see our good deeds and then ask us what makes us different at which time we would give a defense (rather than an offense) of our faith.
Agreed regarding 1 Peter 3:15 - passage was referenced as an introduction to the use of God's word in our vocations.
Are we to only be defensive in our various vocations? Recently my brother quoted to me - from 2 Cor 2:14ff:
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
Here we see a simultaneous dichotomy in how others will be made to react to the offensive (rather than merely defensive) word of God. I don't understand the desire for a distinction between this evengelical call and our vocations.
This is all to the point of being used by God in all of our vocations to share the good news of salvation moreso than shaping popular culture by the light of God's glory.
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