John Calvin on “Calling”
Spring 2024
In the context of the Protestant Reformation there was a fresh affirming of the concept of calling” or vocation that went beyond the Roman notion of God’s calling only consisting of a call to a monastic or priestly life. During the reign of Roman Catholic ecclesiology a holy vocation was only entered when someone entered some church ministry.
This article closes with an extended quote from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. Calvin objected to the thinking that only “religious workers” had a calling. He taught that all of life is religious. He understood that a saved soul working in any legitimate work was working out of a regenerate heart. All work therefore was seen as a work unto God.
The Reformers sought to teach the doctrine of work as contained in the Scriptures. Pre-fall man was made to work to the glory of God. When God made Adam and Eve, He “blessed them, and [He] said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply… and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28). This creation ordinance gives mankind a clear call to do all work in obedience to God for the glory of God.
In the New Testament, those saved by grace, were exhorted to give their lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Every area of life should be dedicated to the glory of God in fulfillment of our God-given purpose. Paul’s words to the Colossians encourage all of us to see our work, whatever it is, to the glory of God. “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:22–24). As Calvin says, no work is so sordid or base, that it cannot be precious in God’s sight.
Here is the section from his Institutes (III:x.6):
The Lord's calling a basis of our way of life
“Finally, this point is to be noted: the Lord bids each one of us in all life's actions to look to his calling. For he knows with what great restlessness human nature flames, with what fickleness it is borne hither and thither, how its ambition longs to embrace various things at once. Therefore, lest through our stupidity and rashness everything be turned topsy-turvy, he has appointed duties for every man in his particular way of life. And that no one may thoughtlessly transgress his limits, he has named these various kinds of living "callings." Therefore each individual has his own kind of living assigned to him by the Lord as a sort of sentry post so that he may not heedlessly wander about throughout life.
But I will not delay to list examples. It is enough if we know that the Lord's calling is in everything the beginning and foundation of well-doing. And if there is anyone who will not direct himself to it, he will never hold to the straight path in his duties. Perhaps, sometimes, he could contrive something laudable in appearance; but whatever it may be in the eyes of men, it will be rejected before God's throne. Besides, there will be no harmony among the several parts of his life. Accordingly, your life will then be best ordered when it is directed to this goal. For no one, impelled by his own rashness, will attempt more than his calling will permit, because he will know that it is not lawful to exceed its bounds. A man of obscure station will lead a private life ungrudgingly so as not to leave the rank in which he has been placed by God. Again, it will be no slight relief from cares, labors, troubles, and other burdens for a man to know that God is his guide in all these things. The magistrate will discharge his functions more willingly; the head of the household will confine himself to his duty; each man will bear and swallow the discomforts, vexations, weariness, and anxieties in his way of life, when he has been persuaded that the burden was laid upon him by God. From this will arise also a singular consolation: that no task will be so sordid and base, provided you obey your calling in it, that it will not shine and be reckoned very precious in God's sight.”