A calling, in the religious sense of the word, is a religious vocation (which comes from the Latin for "call") that may be professional or voluntary and, idiosyncratic to different religions, may come from another person, from a divine messenger, or from within oneself.
The idea of a vocation or "calling" has played a significant role within Christianity. Since the early days of the Christian faith, the term has applied to candidates for the clergy. It soon began to be applied to those who felt drawn to a more rigorous observance of their faith through the contemplative lifestyle of the hermits and monks and nuns.[1]
Later, Martin Luther taught that each individual was expected to fulfill their God-appointed task in everyday life. Although the Lutheran concept of the calling emphasized vocation, there was no particular emphasis on labor beyond what was required for one's daily bread. Calvinism transformed the idea of the calling by emphasizing relentless, disciplined labor. Calvin defined the role of "the Christian in his vocation", noting that God has prescribed appointed duties to men and styled such spheres of life vocations or callings.[2] Calvinists distinguished two callings: a general calling to serve God and a particular calling to engage in some employment by which one's usefulness is determined.[2]
The Puritan minister Cotton Mather discussed the obligations of the personal calling, writing of "some special business, and some settled business, wherein a Christian should for the most part spend the most of his time; so he may glorify God by doing good for himself".[3] Mather admonished that it was not lawful ordinarily to live without some calling: "for men will fall into "horrible snares and infinite sins"".[3] This idea has endured throughout the history of Protestantism. Almost three centuries after John Calvin's death in 1564 Thomas Carlyle would proclaim, "The latest Gospel in this world is, 'know thy work and do it.'"[4]
The legacy of this religious ethic continues to exert its influence in secular Western society.[citation needed] Modern occupations which are seen as vocations often include those where a combination of skill and community help are implied, such as medical, care-giving, and veterinary occupations. Occupations where rewards are seen more in spiritual or other non-financial terms, such as religious occupations, are also seen as vocations. Borderline occupations, where community service and more personal reward are more evenly balanced, such as politics, may often be regarded[by whom?] as vocations.
In Protestant churches, the decision of a church to invite for appointment a particular minister - to "invite in due form to the pastorate of a church (Presbyterian or Nonconformist)" (OED) may be referred to as a call, such as extending a call to so and so, and is first cited from 1560 by the OED.[5] In Evangelicalism, the sense of deliberate purpose before God is generally an expected part of the choice to seek ministerial work in the first place and is often referred to as a calling or call.
Latter-day Saintsedit
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints describes a calling as "a duty, position, or responsibility in the Church that is issued to a member by priesthood leaders.... [it is] an opportunity to serve."[6] The church uses a lay clergy, with most members receiving no compensation for the execution of their callings.[7] Prominent church leader J. Reuben Clark said, "In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In the [church], one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declines."[8] Prior to beginning service, a person is presented to church membership for a sustaining vote to that calling.[9] The person is then set apart to serve in the calling by the laying on of hands.[9]
religious, calling, soteriological, term, effectual, calling, been, suggested, that, this, article, merged, into, vocation, discuss, proposed, since, december, 2023, some, this, article, listed, sources, reliable, please, help, improve, this, article, looking,. For the soteriological term see Effectual calling It has been suggested that this article be merged into Vocation Discuss Proposed since December 2023 Some of this article s listed sources may not be reliable Please help improve this article by looking for better more reliable sources Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed February 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message A calling in the religious sense of the word is a religious vocation which comes from the Latin for call that may be professional or voluntary and idiosyncratic to different religions may come from another person from a divine messenger or from within oneself Contents 1 History 2 Distinctions among different denominations 2 1 Catholicism and Orthodoxy 2 2 Protestant churches 2 3 Latter day Saints 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editThe examples and perspective in this section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this section discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new section as appropriate November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The idea of a vocation or calling has played a significant role within Christianity Since the early days of the Christian faith the term has applied to candidates for the clergy It soon began to be applied to those who felt drawn to a more rigorous observance of their faith through the contemplative lifestyle of the hermits and monks and nuns 1 Later Martin Luther taught that each individual was expected to fulfill their God appointed task in everyday life Although the Lutheran concept of the calling emphasized vocation there was no particular emphasis on labor beyond what was required for one s daily bread Calvinism transformed the idea of the calling by emphasizing relentless disciplined labor Calvin defined the role of the Christian in his vocation noting that God has prescribed appointed duties to men and styled such spheres of life vocations or callings 2 Calvinists distinguished two callings a general calling to serve God and a particular calling to engage in some employment by which one s usefulness is determined 2 The Puritan minister Cotton Mather discussed the obligations of the personal calling writing of some special business and some settled business wherein a Christian should for the most part spend the most of his time so he may glorify God by doing good for himself 3 Mather admonished that it was not lawful ordinarily to live without some calling for men will fall into horrible snares and infinite sins 3 This idea has endured throughout the history of Protestantism Almost three centuries after John Calvin s death in 1564 Thomas Carlyle would proclaim The latest Gospel in this world is know thy work and do it 4 The legacy of this religious ethic continues to exert its influence in secular Western society citation needed Modern occupations which are seen as vocations often include those where a combination of skill and community help are implied such as medical care giving and veterinary occupations Occupations where rewards are seen more in spiritual or other non financial terms such as religious occupations are also seen as vocations Borderline occupations where community service and more personal reward are more evenly balanced such as politics may often be regarded by whom as vocations Distinctions among different denominations editCatholicism and Orthodoxy edit Further information Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church In both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches a candidate to the diaconate and priesthood is referred to as being called to this service in the Church The term is also used for those in consecrated life Protestant churches edit In Protestant churches the decision of a church to invite for appointment a particular minister to invite in due form to the pastorate of a church Presbyterian or Nonconformist OED may be referred to as a call such as extending a call to so and so and is first cited from 1560 by the OED 5 In Evangelicalism the sense of deliberate purpose before God is generally an expected part of the choice to seek ministerial work in the first place and is often referred to as a calling or call Latter day Saints edit The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints describes a calling as a duty position or responsibility in the Church that is issued to a member by priesthood leaders it is an opportunity to serve 6 The church uses a lay clergy with most members receiving no compensation for the execution of their callings 7 Prominent church leader J Reuben Clark said In the service of the Lord it is not where you serve but how In the church one takes the place to which one is duly called which place one neither seeks nor declines 8 Prior to beginning service a person is presented to church membership for a sustaining vote to that calling 9 The person is then set apart to serve in the calling by the laying on of hands 9 See also editOtiumReferences edit Catechism of the Catholic Church Christ s Faithful Hierarchy Laity Consecrated Life The Holy See a b Calvin John 1536 Institutes of the Christian Religion a b Mather Cotton 1701 A Christian at his Calling Carlyle Thomas 1843 Past and Present Scribner Welford OED call 6b Calling Glossary LDS Church Archived from the original on May 9 2009 Retrieved 2009 05 05 Ludlow Daniel H 1992 Clergy Encyclopedia of Mormonism Brigham Young University Retrieved 2009 05 05 Oaks Dallin H 2002 11 01 I ll Go Where You Want Me to Go Liahona LDS Church Retrieved 2009 05 05 a b Brian L Pitcher Callings in Encyclopedia of Mormonism Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Religious calling amp oldid 1192636193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
