God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life (Focal Point Series)

Media:	Paperback
Author:	Gene Edward, Jr. Veith
Publisher:	Crossway Books
Release date:	01 April, 2002
List price:	~~$14.99~~
Our price:	$10.19 that is 32% off!

God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life (Focal Point Series)

Average rating: Stars

Veith at his best!

This is truly an encouraging book for all Christians to read. I believe this book will have a very broad appeal to Christians of every age, as they wonder about how the 'spiritual' enters into the 'practical' of everyday life. Veith reawakens us to the biblical truth of Christian 'vocation' or calling, whereby God uses each of us to be little incarnations of His love on earth. Understanding how even the most mundane tasks can be filled with spiritual significance as we work out our faith in love (Gal. 5:6). The marvelous truth is that by faith in Jesus Christ, we are members of Christ's body, the church, and our callings as parents, sons, daughters, grandparents, workers, citizens, etc become the realms in which Christ excercises His love through us. Doubtless this book will give many Christians a renewed outlook on their life and vocations, and not by putting them into a legalistic mindset--but rather, by showing us how our consciences are freed from the accusation of the Law by faith in Jesus Christ. And this same faith becomes living and active in all we do, to the glory of God. Yet neither is the doctrine of vocation an airy idealism. No; it also takes into account our sinful nature as humans, and how we face the cross of suffering in our vocations as well. But in all the trials and conflicts of life we have the constant promise of Jesus' forgiveness and a bodily resurrection in heaven one day. Truly a comforting book.

God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life (Focal Point Series) - Gene Edward, Jr. Veith

Good book

This book is a well-written, easy to read introduction to Luther's doctrine of vocation. Veith explores the doctrine of vocation and shows that it not only gives value to work, it is also the key to Christian ethics. In the introductory paragraphs, Veith explains how the doctrine of vocation is how God is at work in the normal day-to-day activities of people's lives. In providing daily bread for his people, for example, God is at work in the human callings of farmers, bakers, truck drivers, factory workers, wholesalers, retailers, etc. Different vocations, then, are rightly understood as secondary means which God has ordained to accomplish his purposes. Veith then devotes a chapter to each of the major vocations: our calling as a worker, our calling in the family, our calling as a citizen, and our calling in the church. In these chapters, he explores relevant biblical texts dealing with each of the vocations and demonstrates their application through real-life examples. To wrap up the book, Veith spends a couple chapters on the ethical implications of the doctrine of vocation and how it works to shed light on controversial ethical questions (euthanasia, abortion, etc.). I enjoyed this book thoroughly, and after reading it, I finally understood clearly how the Reformation eliminated the medieval sacred/secular distinction. It's all sacred. It's God at work.

Gene Edward, Jr. Veith - God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life (Focal Point Series)

A Superb Study!!!

This is the first book I've read by Gene Veith, and it was well worth it. He writes that when you understand it properly, the doctrine of vocation - "doing everything for God's glory" - this is not a platitude or an outdated notion. This principle that we vaguely apply to our lives and work is actually the key to Christian ethics, to influencing our culture for Christ, and to infusing our ordinary, everyday lives with the presence of God, for when we realize that the "mundane" activities that consume most of our time are "God's hiding places," our perspective changes.

There are a lot of powerful statements and teaching in this book, and much to be digested and thought through, but one in particular is the comment on the church as a business, which appears to be showing up everywhere these days, especially in this culture.

Veith writes: "Business models can be great for businesses, and being a CEO is a worthy calling in its sphere, but the Church is not a secular institution, but a spiritual one, and the call of a pastor has a specific content and is not reducible to just leading an institution...Acting outside of one's calling is a formula for disaster."

A great read, and well worth the price. Highly recommended!!!

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