Vocation: Discerning Our Callings in Life

By Douglas J. Schuurman

Book Overview

The Protestant doctrine of vocation has had a profound influence on American culture, but in recent years central tenets of this doctrine have come under assault. Vocation: Discerning Our Callings in Life explores current responses to the classic view of vocation and offers a revised statement and application of this doctrine for contemporary North American Christians.

According to Douglas Schuurman, many Christians today find it both strange and difficult to interpret their social, economic, political, and cultural lives as responses to God's calling. To renew this biblical perspective, Schuurman argues, Christians must recover the language, meaning, and reality of life as vocation, and his book helps do just that. Developed in dialogue with audiences as diverse as college students, industrial workers, business leaders, church leaders, and professional theologians and ethicists, the book examines the theological and ethical dimensions of vocation as these have been understood historically and in relation to our modern social setting.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802801374
• ISBN13: 9780802801371
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

...the jackpot in my search for a good book on vocation

I spent several weeks doing research on the topic of vocation and reading books and articles from a variety of sources. This book proved to be the most formational and helpful for me. Schuermann's wisdom really helped me put into perspective the relationship between work, life, and vocation, as well as how it relates to our theology throughout history. Great book.

A Gift to Anyone Desiring a Biblical View of Work and Calling

I've found many are confused by myths and misconceptions when it comes to a Biblical view of vocation. Douglas Schuurman has brought a light into the mist as he provides a wonderful explanation of the doctrine of vocation and how to live it out in the modern world. The book has three main outlined themes. First, all aspects of life are holy. Second, duties are to be governed by God's will. Third, officials are God's representatives. Drawing heavily on the writings of Luther and Calvin, he provides diverse views on the subject and articulates clear arguments for his conclusions. Vocation is the best resource I've read on the subject and I would highly recommend it to those considering the topic.

Timely book

I normally do not believe blurbs on the back of books, but this one lives up to its billing. Stephen J. Pope, of Boston College, says this book "is a model of how to do theological ethics in a way that is both rooted in tradition and highly creative. Schuurman has mastered this topic, and his book will no doubt be regarded as a major reference on this topic for years to come." Philosopher Lee Hardy says this book is "A wise, judicious, and compelling rearticulation of the concept of vocation as an integrated force in the Christian life (back cover)." Unlike other books, which restrict the idea of vocation to paid work or reduce it to "ten steps" for this or that form of success, this book presents the concept of vocation in its richest sense. This book is "must reading" for anyone who wants to think, speak, or write about vocation. It would be a great text for college or seminary courses pertaining to theology or ethics, and also a fine resource for pastors and literate laypersons.