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The Callings: The Gospel in the World
The Christian life begins when we hear and respond to the call of Jesus Christ. Like the first disciples, we must 'leave everything' in order to follow him. Paul Helm shows that instead of dividing life into 'spiritual' and 'secular' compartments every moment of it can be lived fully to the glory of God.
144 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1987
29 people want to read
About the author
Paul Helm
74 books15 followersPaul Helm teached philosophy at the University of Liverpool before becoming Professor of the History and Philosophy of Religion at King s College, London (1993-2000).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 15, 2014
Amazing book. As one reviewer said, 'It's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside'
As a philosopher, Paul Helm is cogent and wastes no words. As a theologian, he is orthodox, practical and accessible.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wondering about their significance in life as they work in various vocations. A great attempt at recovering the doctrine of work.
As a philosopher, Paul Helm is cogent and wastes no words. As a theologian, he is orthodox, practical and accessible.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wondering about their significance in life as they work in various vocations. A great attempt at recovering the doctrine of work.
June 3, 2022
Questions, uncertainty, and anxiety about vocation plague my generation. We millennials are famously indecisive, as we seem always to be striving for the perfect fit. One reason for this is we have fallen for the siren song of, "you can be whatever you want to be," and we have grown addicted to the fun game of answering the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" A much better song is "God is calling you to glorify and enjoy Him forever." A more fruitful question is "to what are you called?" Philosopher and theologian Paul Helm has written an excellent book on the matter of vocation (and by extension, vocations). The volume is thoughtful and demanding, but accessible to "the reading public," so to speak. I would not put this book in the hands of someone who is not a serious reader, but I would certainly encourage thoughtful and curious teenagers, young adults, college students, and seminarians to read it!
This paragraph from pp 131-132 really struck me as I consider how best to disciple the factory laborers, office workers, seminary students, housewives, retirees, and children in my congregation:
“The question is sometimes raised whether the first priority should be individual salvation or social action. But there cannot really be any doubt what the answer should be. For to be authentically Christian any activity and society, whether it takes the form of upholding the rights of others not to be made to sin and to suffer, or of entrepreneurship and risk-taking in business, must be an outworking of a Christian‘s call, the effect of regenerating grace. And social action or business activity, besides being undertaken in a lawful manner, must also not undermine the structure of biblical law regarding the worship of the true God, family life and private property.”
This paragraph from pp 131-132 really struck me as I consider how best to disciple the factory laborers, office workers, seminary students, housewives, retirees, and children in my congregation:
“The question is sometimes raised whether the first priority should be individual salvation or social action. But there cannot really be any doubt what the answer should be. For to be authentically Christian any activity and society, whether it takes the form of upholding the rights of others not to be made to sin and to suffer, or of entrepreneurship and risk-taking in business, must be an outworking of a Christian‘s call, the effect of regenerating grace. And social action or business activity, besides being undertaken in a lawful manner, must also not undermine the structure of biblical law regarding the worship of the true God, family life and private property.”
September 8, 2024
Years ago, I wrote to the Banner of Truth Trust, suggesting (what a cheek!) that they republish Paul Helm's three-volume series as one classic hardback volume: "The Beginnings", "The Callings", and "The Last Things." I suggested this after reading the first volume:"The Beginnings."
Having now read "The Callings," I am even more persuaded that this series should be republished, as one classic volume that will endure.
The importance & significance of "The Callings" cannot be overstated, for our biblical understanding, ethical application and practical daily sanctification.
In this book, Paul Helm considers the theology of our 'calling' - beginning with our effectual calling by God. He then looks at our daily 'calling' in terms of our daily lives - in 1 Cor 7 terms of singleness and marriage, in terms of work/unemployment/retired etc, and seeks to raise afresh a renewed, reformational emphasis on the importance of our daily work as a calling from God. He is dealing with the problem of dualism that still so often infects our thinking as believers: the impact of Greek philosophy which, rather like leaven, we've never quite purged from the Church on earth.
Finally, the author then ends by showing how our calling and conduct in this world relates to the world to come.
The thought of the next world will be the subject of volume three :"The Last Things."
And that, dear reader, is where I'm heading next.... to volume three !
Such a valuable series of books. Every Christian ought to read these books, and especially every church leader.
Having now read "The Callings," I am even more persuaded that this series should be republished, as one classic volume that will endure.
The importance & significance of "The Callings" cannot be overstated, for our biblical understanding, ethical application and practical daily sanctification.
In this book, Paul Helm considers the theology of our 'calling' - beginning with our effectual calling by God. He then looks at our daily 'calling' in terms of our daily lives - in 1 Cor 7 terms of singleness and marriage, in terms of work/unemployment/retired etc, and seeks to raise afresh a renewed, reformational emphasis on the importance of our daily work as a calling from God. He is dealing with the problem of dualism that still so often infects our thinking as believers: the impact of Greek philosophy which, rather like leaven, we've never quite purged from the Church on earth.
Finally, the author then ends by showing how our calling and conduct in this world relates to the world to come.
The thought of the next world will be the subject of volume three :"The Last Things."
And that, dear reader, is where I'm heading next.... to volume three !
Such a valuable series of books. Every Christian ought to read these books, and especially every church leader.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews