Irreplaceable: Humanity, Vocation, and the Limits of Technology

by A. Trevor Sutton, Gene Edward Veith, William Sarris (Reader)

From the invention of the wheel to artificial intelligence, humans have always made tools to help with our work. But what happens when we are supplanted by our tools? As our society increasingly treats tools like humans and humans like tools, how should we think about ourselves?


In Irreplaceable, Gene Edward Veith Jr. and A. Trevor Sutton show how the Protestant doctrine of vocation addresses the many existential, ethical, and practical problems raised by emerging technology. Vocation is about much more than our jobs. It's about the life that the Lord has assigned our relationships, commitments, and everyday activities. Far more than a mere "work ethic," vocation is the theology of how God works through human beings in love and service to their neighbors. The doctrine of vocation still applies in our technological age—perhaps now more than ever. While developments in technology always bring new questions, God's callings on our lives remain.


A robust understanding of vocation has the power to save the future of work. This timely book helps you think through the role technology should play in your life—at home, at church, and in wider society—and brings clarity, purpose, and hope to all entering this brave new world of emerging technology.

1 pages, Audio CD

Published October 20, 2026

About the author

A. Trevor Sutton is associate pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Haslett, Michigan. He is currently a graduate student in Writing and Rhetoric at Michigan State University. Sutton has a BA from Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and an MDiv from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.

Sutton’s work has appeared in Faith & Leadership (Duke Divinity School), The Cresset (Valparaiso University), and Concordia Journal (Concordia Seminary). He has published multiple sermons, Bible studies, and devotional books with various Christian publishers. He previously served as managing editor of Relief Journal: A Christian Literary Expression. He speaks at academic conferences, retreats, and congregations.

Sutton lives in Lansing, Michigan, with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys cycling, hiking, fly-fishing, and impromptu dance parties with his daughters.

Reviews

[BookishMama · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is focused on the intersection of technology and our Christian vocations with a specific emphasis on work, family, church, and societal vocations. My goodness! I admittedly skipped the workplace chapter since I am not currently in the traditional workforce but I read the rest and loved it! I've been recommending it to everyone and thinking about it constantly. The footnotes were spectacular, too. I've got a huge list of books and articles to read now and right away borrowed one of the mentioned books from the library.

*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Samuel Cocha · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to the many questions plaguing people’s minds about what our relationship with technology should look like. Rather than seeking to answer all the FAQs about our use of technology, the authors dive into the concept of vocation and place it at the center of the conversation. That may sound odd, but it actually helps this whole conversation make more sense.