I’m collecting information on Christian understandings of vocation in preparation for a position paper on the subject, particularly as it relates to mathematics and computer science. I’ve long struggled over the question of how my work serves God’s purposes, and God has used many influences in my life over the last several years to help me grow in understanding and embracing this.
I’m significantly indebted to Gene Veith on this topic. Dr. Veith writes about vocation and other topics on his blog, which I recommend. His book God at Work, which I have yet to read, is regarded by many as one of the best introductions to a Christian view of vocation.
Articles
Various authors at Comment magazine write helpful advice and encouragement on vocation for 28-year-olds.
Gene Veith on God at work (PDF, part one)
Gene Veith on the masks of God (PDF, part two)
Gene Veith on family vocation (PDF, part three)
Gene Veith on calling (PDF, part four)
Gene Veith on citizenship (PDF, part five)
Gene Veith on the gospel and the local church (PDF, part six of six)
Gene Veith on Christians in a Dot Com world (PDF)
Gene Veith on God's double sovereignty (PDF)
Dr. Gene Chase, one of my computer science professors at Messiah College, provides an outline of a talk he delivered on how to integrate faith and scholarship.
Dr. Vern Poythress writes on a Biblical view of mathematics.
Vern Poythress on creation and mathematics.
Vern Poythress on why scientists must believe in God.
Vern Poythress on science as allegory.
Books
Veith, Gene. God at Work.
Grudem, Wayne. Business for the Glory of God.
Rykan, Leland. Worldly Saints. Dr. Ryken has an excellent chapter on the Puritans’ understanding of work (Chapter 2: Work).
Guinness, Os. The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life.
Poythress, Vern. Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach (or see the PDF version of Redeeming Science for personal use).
Audio
John Loftness preached on a Biblical understanding of work (free download) in 2002 as part of a sermon series entitled “Sanctifying the Ordinary.” I took abbreviated notes on a recording of this message.
One of my pastors, Phil Sasser, spoke on a Christian understanding of vocation (free download) at a men’s meeting in July 2005.
Wayne Grudem delivered a series of messages on topics related to his book Business for the Glory of God (see above) at a conference in 2004:
Private Property and Producing Goods and Services (free download)
Buying, Selling and Profit (free download)
Competition and Corporations (free download)
Lying and Truth-Telling (free download)
Q & A (free download)
Quotes
John Murray, Principles of Conduct
We know how intriguing, even to godless men, is the scientific quest (and the artistic quest!), and how untiring are their labours to discover the secrets of what they call nature (and what they call art!). How incomparably more intriguing and defeatlessly rewarding would have been the quest of sinless man when, at every step of his path and in every detail of progressive understanding, the marvels of the Creator’s wisdom, power, goodness, righteousness, and lovingkindness would have broken in upon his heart and mind, and every new discovery, every additional conquest, would have given cause afresh for the adoration, ‘O Lord, how manifold are they works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is fully of thy riches’ (Psa 104:24). We get a glimpse of the stupendous undertaking and the unspeakable glory of it all. We begin, perhaps, to understand a little of what culture should be. This is the culture that would have engaged and inspired man if he had been confirmed in his integrity. It would have been culture untiringly inspired by the apprehension of the Creator’s glory and by the passion to apprehend and exalt that glory more. That our culture is so little inspired by that ideal is but proof that man has fallen. That any of this culture is found in the earth is proof of redemptive grace. (38)
Other
See my vocation bookmarks on del.icio.us.