Work as Vocation. The Priesthood of All Believers

Abstract

The Protestant Reformation is proof of the fact that across the past centuries religion had an extremely important role in developing the European culture and civilisation. Since it appeared, Protestantism has permanently pointed out that all human beings live in the presence of God, ad that is why religion and education should be in close connection. And that is also why man’s entire life is relevant from a religious point of view. Luther openly showed his appreciation for the Christians’ daily activity and considered the secular occupations constitute a vocation: as a result, everyone should prove responsible, professional, and conscientious in his/her work, including those dealing with the education of the young. This change of perception in regard to vocation occurring in the century of the Protestant Reformation needs to be related to the priesthood of all believers and the doctrine of justification by faith alone. These two teachings specific to Protestantism explain why Luther was so keen on the educational role of the family, and the need for a close cooperation between the family, the state authorities, Church, and school. Luther evinced the nobility of the schoolteacher’s work by considering it a vocation.