Vocation

I attended a presentation recently on art and architecture in the church. The presenter asserted (quite forcefully, if I may add the editorial comment) that there should be no differentiation between nave and chancel, not even a step or communion rail. He also asserted that there should be only one place from which the Word should be read and proclaimed—the pulpit, no lecturn—for expounding upon scripture is not above the reading of scripture itself. He then continued by saying that it was acceptable for the lector to read the scripture from the pulpit, for to not allow a layperson in the pulpit would indicate a class distinction between lay and clergy (the main reason for having no differentiation between nave and chancel in the first place). This got me thinking about the priesthood of all believers and vocation, and how it can still be taken wrongly today.
In the Middle Ages, the church taught that being a member of the clergy or a monk or nun were the highest calling a Christian could become. Martin Luther argued that all Christians have a vocation—a God-given “calling” –to be whatever they were: butcher, baker, candlestick maker, mom, child, student, etc. With this line of reasoning came the concept that we are all priests.
Today there is the misunderstanding that because we all have a vocation and none is higher than another; that means that a pastor is equal to his parishioners. A layperson is no more, no less than a pastor, even in the chancel or pulpit. I am inclined to disagree.
The teacher in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory said, “For a student to teach his teacher is presumptuous and rude.” The commercials which say, “Ask your doctor about [this medicine],” rub me the wrong way. In our vocations we live our vocations and do not presume to do someone else’s vocation. I do not like it when non-teachers tell me what to teach and how to teach it. I am not a doctor, so I am not going to presume to tell my doctor that I need a particular medication just because it is advertised on television. I am not a pastor (obviously) so I will not presume to do my pastor’s job, namely Word and Sacrament ministry. After all, I’m not the one with the M.Div. In this case, there is a distinction between vocations. The distinction is to what one is called. There comes a point where our pastors need to step up to minister, and the people need to step back and allow themselves to be ministered. This is order; for if there is no order, there is chaos, and chaos unchecked can lead to anarchy.