History of Christianity
According to William Placher in his book Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom on Vocation, there are four periods in the history of Christianity. These are Early Church (100-500), Middle Ages (500-1500), Reformation period (1500-1800), and Post-Christian world (1800-Present). Each period had different ideologies on Christian vocation. I find the concept of vocation as being a Christian in the Early Church, and all honest work as a calling from God concept in the Reformation period intriguing questions in the present world. My fascination with these two questions come from scholarly arguments and theological discussions that suggest Christian vocation is more than just being a Christian or an honest individual. I think callings or vocation should be viewed as purposes or ways of life that people live according to their gifts and talents from God. It is interesting to know that the church had such a different and somewhat debatable perspective.
However, I think looking through the history of Christianity and the changes to perspectives of vocation is quite problematic more than reasonable. The lack of a clear connection between ideas about vocation during the history complicates understanding the whole concept. I prefer to stick to the current notion that vocation is Christian purpose and calling that one follows by gifts or talents to avoid the problem of going through history that might change this thought.