The next dual relationship that constitutes a “holy order” according to the Table of Duties in Luther’s SMALL CATECHISM is that of parents and children:
PARENTS
Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4.
CHILDREN
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3.
Being a parent is a good example of both authority and service in vocation. Of course parents have authority over their children, but notice how so much of parenting consists of self-sacrifice on their behalf (all that work that children demand; taking care of them; cleaning them up; driving them around; spending money for what they need; etc.). And yet, because we love our children, we don’t really mind!
So in what sense is being a child a vocation? What are the proper duties of children? How can they love and serve their neighbors in that particular calling?
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