A Renewed Vision for Vocation: A Consideration of the Gap Year

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. On the sixth day of creation, God created man and placed him in the garden to “work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15 ESV). Work, therefore, is something that is rooted in the original creation that was declared by the Lord as “good.” While the fall has placed a curse upon the ground, the call to work has not been eliminated. Man is still commanded to have dominion and, even more so, “work heartily, as for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23 ESV). It is no wonder that the etymological root of our word vocation (Latin vocatio, Old French vocacion) means “spiritual calling.” If the Lord is truly the creator of all things, then everything we do should be considered sacred, including our normal and everyday vocations.

As we consider the spiritual significance of our job, we should also acknowledge the spiritual significance of preparing for our future jobs. For the Christian household, of course, this includes being raised in fear and admonition of the Lord. Parents are commanded to raise their children to love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, and soul (Deuteronomy 6). This should be a comprehensive educational approach for young people as they are preparing to enter the workforce. Unfortunately, this task has been passively given over to the secular authorities of the world who clearly have no regard for biblical authority.

It is imperative that the church become more diligent and purposeful in preparing the next generation for entering the workforce. It is crucial that we reconsider what has become the “normal” approach to finding a job. For many, entering college after high school may present itself as the wisest and most discernable step. For those pursuing this path, there are many factors to consider that do not fall within the objective of this article. There are, however, young men and women who are still undecided and possibly left without a sense of purpose. Fortunately, the church has recognized this pitfall and provides a variety of options for bridging the gap between high school and the “real world” of work—hence, the name “gap year.”

Gap years can take on many different forms. For some, this means embarking on a missions trip, usually outside of their own community and/or country. A missions trip provides the student with an incredible chance to expand his or her own world while also serving the Lord through very specific and spiritual means. A missions trip also allows for the chance to postpone the decision regarding entrance to the workforce by stepping away from the pressures associated with that decision.

Another form that a gap year can take is an actual gap-year program. This is usually associated with a more academic approach centered on teaching and personal development. The purpose of these programs is to prepare one for the next step, be it college or the work force, by providing a solid Christian worldview education and thereby building a sense of community with others in similar situations. In many cases, these types of programs are sponsored by Christian colleges and, therefore, offer great academic resources that are not afforded otherwise.

There is still a different course of action during this gap year that is not associated with any distinct telos, and that is to simply find a job. This, of all the options, may be the most pragmatic and presents an immediate return on investment. Having a solid job clearly builds a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility that is necessary for individuals graduating high school. It also enables the young adult to get a head start on a potential career to invest in his or her financial future.

As we examine the gap year and the importance of being conscientious in preparing each generation to be good stewards of their time, passions, and God-given abilities, the church must move away from the standard norm and take on the obligation to be original and creative. If we want cultural change through strong families and strong businesses, then we need strong Christians who possess a biblical worldview and conviction who are taking the lead in their local communities. It may just be that we must analyze the gap-year options mentioned earlier and ask the question about whether the church provides all three at the same time? Can the church, whether it be a local church, denomination, private school, or Christian college, provide gap-year programs that focus on helping post high-school graduates build a biblical worldview and apologetic while working as apprentices and engaging in local ministry within their own community?

For a program like that to work, it would require involvement from the larger community of believers. Local Christian business owners would need to invest their resources in these young people to teach them about their own business industry building while nurturing strong work ethic. Schools would need to focus their energies on providing a robust biblical worldview academic program that also teaches the basic life skills of financial responsibility, business acumen, and personal growth. I believe local churches, along with local ministries, would have no problem with their young people staying in their communities and serving alongside them for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission in their own backyard.

And finally, the most critical involvement must come from parents. Without parents committing to this engagement, there would be no students to participate in this type of holistic program. As parents, we must shed our fear of doing things differently from the existing situation and consider the results that have been achieved by maintaining the current status quo. The encouragement that I will leave us with is this: if we do want to see our young people become the leaders of cultural change towards biblical ends, then we must be determined to do so outside the worldly means that have been standardized. In short, if the Lord is King, then we, His people, can trust Him for the future of our children and do things that are essential to achieve the biblical results we desire.