Final answer:
In Lutheran and Protestant thought, faith alone is determined to be necessary for salvation, contrasting with the Catholic view which combines faith and works. Despite this, Protestants developed a strong work ethic as a sign of being God's elect, leading to a notion of vocation that combines personal industry with spiritual service.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship of faith and works in vocation, especially within the context of Lutheran theology and the broader Protestant reformation, is a complex one. Martin Luther's reading of St. Paul led him to conclude that salvation was achieved by faith alone, and not by the good works emphasized by the Catholic Church. This represented a significant shift in Christian thought, moving away from the concept of earning one's way into heaven through acts and towards the idea of inherent grace given by God through faith.
However, the Protestant work ethic, as described by Max Weber, suggests that a belief in predestination and personal faith could also lead to a strong work ethic. This is because a life of hard work and industry could be seen as evidence of being part of the 'elect'. The vocation, or calling, was therefore twofold in Protestant thought: it was both a personal duty to earn a living and a way to serve God by fulfilling one's earthly duties with earnestness.
It is also worth noting that the Protestant Reformation, propelled by Luther's ideas and those of John Calvin, spawned a new attitude towards work and economic activity. This laid the foundation for what would become known capitalism, which has since dominated much of the western economic landscape.