Where God Meets Man: Luther's Down-To-Earth Approach to the Gospel

Rating:
Summary: Good News: A Radical Book - A Radical Gospel
Review: Gerhard Forde's book is the clearest articulation of Martin Luther's theololgy that I have read. Shortly after Luther's death - and perhaps even during Luther's later life - the Reformation movement began to drift into Orthodoxy and lose some of the scandalous edge that is inherent to the very nature of a Gospel that turned - and still turns - the world "upside down".

With great clarity and accessability, Forde recaptures Luther's Reformation theology. He systematically leads the reader through Luther's understanding of: the human condition, the nature of God, salvation by grace through faith, the Sacraments, this world and the world to come, and the calling (vocation)of Christians in this world. Forde also illustrates the many ways that the Church - even the Lutheran tradition - has misunderstood, watered down, or tried to "tame" Luther's views.

The book is useful for personal reading, discussion groups, and Christian education classes. As a Lutheran pastor, I have used it a number of times with adult groups. Class members found the book to be very readable and helpful in shaping their own theology and faith.

The only criticism is that the book was written prior to a concern for inclusive language, and so the pronouns - even in the title - need to be glossed over.