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Freedom in Response: Lutheran Ethics: Sources and Controversies
The leitmotif of Freedom in Response , as the title suggests, is a reasoned exposition of the nature of freedom, as it is presented in the Bible and developed by such later theologians as Martin Luther. Oswald Bayer considers Luther's teachings on pastoral care, marriage, and the three estates, bringing in Kant and Hegel as conversation partners, together with Kant's friend and critic, the innovative theologian and philosopher Johann Georg Hamann.
Oswald Bayer is a major contemporary Lutheran theologian, but so far little of his work has been translated from German into English. This selection of essays indicates the depth and range of his thought on issues relating to theological ethics.
Oswald Bayer is a major contemporary Lutheran theologian, but so far little of his work has been translated from German into English. This selection of essays indicates the depth and range of his thought on issues relating to theological ethics.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 12, 2007
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November 2, 2014
This is an exquisite book on christian ethics. Starts with the premise that God set man free not to pursue happiness as it were, but to live without the shadow of condemnation knowing that all final assessment of a life is done by God and answered in Christ for those who lay hold of Him or rather are laid hold by Him. With the foundation that or present assessment is only provisional man is set free to live, work, love, fail,succeed die and all is at rest for all is answered by God in Christ. With this base, he explores the notion of the curse of freedom to the secular, contemporary culture and the legalism of its liberty....you are free now be, act free....but there is only bandage in trying to "be" free, freedom is rather a state or relation one has than a way one lives.
He discusses the three estates (church home and nation) at length and puts particular focus on marriage as where we are set free from all the continental assessments we might make and rather live on God's word of promise that this is the situation He has established, His institution, and we just occupy our place in it. (we might say we believe in the institution than in our experience of it). At any rate, Bayer's reflections on marriage alone are worth the hefty sticker price of this volume.
To wrap up, if you are interested in ethics,contemporary society and how a Christian might live and serve not as one born in 1520 but rather some time in he here and now, I cannot recommend this book highly enough (there were times I had tingles up my neck). Do not be shy of the price tag, the musing it will offer and the comfort it gives are worth the 25 or so lattes from Starbucks!
He discusses the three estates (church home and nation) at length and puts particular focus on marriage as where we are set free from all the continental assessments we might make and rather live on God's word of promise that this is the situation He has established, His institution, and we just occupy our place in it. (we might say we believe in the institution than in our experience of it). At any rate, Bayer's reflections on marriage alone are worth the hefty sticker price of this volume.
To wrap up, if you are interested in ethics,contemporary society and how a Christian might live and serve not as one born in 1520 but rather some time in he here and now, I cannot recommend this book highly enough (there were times I had tingles up my neck). Do not be shy of the price tag, the musing it will offer and the comfort it gives are worth the 25 or so lattes from Starbucks!
Displaying 1 of 1 review