Where God Meets Man, 50th Anniversary Edition: Luther's Down-to-Earth Approach to the Gospel

by Gerhard O Forde, Bradley C. Jenson (Contributor)

This book about Luther's theology is written out of a twofold first, that many of our problems have arisen because we have not really understood our own traditions, especially in the case of Luther; and second, that there is still a lot of help for us in someone like Luther if we take the trouble to probe beneath the surface. In this ground-breaking book, Forde interprets Luther's theology for our own day.


The fundamental theme of the book is the "down-to-earth" character of Luther's theology. Through this theme, Forde points out that we have failed to understand the basic thrust of Luther's theology and that this failure has caused and still causes us grief. Modern scholarship has demonstrated that Luther did not actually share some of the views on the nature of faith and salvation that subsequent generations have foisted upon him and have used to interpret his thinking. This book attempts to bring the results of some of that scholarship to light and make it more accessible to those searching for answers today.


The central questions of Christianity are examined in this fresh restatement of Luther's the relationship between God and humanity, the cross, the sacraments, this world and the next, and the role of the church. The author presents the "down-to-earth" character of Luther's theology in the hope that it will help individual Christians today to be both faithful to God and true to their human and social responsibilities.


This 50th Anniversary Edition includes a preface by Marianna Forde and a new study guide by Bradley C. Jenson, created to encourage new readings and conversations about Forde's influential take on Luther, theology, and the church.

175 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2021

Reviews

[Justin Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forde’s down to earth approach opposed to the ladder approach was refreshing (not new) but comforting and enlightening to engage Luther and Christianity as a whole.
Emphasizing the sacraments and proclamation of the Gospel as the heart of theology with Christ at the center. I couldn’t put the book down.

[Chris Hulshof · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great reminder that the cross is better than the ladder. Forde emphasizes that the way back to God isn’t through rung climbing on a “do more, try harder” ladder but through Jesus who came down to us and for our salvation. This salvation is the foundation of a down-to-earth, practical, and vocational theology.

[Maddy Haase · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book pushed me to think about different ways we view religion especially in the Lutheran denomination.

[Clayton Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise primer on Lutheran theology that is not dumbed down.