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In the preface to Gene Veith’s book, God at Work, he takes time to thank the individual who introduced him to a book on vocation. That book was Luther on Vocation by Gustaf Wingren, and it significantly influenced Veith. God at Work and Family Vocation, as well as other books written by Veith, bear the marks of the influence of Wingren’s work. I don’t remember who introduced me to Veith’s book, but before I was finished reading God at Work, I had ordered Luther on Vocation.

As the title indicates, Wingren has taken Luther’s theology on the topic of vocation and communicated that to us. Luther teaches that vocation is not about how we are justified before God—that comes about by God’s grace through faith in the Gospel. However, in this world the Lord gives us “stations” or various “vocations” by which He uses us to help and encourage our neighbor. These vocations are where the devil attacks and Christians “bear their crosses,” suffering through the battle of this life until they join their Savior in heaven.

Wingren’s writing helps us to understand that believers exist in two realms or kingdoms that operate in vastly different ways. As we understand the Scriptures’ teaching on this, we come to rest in Christ’s forgiveness for our salvation and to serve our neighbor joyfully and to his benefit. Wingren states it memorably in this way: “God does not need our good works, but our neighbor does” (p.10). As Wingren explores Luther’s writings, he shows the great usefulness of living and serving in the station in which God has placed us. Often, despite ourselves, we help our neighbors by continuing to be farmers, or doctors, or garbage men.

The most intriguing section to me is the definition of love and what it looks like in the world. Wingren describes how Luther makes clear that the Christian loves not in a stereotypical fashion, but “love discovers for itself what is of the greatest benefit to a neighbor” (p.49). What this means is that the “love” which we show to others is not found on a checklist. Through our vocations, God uses us to love people around us, helping them in ways that no other person might be able to care for them. Wingren’s treatment of Luther’s writing on vocation would be of great benefit to anyone who picks it up to read and hear what God’s Word teaches on this topic.

Pr. Dennis Norby
Hope Lutheran Church
Enderlin, ND

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Martin Luther’s treatise, On Christian Liberty, remains one of the most influential of his many works. In this work, Luther declares how the Christian, or believer in Christ, is perfectly free from sin, death, and the devil through faith in Christ. At the same time, this does not give the believer license to act as he or she wishes, but rather gives believers the great opportunity to love and serve their neighbors. This is what God, in Christ, has done for His children.

Several New Testament passages are the basis of the paradox that he sets forth: I Corinthians 9:19, Romans 13:8, Galatians 4:4, and Philippians 2:6-7. The paradox is this: “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all” (p.2).

To lay the groundwork for these, Luther devotes the first major section to distinguishing between the dual natures of the human being as an “inner” and “outer” person. The “inner person” is the “new man.” This is the new spiritual nature as a child of God. The “outer person” is the “old man.” This is the “fleshly nature.” Luther bases this distinction on II Corinthians 4:16 and Galatians 5:17. The believer’s soul freedom is not an external liberty, but one that God gives as an endorsement of the Word of God (see John 11:25, Matthew 4:4). The one thing needful for the soul’s freedom is the Word of God, that is, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Luther develops this truth further with references from Romans 1:1-6, 16, 17 and 10:4, 9.

• Faith in Christ frees from the law. Faith alone justifies without works of the law (Romans 3:28). “This liberty of the Christian—in essence, it is our faith” (p.60). Such liberty is only in Christ. “This freedom does not lead us to live lazy and wicked lives” (p.60).
• Faith honors God. Faith honors God by trusting in Him alone, by ascribing to Him the honor of being truthful to His promise. When this is done, God’s name is hallowed (pp.61-62).
• Faith unites the soul with Christ. “Just as a groom is united with his bride by a solemn vow, so Christ and the soul become one flesh” (p.62).
  

Luther then turns to the outer person and the relationship of faith and works. Works do not contribute to salvation, but they are necessary for loving and serving our neighbor. Good works do not make a good person, but living faith in Christ results in good works. The Christian works to have something to give to his neighbor (Ephesians 5:28). He looks out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:1-4). Christ’s life of humility and service is the example of the Christian’s life of service to his neighbor. Faith gives the Christian all things that Christ has and now the Christian gives himself to his neighbor, just as Christ gave Himself for him (pp.80-84).

In his “final clarification,” Luther emphasizes that Christian freedom is not a license to follow fleshly passions or worldly desires (p.89).

Luther summarizes his argument well in his conclusion: “In conclusion, as Christians we do not live in ourselves, but in Christ and the neighbor. Otherwise we are not Christian. As Christians, we live in Christ through faith and in the neighbor through love” (pp.88-89).

This short book gives a great explanation on Christian liberty, and I heartily commend it to your reading! It gives great insight into the issues that Luther faced in his day, and with the response which we also need today!

Pr. Joel Rolf
AFLBS Dean
Plymouth, MN

This treatise is also available in these editions: “The Freedom of a Christian” and “The Freedom of a Christian—Annotated Luther Study Edition.”

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Have you ever thought of Luther’s Small Catechism as a daily devotion? Luther in his Preface to the Large Catechism stated: “I am . . . a doctor and preacher; yes, as learned and experienced as all the people who have such assumptions and contentment. Yet I act as a child who is being taught the catechism. Every morning—and whenever I have time—I read and say, word for word, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Psalms, and such. I must still read and study them daily. Yet I cannot master the catechism as I wish. But I must remain a child and pupil of the catechism, and am glad to remain so.” [1] If Dr. Luther needed such daily devotion, don’t we also?

In his book As Luther Taught the Word of Truth: Devotions on the Small Catechism, Pastor Richard E. Lauersdorf provides a valuable resource to help readers learn the catechism through a series of fifty-eight devotions. Each devotion focuses on a portion of the five chief parts of the catechism: the Commandments, Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer, and Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Each devotion provides biblical insight and practical application with helpful illustrations. At the end of each devotion, there is a simple prayer or hymn verse summarizing the devotional thought.

Lauersdorf slightly changes the order of the catechism. He begins with a series of devotions on the Apostle’s Creed rather than the Ten Commandments. He states, “Before we discuss what God wants us to do for him, we need to look at what he has done for us” (p.4). With this change in the order, he emphasizes the Gospel’s power to empower the Christian life. This is an interesting insight.

This book would be a beneficial aid in a pastor’s ministry. It would be a great devotional resource for confirmation instruction and adult membership classes. It could be used as a much needed review of Christian truth for elder and deacon board meetings. This book can also be given as a gift to confirmation students, new congregational members, pastors, church workers, or anyone in need of renewal in the basics of the Christian faith. In other words, it would be beneficial for all.

Pr. David Tilney
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Cloquet, MN

[1] McCain, Paul T., ed. Concordia The Lutheran Confessions: A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord, Second Edition (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006), p.353.

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