Product Description
The official English-language edition of a historic church document

This volume presents in English the official Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, confirmed by the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church in Augsburg, Germany, in October 1999. The result of decades of Lutheran–Roman Catholic dialogue, this primary document represents an ecumenical event of historical significance.

Included in the volume are the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification and the Official Common Statement with its Annex. These texts are recommended for careful study in seminaries and parishes and for reading by individual Christians. It is hoped that the Joint Declaration will deepen understanding of the biblical message of justification and also serve to further reflection within the wider ecumenical movement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Renunciation of Linguistic Fallacies
This is a very significant document that theoretically puts aside the crux of the Protestant Reformation. In my own research prior to this document's release, I concluded that the differences on the subject of justification between the Protestant and Catholic positions were the result of two linguistic fallacies: (1) Equivocation and (2) Distinction without a Difference (Difvocation).Equivocation is about terms sounding the same but the underlying definitions that the parties are using are different. In this case terms like "saved" meant something different to the Protestant or Evangelical vs. the Catholic. To the Protestant it referred to the event of justification. To Catholics it can refer to entering heaven. Significant differences. Difvocation is about terms sounding differently but having the same underlying definition. In this case "saved" (for the Protestant or Evangelical) and "justification" (for the Catholic).What is significant with the Agreement on Justification (and it is much more involved that the simple illustration I just gave) is that neither church changed any of their doctrines to come to this agreement. That is strong evidence that the problem since the Protestant Reformation, on this issue, was linguistic confusion. Duh!!!As to the imputed vs. infused debate, I think the authors understood that this too might be labeled also as Difvocation. This is a bit dicer because there is a definitional difference between infused justification (the person is made sinless) and imputed (the person is just claimed to be forgiven). Infused refers to totally wiping away the sin; while imputed refers to Luther's concept of covering up the pile of dung with snow.But in the end, the difference has no meaning. Regardless of which position you take, it changes nothing about what a person is suppose to believe or do to get to heaven. It is a distinction without a difference. This document does all of that.

Thank God
This little book proves that a reunification of the Catholic Church is possible. The book is essential in an understanding of what unites Christians.

Roman Catholics win on this one
Sometimes it amazes me how theologians sometimes can miss the important trees because they want to look at an apparently harmonious forest. Here is one document that cuts down important trees just to make the forest look all nice and green.

It seems that the way that the document is phrased it was skewed in favour of the Roman Catholic side. Sure, the formulators talk a lot about grace, faith, etc. but it is decidedly towards an un-Protestant perspective. For instance, point #11 states: "Justification is the forgiveness of sins (cf. Rom 3:23-25; Acts 13:39; Lk 18:14), liberation from the dominating power of sin and death (Rom 5:12-21) and from the curse of the law (Gal 3:10-14)" (p. 13). No good Protestant will say that justification involves the "liberation from the dominating power of sin and death." Also, in point #15 the document states: "Justification thus means that Christ himself is our righteousness, in which we share through the Holy Spirit in accord with the will of the Father" (p. 15). The formulators forgot to mention whether this righteousness from Christ is an infused or imputed one (more likely the former the way the whole document sounds).

Another point in the document skewed in favour of the RCC position are points #28 and #29. Point #28 states: "The justified also must ask God daily for forgiveness, as in the Lord's Prayer (Mt. 6:12; 1 Jn 1:9), are ever again called to conversion and penance, and are ever again granted forgiveness" (p. 21). And #29: "But when individuals voluntarily separate themselves from God, it is not enough to return to observing the commandments, for they must receive pardon and peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation through the word of forgiveness imparted to them in virtue of God's reconciling work in Christ" (p. 22). It sure sounds like a true believer must pray for forgiveness and do some "penance" after committing some sin in order to be restored back to a right standing before God again (compare this statement with the WCF XI.5). The document, thus, is not an endeavor to find a common "consensus" between Lutherans and Roman Catholics on the doctrine of justification but merely a reaffirmation of Roman Catholic soteriology.

Finally, the document states in point #39 that the Lutherans understand "eternal life in accord with the New Testament as unmerited 'reward' in the sense of the fulfillment of God's promise to the believer" (p. 25). The document does not say who earns this "reward." Traditional Protestants (Lutherans, Reformed, Anglicans, Baptists, etc.) argue that Christ merited the reward of eternal life on behalf of the elect by perfectly fulfilling the righteous demands of the law. This righteousness,therefore, is imputed (not infused or imparted) to those who believe. However, it looks like the document states that believers themselves must somehow earn this "reward" (eternal life) through their non-meritorious good works. This is not something any right-minded evangelical Protestant (Lutheran or otherwise) can comfortably live with.

Overall, this document accomplished little but give the Roman Catholic Church an extra weapon to use against Protestants. Hopefully someday a much better and more biblical document will be published by evangelical Protestants of various backgrounds showing the total incompatibility between Roman Catholics and evangelical Protestants on this very important subject.

By grace alone...
It often amazes me that there seems to be an inverse relationship to the importance of a document and the number of words contained therein.Think of how few words are in the Lord's Prayer, the 23rd Psalm, the Gettysburg Address.This book continues in that fashion.In a mere 38 pages of text, this small booklet represents a major move in ecumenical understanding between Catholic and Protestant churches.

For hundreds of years, the Lutheran church, the definitive church of the start of the Reformation, and the Roman Catholic church have looked suspiciously upon each other in political and theological circles. With the fall of markedly theocratic states in the West, the overt national/party political aspects of the division were able to be set aside, so that dialogue could be undertaken in earnest in theological matters.

The doctrine of Justification is important for Christians -- one of Luther's primary concerns against the institutional church was its practices with regard to justification; the Roman Catholic church in many ways tacitly agreed with many of Luther's criticisms in the developments of the Counter-Reformation.However, given the personalities and the politics involved (not the least of which involved the Lutherans and the Catholics describing each other's institution and leadership in terms of being the antichrist), dialogue and agreement was hardly possible.

The twentieth century may be remembered as the century in which ages-old attitudes began to change, and ecumenical action in earnest began to develop.As stated in the preamble, this document does not describe all that either the Lutheran or the Roman Catholic churches hold as part of their doctrines of justification; however, it does cover those areas of common accord.On the basis of these broad areas, both sides agree that the remaining differences are no longer grounds for doctrinal condemnations.

The common agreement comes down to this: that by grace alone, and not through any particular merit earned or created on our part, in faith in Christ's salvific work.It denies works righteousness without rendering irrelevant the good works people can and should do; it denies a monopoly on God's grace by any human being or institution, or the absence of grace from such.

While the document of the Joint Declaration is new, the sentiments are not; there is a brief section on sources that show how the principles contained here come from the longer traditions of the churches, and are not made up by committee.

This is an important work, worthy of study by Catholics and Protestants as a beacon of hope for reconciliation among Christians, that they truly may all be one body in Christ. ... Read more

Product Description
Discernment is decision-making that begins and ends with God, according to Braun, and following God's will is a gift from God worked through the Holy Spirit, as is faith itself. So it makes sense that the Lord's Prayer, introduced at a time of transition in Jesus' life and that of his disciples, provides a means for Christians of every age to faithfully work through challenging and confusing times in their lives.
Using the petitions of the Lord's Prayeras her framework and offering insights from her own experience of praying at life' s crossroads and being privy to the prayer lives of others, the author leads readers into deeper awareness of God's will in their lives - a will that propels Christians to service. ... Read more

Product Description
You will find:? Prayers for different circumstances? 569 hymns for voice & piano with verses? Prayers of the day, psalms & lessons? Various indexes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great Hymnal
The church that I belong to has been using this book since the early 1980's.It was our only hymnal until we got a hymnal supplement in 1991 and then the With One Voice hymnal in the late 1990's.If you enjoy traditional service settings, organ music, and old hymns that most know, then this hymnal is a great choice for you!

Decent hymnal, but a step down from the previous edition
I agree with the other reviewer that claims that the older hymnal is a better choice.

Much of the language has been simplified in this book, and in my opinion, the simplification is completely pointless.It doesn't make the songs any more relevant to our life, it just makes them less poetic and spiritual.I do believe that hymnals should change and evolve over time, but I think this change should be in the form of including new music with the same level of poetic and harmonic sophistication, instead of just watering down the old music or including new, simpler music.

One thing I like about the sections of this book used for worship is that they are structured in a way that makes it very easy to integrate musical chanting into the service instead of just reading text.This is in contrast to some other protestant hymnals, which don't really have this option, or don't make it as easy.

This is a pretty good hymnal.I give three stars instead of four only because I feel the music has been substantially watered-down from previous editions, and, much like my criticisms of textbooks nowadays, I think that when a newer edition is inferior to an earlier one, the newer edition never deserves 4 or more stars.

Buy the Red Hymnal.Its 100 times better.
This bad revision is a put together from odds and ends of synods that do not fit together.Get the real thing, the red hymnal of 1985.The liturgy in the red hymnal (as opposed to this shoddy book is beautiful.Our congregation switched from green (the new one) to red (the old hymnal) a few years ago and I was surprised at the difference!The bolderizations are gone, the liturgy is lighter and the excellent old music is brought to life.While the green hymnal is much much better than the dull and lifeless With One Voice (WOV) - or With One Vice as I like to call it - it simply can't compare to the red hymnal in excellent music.I would give the green hymal one star, but that shd be reserved for WOV.

Former Evangelical
We can't rewrite this book! I just became a Lutheran after leaving a nondenominational evangelical church! Pop-Christianity gets old, anyway, no matter how new it stays.

It's a Worship Hymnal, What Do You Expect?
I am finally ordering my own copy of the LBW after nearly 30 years because I want to have the lyrics and music for some of my favorite hymns.As for the guy who said the book should be rewritten...

Are you going to help pay for the hymnals for all those churches?And since when are Lutherans all that hip anyway (I was born Lutheran and quite active in my church)?If you're looking for an exciting worship book, look for something more contemporary.The LBW was written in 1978 and is not updated very often because it is a launching point, not the endpoint for worship.Most Lutheran churches use their own personal supplements anyway to fit their congregations - and even nearly 25 years after the LBW was printed it is still a very valuable reference (for the wedding and burial and baptismal services, for example).

I think this book is good for what it is - a book containing hymns and service material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful, personal edition
This is the bonded leather, personal edition of the Lutheran Service Book.It is the version that is normally $40 at Concordia Publishing House's website.This one was a little over half the price, with free shipping too!I'm only disappointed I waited so long to order it!

Portable version
The website description is incomplete. This is the softcover version -- the sort that you would take to church and take home. I mistakenly thought given the list price (a 74% premium over the pew edition) that this was a more durable version than standard.

So if you want the portable version, this is what you want. If you want something for your bookshelf for the next 20 years, the pew edition may be a better bet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Powerful, unmistakably Lutheran theology
Like many others, I read Forde's _Where God Meets Man_ back in college, and it blew my mind.His unmistakably Lutheran critique of Lutheranism showed me how the truth that never changes still speaks across the centuries.Here is a guy who takes the "difficult" topics from the tradition (eg. Law/Gospel - Justification - Predestination - Theology of the Cross) and shows how they can still and should still inform our thought today.Most importantly, Forde shows this in closer to natural English than almost any other theologian.

That book was published back in the early 70's, and he has not stopped his work at all, and in this book two of his students have gathered together some of his best essays, talks, and sermons from the last thirty years.They are grouped topically into various categories and together with the introduction, provide a good one book overview of his thought.

Since the essays are meant to stand by themselves, there can be significant overlap between them, but this often helps the reader see how these topics can and do overlap and gives hints of how to treat other topics from the same Christocentric perspective.

Forde's Eschatology seems to have particularly developed since the 70's.I was aware of some of this from his sections of Braaten/Jenson _Christian Dogmatics_, but was not fully aware of how this had bloomed in his thought.

While I do not view this book as quite as important as _Where God Meets Man_, it is still a powerful witness to an often ignored voice - namely our tradition.The essays are small enough and self contained enough that they stand on their own, but after reading them in book form, it turns into a Gospel voice that crys out to world the good news of our savior.Very much recomended.Thanks to Lutheran Quarterly, Eerdmans, and Professors Mattes and Paulson for this much needed book. ... Read more

Product Description
The Lutheran Handbook for Pastors captures all the essential information any pastor needs to keep close at hand to prevail in any circumstance and have a good chuckle along the way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

God Bless Martin Luther
Having engaged countless believers in their every day faith with seriousness and humor, now does the same for pastors. Any pastor's needs close at hand in any circumstance but with a laugh along the way. Includes: Luther's five biggest dilemmas and how handled them, how to recover from christmas and easter, how to keep job/family, and how to retire. Luther's call to ministry, how to follow Jesus, seven biblical preachers, how to drink coffee, welcome vistors, staying fit, single social life, all covered here. Luther's challenge of the Catholic church 500 years ago opened the door to religous freedom. There are some 500 million Lutherans worldwide, taking their name from Martin Luther (NOT king Jr.!!!) a monk and revolutionary thinker.

Solid Offering in the "Handbook" Series
I have really enjoyed the author's "Handbook" series (though I was much less thrilled with the "Lutheran Handbook II" (see my review)).With only one caveat, I can say that this book ("Lutheran Handbook for Pastors") is a solid effort and I recommend it to Lutherans across the spectrum (ELCA, LCMS, & WELS).The one caveat is that the ordination of women is not accepted by either the LCMS and WELS, thus I had a hard time getting past the cartoons which pictured female pastors.Contrary to the author's subtle dig in the "Lutheran Handbook II," I am no sexist - I simply believe the Bible does not allow for the ordination of women.Excepting this, I enjoyed this book.

Excellent resource for pastors with a touch of humor thrown in
I've been in the parish for over a dozen years.I wish I would have had this book in seminary....or, at least by the time I was into internship.Writing is very straight forward and has the touch of humor found in The Lutheran Handbook.Invaluable resource for pastors, no matter how long we've been in the parish. ... Read more

Product Description
The Lutheran Reformation of the early sixteenth century brought about immense and far-reaching change in the structures of church and state, and in religious and secular ideas. This book investigates the relationship between the law and religious ideology in Luther's Germany, showing how they developed in response to the momentum of Lutheran teachings and influence. John Witte, Jr. argues that it is not enough to understand the Reformation in either only theological or legal terms but that a perspective is required which takes proper account of both. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review of Gathered Guests.
Gathered Guests is a textbook for a class that I am taking. It is a companion to the new Lutheran Service Book.Easy to read.Good book for anyone who wants to know more about Lutheran worship. T. McComb ... Read more

Product Description
Excerpt from book: CHAPTER II.The Pastor's Call—The Inner Or Prepara- Tory Call. We have seen that the office of the ministry is of divine institution. We have noticed the importance, dignity, and blessedness of the pastor's calling. The question then naturally arises : Who is rightly is called? called to the exercise of this holy office? Our Church teaches " that no one should publicly in the church teach or administer the sacraments except he be rightly called " (Augsburg Confession, Art. XIV. What, then, is a proper call to the ministry? Or how can anyone know that he is rightly called ? Who has a right to desire the office of a bishop ? Who should prepare himself for this work ? WTio should enter upon it ?An important and necessary preliminary question is:What is the call to the ministry ?Without clearness on this point, there is a twofold danger. First, some may fail to recognize a true call, or may fail to respond. A second danger will be, that some will put themselves into the office whom God has not called. Only he who has the assurance that he is rightly called can appropriate to himself such comforting and encouraging passages as Isa. xlix. 1-3 : lix. 21; Luke i. 16 : x. 16 ; i Cor. xv. 58: xvi. 9; 2 Cor. ii. 12: xiii. 2 ; i Tim. iv. 12. In these chapters on the call and ordination we quote freely from the important and scholarly article on " The Lutheran Doctrine of the Ministry," and from the Lutheran dogmaticians there cited, by Rev. Dr. H. E. Jacobs, Lutheran Quarterly Review, October, 1874. Also published in pamphlet form." The certainty of a divine call to the ministry is also profitable to this end, that the ministers may fulfill their office with greater diligence, faith, and zeal, and be less easily deterred. This doctrine concerning the call also ... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

TLP
The text is resolute in citation, well written and organized. It has wide margins perfect for user anotations and study. ... Read more

Product Description

In Palatines, Liberty, and Property A. G. Roeber explains why so many Germans, when they faced critical choices in 1776, became active supporters of the patriot cause. Employing a variety of German-language sources and and following all the major German migration streams, Roeber explores German conceptions of personal and public property in the context of cultural and religious beliefs, village life, and family concerns. Co-winner of the John H. Dunning Prize from the American Historical Association, Roeber's study of German-American settlements and their ideas about liberty and property provides an unprecedented view of how non-English culture and beliefs made their way from Europe to America.

"The most thoughtful and comprehensive study ever attempted of the German migration to eighteenth-century America and how it affected and was affected by the Revolution. Roeber's research on German law and patterns of landholding has no parallel in English-language scholarship. This is the one book that everyone should read who wishes to understand the scope and significance of the first massive voluntary migration of non-English speaking settlers to British North America." -- John M. Murrin, Princeton University

Customer Reviews (1)

Palatines, Liberty and Property
This book was very interested; I read it and then donated it to the Genealogical Society of Bergen County. Thank you. ... Read more

Product Description
Speaking of Trust: Conversing with Luther about the Sermon on the Mount brings together passages from Luther's preaching on the Sermon on the Mount and Marty's comments about the place of trust in the life of faith. Marty has arranged Luther's words under three main topics: trust, prayer, and the Beatitudes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Alternative to Boring Commentaries
A unique and helpful way to study the New Testament's Sermon on the Mount.If nothing else, it gives us Martin Luther's pastoral thoughts on the sermon in an engaging format.Those looking for a more technical analysis of the Sermon on the Mount will not find their time best sent in this work - although it is a great devotional read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

faithful, comprehensive, and challenging
A book on the Lutheran confessions (or any confessional corpus) can go wrong in one of 2 directions.

Such a book can be an unvarnished tribute, that sees no difficulties and no challenges in the confessions.

Or a book can be slam on the confessions, a slash and burn coverage.

Schlink walks a via media, managing to provide a critical (in the best sense of the word) overview of the confessions while at the same time standing under the confessions as a faithful student, learning, questioning, and helping the reader to do so at the same time.

This is a challenging, engaging read, and was helpful both personally and ecclesiastically.I highly recommend it.

I'd especially recommend the appendix, where Schlink works through some of the tough questions about the confessions and their engagement with the scriptures and the church fathers.

A good compendium to the Book of Concord
This is a good summary of Lutheran theology as found in the Book of Concord (Lutheran Confessions).I found it helpful to have read this before I tried reading the Book of Concord.It does not much go into any historical background for the Reformation era documents. ... Read more

Product Description
Exploring the Purpose-Driven Church phenomenon, Eric Burtness provides pastors and church leaders with a Lutheran view of what it means to lead on purpose and integrates the Purpose-Driven philosophy into the context of Lutheran congregational life. He tells the stories of numerous Lutheran congregations, large and small, rural and urban, that have used this structure and ministry emphasis for health, growth, and revitalization. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Practical and Inspirational
When I led a series of discipleship classes in my congregation I gave each participant a gift book as the 12 sessions drew to a close. This book from Eric Burtness was one of those books.

Inspirationally, Burtness captured my own imagination when he explained that the church's purpose was defined by Christ in his final instructions to the first 12 disciples. Jesus identified the greatest commandments for them (Matt 22:37-39) and gave them the great commission (Matt 28:19-20). Burtness connects Christ's instructions to the 5 purposes of the church: worship (love the Lord your God), ministry (love your neighbor as yourself), witness (go and make disciples), fellowship (baptising them), and discipleship (and teaching them all that I have commanded you).

(My brain lit up: stewardship is NOT a purpose of the church; it's a faith practice, like prayer, that helps us to draw closer to God.)

Practially, Eric Burtness is one of one of the few who gets congregational "team ministry" right-side-up. Congregational ministry is organic; it will grow and change, so let it. Most importantly, it percolates up from those in the pew (how very Lutheran!). At the risk of oversimplifying: if 2 or 3 feel called to a new ministry - let them team up to lead it! One, or all, might be called to a different ministry later on, but don't try to fill their places with warm bodies just to perpetuate a ministry that no longer has any (passionate) proponents.

Burtness's web site provides free downloads of the worksheet he gives to those who want to lead a new ministry in his congregation. Completing it helps them think through who will lead, how much office support, budget, and other resources will be required, and in what way the new ministry furthers the mission (mission statement) of the congregation.

It's a small book, but it contains big ideas, useful tools, and moving examples: an easy and enjoyable read. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Religion / Christianity / Lutheran; Religion / General; ... Read more

Product Description
Skits, songs, stories, and more from A Prairie Home Companion reveal the secret world of a stalwart people.

When you fly Lutheran Air, there’s no first class, meals are potluck with assignments by rows (rows 1-6, bring rolls; rows, 7-15, salad), all fares are by freewill offering, and the plane doesn’t land until the budget is met.

Welcome to the Land of Lutherans, where people drive Fords, wear cardigans, go to church at Third Lutheran (which used to be called First Lutheran, but Lutherans are more comfortable with being Third), drink a lot of coffee, serve chow mein noodles on tuna hot dish, work hard, and don’t make a fuss. Selected from live broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion, this collection celebrates the kindest people on God’s green earth—except for the mean ones. If you’re not a Lutheran, you’ll laugh out loud. If you are, you’ll smile as hard as you can.

Contents:

• I’m a Lutheran
• Lutheran Tours: Vacation Guilt
• Potato Salad
• Elim Lutheran Anniversary with Philip Brunelle
• Iniquity on the Tundra with Charles Keating
• LYLE: Lutheran Youth League for Evangelism
• St. Patrick’s Day
• The Story of Bob with Vern Sutton
• Church Directory
• Guy Noir: New Year’s Eve Indiscretion
• LOL: Lutherans On Line
• Lutheran Polka
• Summer Vacation
• Flood: Floating Away with Your Pastor
• Evelyn Lundquist Counseling Agency (ELCA): Easter Briefing
• Church Organist

Customer Reviews (8)

A vivid and fun commentary perfect for any lending library!
CHURCH PEOPLE is a powerful survey by Midwest lifestyle commentator Garrison Keillor, who comments on the Lutherans of Lake Wobegon who wear cardigans, go to church, and work hard. It's based on live broadcasts of Keillor's A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION and provides a vivid and fun commentary perfect for any lending library!

A Mighty storyteller is our Garrison!
Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" has been the source of wonderful music and stories for the past 30-odd years. This collection of material from the show is but the tiniest smidgen of the wonderful things that Keillor and his cast have to offer around the topic of religion. Keillor serves up commercials for Lutheran Airlines (Motto: "An uplifting experience") where dinner is potluck, and for Lutherans On Line, who want a church experience that is more interactive and meaningful (read, "shorter.") We get several segments of the news from Lake Wobegon, dealing with overreaching substitute organists, a baseball beaning that triggers a man's existential crisis, the patriotic wonders of a properly made Fourth of July potato salad and a pastor's angst when the wrong picture gets into the church directory. Guy Noir makes an appearance, helping a young Sunday school teacher who tipsily bared more of herself than her soul. The interview with a woman adrift in her home on the flooded Red River, using crates of Bibles for ballast, was hilarious. The polka band playing old hymns was a hit, as was the piece on summer vacations, the low point of every Midwest Lutheran's warm season.

"Church People," recorded before various live audiences, is heartwarming, irreverent, doleful and joyful by turns. Keillor's deep, sonorous voice is a treasure that never gets old. Worth repeated listens.

Lutherans arise!!
This book on CD had me giggling from beginning to end.As a lifelong Lutheran, as well as a Lutheran pastor's daughter, a choir director and organist, I could totally relate.I Love Garrison Keillor and his humor!

Misunderstood product
I thought I was getting a book on CD that would be read by Garrison Kiellor.Instead it is a collection of radio skits.I did listen to all of them, and passed along the CD to my Pastor.

Church People
If you love Garrison Keillor you have to listen to this. If you have ever enjoyed a church supper, groaned at the church organist, or smiled at Prairie Home Companion, this is a must buy. The music and observations are funny and poignant. ... Read more