A Thinking Reed

Gerhard O. Forde, R.I.P.

Written by

Lee M.

in

Prolific Lutheran theologian Gerhard O. Forde has died. Forde’s signature theme was to call for a return to the “radical gospel” of the Reformation, especially as found in Luther – that is, the Gospel proclaimed as an unconditional promise of pardon for sinners. Prof. Forde taught for many years at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.

I only recently discovered Forde’s work, but can heartily recommend his Where God Meets Man, which is a kind of primer on theology from a Lutheran perspective, as well as the collection A More Radical Gospel: Essays on Eschatology, Authority, Atonement, and Ecumenism.

Several of Forde’s essays are available online at the archives of Word & World.

Comments

2 responses to “Gerhard O. Forde, R.I.P.”

  1. Chip Frontz

    How very interesting that his death comes during a pivotal Churchwide Assembly.

    Requiescat in pace.

    Reply
  2. Marvin

    His little book on the Heidelberg Disputation is excellent. He frequently draws parallels between the law’s work of condemning our own attempts to justify ourselves and that of a substance abuser bottoming out. Just as alcoholics don’t get better by resolving to cut back and quit but by, paradoxicaly, admitting that they can’t quit, we can only be saved by giving up on the project of saving ourselves.

    “The law says, ‘Do this,” and it is never done. The gospel says, ‘Believe this,’ and everything is already done.”

    My few visits to AA groups have convinced me that they’re keeping the Reformation alive much better than the churches that purport to be children of Luther (and Calvin).

    Reply

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