Jordan Ballor on the Vocational Theology of Luther

Jordan Ballor, ‘Get Your Hands Dirty: The Vocational Theology of Luther’, Cardus (8 June 2012).

Not, in the first place, the 16th-century Reformer, but the TV police detective character, John Luther, from the gritty BBC series Luther.

I know the two series that have run so far have been largely panned. Indeed, some of the characters are a bit ‘out there’ and many of the plot lines strain credibility. But I have been a fan of Luther – the character of John Luther, in particular. In particular, although he is deeply flawed and damaged, I’ve been struck by his determination to do ‘right’ for people even at personal risk to himself.

So, I was very interested to read this short article by Jordan Ballor which explores what he calls ‘the Lutheran theology of Luther’. In summary:

‘There is little overt religiosity in Luther, but in the vicarious representative action of John Luther on behalf of others, we see a broken and fragmentary expression of common grace, God’s preserving work in the world.’

Lutheran Society for Missiology

I just stumbled (as one does) across the Lutheran Society for Missiology – ‘your first stop for Lutheran mission research’ – which (according to the website):

• provides a forum for missiological research and critical reflection from a Lutheran perspective
• publishes books and articles, especially case studies, which treat issues related to the study and practice of mission work
• serves as a portal for accessing information from other Lutheran, and also evangelical, mission societies
• promotes cutting-edge approaches to mission efforts through publications, recognition and awards

The society also publishes a journal – Missio Apostolica – with a significant number of essays available online, some of which have caught my eye – David Bosch on being a disciple, Robert Kolb on the five great commissions, David Scaer on Matthew as a catechism, and more besides.