Customer Reviews

The Fire And The Staff: Lutheran Theology In Practice

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is exceptional, thorough and passionate case for the current tragedy among Lutherans to separate doctrine from practice, substance from style, saving souls from doctrine, etc.

Preus carefully utlizes examples from his life and ministry and from cultural examples such as movies to get this point across that many Lutherans are sacrificing Lutheran doctrine for American Protestant Evangelicalism practice, which has a reciprocal relationship that changes the doctrine.

He makes so many good points. This reviewer's only fear is that many won't even consider them, either due to the misleading title or the number of pages. The title, while the book makes a case early on and on the back cover to explain itself, doesn't at all captivate and fit. Much better would have been something like: "God's Word in Action: The Reciprocal Relationship between Doctrine and Practice" or "Confessing the Faith in Doctrine and Practice". Some more succinct and memorable title would do this marvelous book wonders.

The length of over 450 pages should not be obstacle, since it is easy to read, and has marvelous discussion questions at the end of each chapter along with the answers to these at the end.

This deserves wide read among Lutherans, and for that matter Christians who want to be in God's truth, both in their doctrinal statements and in their practice thereof.

This is a great book we really need today, and it deserves many readers worldwide.
Although it is written in North America, it applies well to the situation in Norway and Scandinavia, and I guess most(all) other countries.

The book deals with the relationship between doctrine and practise. The ancient law of "LEX ORANDI LEX CREDENDI" seems lost in much of today's Lutheran Christianity. This book shows us the dramatic consequences.

All who are occupied with worship practices, music, the church growth movement etc. will find Biblical guidance in this book.
The book is most readable for laymen (as my self)and I strongly recommend it!

In his book, The Fire and the Staff: Lutheran Theology in Practice, Klemet Preus has provided the church an instant classic in pastoral theology. It is no exaggeration to say that a pastor can learn much that he needs to know to minister in the present American context from this single book, to say nothing of the potential of this book for catechizing our laity. If this book is read and taken to heart in our church, the impact will be palpable. In one omnibus volume Preus tackles the essential Lutheran teaching of the reciprocal relationship between doctrine and practice in light of the Reformation and its early controversies, American Lutheranism and its interaction with Revivalism and Evangelicalism, and the modern challenges of the Church Growth and Charismatic Movements.

We have a group of 12-15 men studying F & S every Tuesday at 6:45 for a breakfask study session. Nearly every man has commented that they have learned far more than they thought they knew about the Lutheran faith and why we worship the way we do. Doctrine is not an evolving concept with changing times and culture. What we believe, teach and confess is what we practice in worship and in our daily lives. To keep the doctrine pure, we all need to read this book (or study it). Klemet Preus has met with us at Immanuel of Roswell. He presents an outstanding seminar on doctrine. He has a great sense of humor. The F & S is very easy to follow and creates a lot of interesting discussion.
Hugh Taylor

Pastor Preus has a knack for making the complex simple in this wonderful volume discussing the doctrine and practice of the Confessional Lutheran faith. This is a must read for anyone (laity of clergy) who has even a passing interest in the teachings of the Lutheran Church.

This book is both informative and accessible. Preus does a good job explaining the conflicts between traditional Lutheran Christianity and contemporary Evangelical Protestantism. He can be a little repetitive at times, but that is due to the fact that in theology everything builds off of and refers back to what came before. Preus' discussion of vocation was also very helpful, as the contemporary views of discipleship often achieve nothing more than create stress-everything carries with it a significance that it just does not deserve. The emotional aspect of contemporary worship has also always bothered me. Preus does a great job illustrating the problems with basing one's faith off of transient sentiments. This book deserves a close reading and serious thought.

A most excellent book and a must read for all Lutherans and those who are toying with the whole "church growth" movement. Rev. Preus is no-nonsense, hard hitting, confessional and orthodox while reaching out in love to those in error. If you are concerned that the church is losing its ancient orthodox and catholic roots and is becoming the "church of what's happening now", you need to read this book! Buy one for your pastor, he needs to read this as well. Promote the book in your church as a most excellent replacement for "The purpose driven life."

This is a book that helps the reader understand why we worship as Lutherans the way we do. It goes into great depths to understand the theology behind our actions as a church and yet is not too hard to understand. The author has a good way of putting things down on a layman's level.

This book gives real practical do's and don'ts to Lutheran Theology and Practice from a man who experienced all the do's and don'ts himself. I love the book for its boldness and I would recommend any Lutheran layman to read it and learn from it. Pastors can learn from it too.

I read this book after Pastor Preus was a speaker at our district pastor's conference. I found it to be a very good read and recommend it to parishioners. I even bought a copy for my son-in-law who recently finished catechism instruction.