A Case for Character: Towards a Lutheran Virtue Ethics

by Joel D. Biermann

Equipped with a rich heritage detailing the content of human character, it would seem that Christianity is ideally positioned to address a culture where morality and personal character are set adrift. Contemporary Lutheranism has struggled with the place of morality and character formation, concerns often seen as at odds with the doctrine of justification. A Case for Character argues that Christian doctrine is altogether capable of encouraging character formation while maintaining a faithful expression of justification by grace alone.

Genres: Theology

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2014

Reviews

[Brandon]

Biermann makes a compelling argument for the veracity of virtue ethics within the Lutheran tradition, and his creedal framework is both robust and liturgical. Extremely interesting read on how to resolve the extremes of antinomianism and legalism, holding onto the grace of God and his will for his creatures.

[Kendall Davis]

Biermann's argument and vision for the direction and shape of ethics in the Lutheran tradition is phenomenal. I'll admit that I was already sold on the concept of virtue ethics when I began this, so he didn't have to do too much work to convince me. That being said, I think he deals with some important questions related to the relationship between justification and sanctification that Lutherans need to think about since they are questions that often hinder us from doing ethical reflection.

His argument is very well researched and documented. He engages excellently with the confessions, the reformers and recent Lutheran ethicists. Some of this engagement was a little more than what I am interested in, but for those who think that virtue ethics is in any un-Lutheran his documentation should be eminently helpful.

It's a rather academic book, but I can't see how reading this book wouldn't cause one to ponder deeply what it means to be a Christian and what the Christian life is all about.

[Kurt]

Lots of good things to think about but his argument has some major holes that I think will need to be cleared up.

I don't think that it is appropriate to discount the "why" question and punt to paradox when discussing the issue of how vertical righteousness is related to horizontal righteousness.

I'm also concerned about the line of thinking that links our habituated virtues coram mundo with our relationship coram Deo. That seems to me to be highly dangerous. I think that if you are going to make such a statement then the relationship is worth more than just a passing paragraph or two.

That being said, Biermann's three righteousness model is incredibly useful. And I love how he fits the discussion within the narrative provided by the creed.

[Ben Weis]

This book was like finally arriving in Lothlórien after multiple years of trekking forwards and backwards through different literary paths with road blocks and diversions but thankfully no Balrogs.

Presidential history turned into philosophy which sent me backwards to learning how to read hard books which then turned me on to the classics and virtue ethics which answered some questions about life and parenting but led to even more questions about how to fit all this “”secular”” theory into a Christian framework and so on and so on.

Long story short (happy to discuss the long version over coffee/beer/both probably), this book answered the HOW of all those questions with a clear and concise framework for journeying towards the human telos with eternity in front of mind.

[Dan]

He's accomplished what he set out to do: there's no way to argue with his confessional support of cultivation of character.

[Konrad Helliesen]

Basert på tittelen skulle man tro boken handlet mest om dydsetikk fra et luthersk perspektiv, men den er nok litt skuffende sånn sett. I sin amerikansk-lutherske kontekst fremstår nok antinomismen som et større problem og er hovedsaklig konteksten Joel Biermann skriver sin bearbeidede avhandling inn i. Forholdet mellom helliggjørelse og rettferdiggjørelse blir et sentralt tema. Her systematiserer han Luther, Melanchton og bekjennelsene på en nyttig og fruktbar måte. Han kobler tre typer rettferdighet ("governing, justifying og conforming") på lovens tre bruk som deretter settes inn i et trinitarisk rammeverk. Faderen opererer på skaperplanet hos alle mennesker mot en "sivil rettferdighet"; Sønnens verk gir troende sin fremmede rettferdighet; Den hellige ånd driver de troende til likhet med Kristus i tjeneste for verden. Det er i dette rammeverket dydsetikken finner sin rettmessige plass. Den fokuserer på konkrete vaner og praksiser i fellesskapet satt i rammen av et narrativ (jf.treenighetens verk i verden).

Jeg anbefaler boken som en god ressurs til å tenke grundigere rundt etikkens plass i en luthersk teologi. Jeg setter pris på hvordan Biermann introduserer setter dydsetikken i rammen av treenighetslæren og den fortellingen som springer ut derfra.

[Jarl]

Biermann shows brilliantly how the Lutheran tradition provides a solid ground for a virtue ethic and shows the relevance of character formation in the Church in these times of relativism and indifference. Throughout the book he makes it clear that Christian ethics isn't _merely_ about obeying a set of dos and don'ts, but it's about becoming more human - that is, more like the people God have created us to be.

A highly reccomended read!

[Tellef Granaas]

A heavy read, but still insightful

Biermann offers a thorough discussion about Lutheran virtue ethics. Is there such a thing? Arguably yes! The confessing church proclaims the gospel and builds character.

[Tim]

Solidly Lutheran, Bierman progresses from surveying the confessional data to discussing the cultivation of a virtue explicitly within the context of local churches. Great read.

[Jared Mindel]

"I don't care enough whether I recommend it or not" - Mike Stoklasa

[Alex Monseth]

Good... a bit hard to follow, but I think the concepts are good.

[Benjamin]

A Case for Character: Towards a Lutheran Virtue Ethics
by Biermann, Joel D.

*A Case for Character* is a good exposition of ethics within the Lutheran tradition. The main question: How do we speak about the active, obedient life while not taking anything away from God’s grace? How do we speak of the necessity of virtue without putting hope or salvation in virtue?

Biermann’s book traced through some Lutheran voices speaking about ethics today. Brushing against Hauerwas’s critique that ethics shows up very little in Lutheran theology, Biermann reveals that some work is being done.

The grand take aways from the book were the simple fact that Biermann took this project on and Biermann’s “three kinds of righteousness.”

I was drawn to the book because my call is to nurture disciple formation within a Lutheran (LCMS) parish. I have often experienced push back against the imitation of Christ or against Christians living a particular ethic taught by Jesus. Rather, I have more often heard it said that we should know we are forgiven and let our hearts dictate what we should do, and allow this dictation to be diverse, for God will tell the multitude of individuals what they should individually do. I laughed out loud when Biermann’s introduction provided this same example!

I enjoyed the book and the Lutheran language (ancient and contemporary) on ethics, obedience, and good works. Biermann’s appreciation of Hauerwas was good to read and his drive to propel a Lutheran ethic was encouraging. However, I found one thing lacking: I was in the last quarter of the book when Biermann finally addressed Christian ethics being an imitation of Christ. I’m sure Biermann had a reason why it took so long to get to that; he’s an intelligent man. Yet I was eager to hear how a Lutheran might receive Christ AND practice Christ, both for life. Maybe that’s the next work that needs to be written.

[Hopson]

Protestantism has a problem. With its rightful emphasis on justification by faith alone (i.e., preaching the gospel), many Protestant pastors and theologians are reluctant to teach on the importance and value of character. What matters, some suggest, is not who or what I do but what Christ has done. This aversion to ethical formation is most notable present within the folds of Lutheranism. A perennial fear of legalism and moralism drives many Lutherans (and others) to avoid moral instruction like the plague. Joel Biermann writes to remedy this imbalance, ably demonstrating that ethical instruction is not only possibly within Lutheranism, but required by it. Although many of the concepts in Biermann's work will seem foreign to those unfamiliar with Lutheranism, his clear and careful articulation of a framework for moral instruction within the local church has benefits accessible to all Protestant teachers and thinkers. As Biermann states near his conclusion, "The goal, arguably the only legitimate goal for any theology, is to make a direct and positive impact in the daily lives of ordinary Christian people."

[Matthew A LaPine]

A good introduction to the problems present in incorporating virtue theory into Lutheranism. Also, he has a helpful credal and Trinidadian account of the types of righteousness. However, it's not clear he avoid the most serious charges against Lutheran doctrines of sanctification, especially whether or not a coherent account of moral agency and moral psychology is possible. David Yeago does a better job of this in his "Martin Luther on Renewal and Sanctification." E.g. I wonder whether Biermann could give a coherent account of "incontinence" within Lutheran theology?

[Brian Yamabe]

The author stated that he wrote this to answer questions asked of him when he was a perish pastor. Judging from this book his answers would be far too academically inclined at this point. I've found the answers to questions of virtue and the Christians' place in the public square more easily understood with the doctrine of vocation.