Lutherans are a sometimes neglected group of evangelicals, since they lie somewhere in between Arminianism and Calvinism in their view of divine sovereignty, and embrace neither dispensationalism nor covenant theology in their understanding how the Old and New Testaments relate to one another. Their liturgical worship and their understanding of baptism and the Lord's Supper bear some resemblance to Catholic practice, but their doctrine of salvation is emphatically Protestant. Ultimately, Lutheranism is best understood on its own terms rather than by comparison to other systems.
To be honest, I haven't encountered that many contemporary Lutheran writers. However,Gene Edward Veith is, in my view, the best author in this category. The other two are pretty good, too.
Marva Dawn - conservative evangelical Lutheran writer whose works on theology and ministry issues is unusually vibrant and accessible to lay readers. She is most known for her approach to worship as the primary task of the Christian and as a way to counter the trends of relativism, pride, and selfishness in today's culture. She is insistent that worship be directed toward God and not structured as an evangelistic tool. Titles: How Shall We Worship?; Is It a Lost Cause?; Joy in Our Weakness; Keeping the Sabbath Wholly; Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacle of God; Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down; A Royal "Waste" of Time; Sexual Character; Truly the Community; Unfettered Hope; The Unnecessary Pastor (w/ Eugene Peterson).
Arthur Just - evangelical Lutheran dean at Concordia Seminary, affiliated with the conservative Missouri Synod. Just sees worship (the Lutheran liturgy in particular) as the church's culture and as part of the "rhythm of creation." He urges Christians toward a lifestyle of worship and prayer, centered on the Bible as the preached Word of God, in which believers speak and act in the name of Jesus. Titles: Heaven on Earth: Biblical Worship for a New Millennium; The Ongoing Feast, and 2-volume commentary on Luke. He also edited the Ancient Christian Commentary on Luke with Thomas Oden and is a contributing editor to the theological journal Logos.
Don Matzat - evangelical pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) in St. Louis, and former host of the radio show, Issues, Etc. At one time an outspoken a premillennialist and supportive of charismatic gifts, he has since repudiated those views. Much of his ministry focuses on countering the intrusion of worldly concepts into Christian counseling, particularly self-esteem, and he is a harsh critic of deliverance ministry. Titles: Christ Esteem; Inner Healing: Deliverance or Deception?; The Lord Told Me...I Think; Truly Transformed.
Gene E. Veith (b. 1951) - Lutheran evangelical professor of English at Concordia University, cultural editor of World magazine, and board member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. Veith's area of expertise is the prevailing philosophy of Western culture, and he promotes Christian engagement of the culture without compromise. His book Christianity in a .com World was the inspiration for this website. Other titles: Christianity in an Age of Terrorism; God at Work; Loving God with All Your Mind; Modern Fascism; Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture; Reading Between the Lines; The Spirituality of the Cross; State of the Arts; The Vanishing Word.
For a statement of my beliefs, see my Declaration of Faith.
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