“God has His own way of saving humanity and that His way of salvation is clearly marked out in His Word. Of this [The Reformed Christians] are sadly ignorant. It has not been explained to them. This is their misfortune rather than their fault. Instead of denouncing them, we should feel sorry for them. We should use every endeavor to show them kindly, lovingly, patiently, a more excellent way. In their zeal, which is not according to knowledge, these good people are ready to take up and fall in with anything that promises relief and betterment. They are often imposed upon and inveigled into the fanatical sects that make a great show of earnestness. These immersionist and revivalist and sanctificationist sects are heretics as to psychology, as to pedagogy and as to theology. They burn the country over like a forest fire.” — George Gerberding

George Henry Gerberding (1847-1927) studied under Charles Krauth and C. F. Schaeffer and assisted the Rev. Passavant. An indefatigable worker, he established and restored churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Fargo, ND. His Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church was one of the most successful books ever published by the English Lutheran Church.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate: Some subject matter knowledge helpful.

Book Contents

• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface by Lutheran Librarian
• Preface
• The Old Church Back Home
• Part 1. The Importance of the Country
  • 1 Man’s Relation to the Soil as God Made it
  • 2 Man’s Relation to the Soil as Sin Made it
• Part 2. Conditions in the Country
  • 3 Economic Conditions in the Country
  • 4 Psychological Conditions in the Country
  • 5 Social Conditions in the Country
  • 6 The Educational Conditions in the Country
  • 7 Religious Conditions in the Country
• Part 3. Causes of Country Conditions
  • 9 Causes of Church Decline (continued)
  • 8 Causes Of Church Decline
• Part 4. The Lutheran Situation in the Country
  • 10 Lutherans And Land
  • 11 The Lutheran Situation Today
  • 12 The Situation And Letters (continued)
  • 13 The Situation And Letters (continued)
  • 14 Summary Of The Situation
• Part 5. Counsels for Country Pastors
  • 15 Right And Wrong Remedies
  • 16 Right and Wrong Remedies (Continued)
  • 17 Remedies (Continued) Part 6. Exhortation and Example
  • 18 Right Remedies
  • 19 Right Remedies (Continued) Part 7. Inspiring Examples
  • 20 A Lutheran Pastor’s Wonderful Work
  • 21 Oberlin’s Industrial and Social Leadership
  • 22 Other Inspiring Examples
• Bibliography
• Copyright Notice

Publication Information

• Lutheran Library edition first published: 2017-09-08
• Updated: v6.2021-04-09
• Copyright: CC BY 4.0