Adults Wanted: Dorothee Sölle as Luther’s Heir of Christian Freedom and Civic Responsibility

In the wake of postmodernity’s embrace of “Death of God” and democracy giving way to fascism, there is need for mature Protestant Christians responding to socio-political crises from their freedom found in faith and with responsible action. Sadly, the way Lutheran and Luther’s theology are framed as antagonistic toward faithful socio-political action and resistance in the world, cuts off the vibrant future of “adult” social action that is faith working itself out in loving deeds. This paper creates a theological link between theologian and activist Dorothee Sölle and Martin Luther demonstrating Sölle’s ability to take what Luther started and push it toward relevancy, specifically toward validating a theology of resistance as faith working itself out in loving deeds. This paper demonstrates Sölle’s work as the natural progression of Luther’s conception of freedom and responsibility by the “law of love” for the benefit of the neighbor to the glory of God.