Ron Marshall has been pastor of First Lutheran Church, West Seattle since 1979. I have just completed reading a book of his sermons, KIERKEGAARD IN THE PULPIT. They are some of the most remarkable sermons I have ever read, and that is saying something since I am now entering into my eightieth year, after fifty-one years of preaching myself. I discovered Pastor Marshall in my studies of Soren Kierkegaard and ordered his two published books on the subject. I was amazed at his erudition and his faithfulness to the Gospel. He has read more widely than anyone I know, both critics of Christianity and the works of Martin Luther and Kierkegaard. His messages are uncompromising to the world, the flesh and the devil and theological innovation. He is committed to “old” Christianity which “knows about and believes in the desperateness of sin, the centrality and uniqueness of the blood sacrifice of Jesus to overcome God’s wrath for our salvation, the struggles of faith, the pressing need for and difficulty of denying ourselves on a daily basis, and the fear of everlasting judgment.” He “cannot abide by the revision to Christianity which says that there is no Judgment Day. And the same goes for saying that the Bible is not the definitive Word of God for all time.” The reason for his sermons is “to consistently drum into our hard heads the severe mercy of God in Jesus Christ.”

He is not an old fogy. He is a student of Bob Dylan’s songs, writings, paintings and movies. He has been teaching a four-week class for years to hundreds on “Reading the Koran”. All proceeds of the sale of his books go to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank and the West Seattle Helpline.

His sermons cover all the major themes in Christianity: the parables of Jesus, the Christmas story, the atonement, heaven and hell. His footnotes are a treasury in themselves as they extensively quote atheists, pundits, commentators, critics of Christian orthodoxy, preachers and postmodern philosophers. He also includes a review by a member of his congregation, a retired Union ironworker who claimed to have read only three books in his life – the Bible and the biographies of Crazy Horse and Hank Williams and was raised in a horse barn! He looked up every word he didn’t understand and penciled in the meanings, off to the side of the page, knowing that this would help him re-read the book later with greater ease and understanding. He found something on every page he had to underline and stress for future study. He made himself read all the footnotes on every page. It took him three and half months to complete it. What dedication!

I cannot commend this book enough. I salute the congregation of First Lutheran Church, West Seattle for drawing this out of their pastor and supporting him in his ministry all these years. Order a copy for yourself. You will not be disappointed.