Faculty Authors

Two members of Wisconsin Lutheran College’s faculty recently had books published. Rev. Dr. Michael Berg, Assistant Professor of Theology, penned Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing, while Associate Professor of Education and Dean of Student Success Dr. Rhoda Wolle wrote Creating a Culture Where All Are Included: A Look at Bullying through the Lens of the Law and the Gospel. WLC staff member Jonathan Lorenzen ’11 met with each author to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their new writings.

REV. DR. BERG

Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing Rev. Dr. Berg literally “wrote the book” on the topic of Christian vocation. Earlier this spring, Berg published his work titled Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing (available from vocationbook. org). In it, he points the reader to the scriptural understanding of vocation, or God’s call to each Christian to be in continuous, outwardfocused service to his or her neighbor. “God puts us on as His mask. He uses us to show His love to our co-workers, friends, family members, and anyone we might come in contact with,” explained Berg.

To the Christian, vocation isn’t simply limited to one’s career; rather, it encompasses every aspect of life: work (or school), family, church, and citizenship. Berg’s book explains that when individuals view themselves and others as “the very hands and feet of God,” they approach serving one another with a renewed sense of calling and purpose. “Suddenly that ‘annoying neighbor’ down the street becomes the object of our delight,” said Berg. “When we recognize that we are God’s conduit of love, we then consider it a profound blessing and privilege to be called to do something larger than ourselves.”

Berg wants readers to know that God’s gift of vocation isn’t just for a lucky, “talented,” few – it is for everyone. “God says, ‘I call everybody.’ We don’t have to worry about chasing down our calling,” reassured Berg. “Your vocation is in the here-andnow. Whether you are a college student, a brand-new mom, a working adult, or a retiree, God has placed you exactly where He needs you to be to be.”

Berg also stressed that uncovering your calling need not be a difficult endeavor, shrouded in mystery: “Simply ask yourself, ‘What am I good at… what gifts do I have?’ And ‘Where has God placed me?’ God has a plan for your neighbor to receive His love through you. God will always get His work done – the saint simply does the work in front of him.”

Freedom to love our neighbor is a key concept that Vocation seeks to bring home to the reader. Berg said this begins when Christians take comfort in being fully justified by Christ: “The book starts with justification. Once we know we don’t have to please God through our works to win salvation, we are free to exercise love to others.” Having this freedom to love and serve, Christians can truly flourish with a divinely established purpose and calling.

“Although it sounds like an oxymoron, God chooses to need us. This gives us real reason to get out of bed in the morning. We are not a waste of space,” said Berg. “Our work and responsibilities become gifts from God. We lose ourselves in our craft – it’s no longer just about earning a paycheck.”

Berg wrote Vocation to be a practical resource, applicable to every age and station in life. When asked why he took on the project, Berg responded: “I felt there was a little ‘crack’ in the publishing world for a book about human flourishing with a divine purpose. I also think the topic of vocation had been largely ignored in Lutheran circles for a long time. I saw this as my opportunity to ‘sneak’ something into the conversation.”

How should Christians take on the ever-present issue of bullying? This is the question Dr. Wolle seeks to answer in her new book titled Creating a Culture Where All Are Included: A Look at Bullying through the Lens of the Law and the Gospel. According to Wolle, bullying starts as an issue of identity: “Bullies are not secure in who they are. Often they look for ways to build themselves up at the expense of others.”

In most bullying situations, there are three roles at play: that of the bully, the target, and the bystander – a concept Wolle refers to as the “triumvirate of bullying.” Unfortunately, individuals of all ages will inevitably find themselves in the midst of a bullying scenario. Creating a Culture equips believers to respond in love to whichever role within the triumvirate they happen to encounter. “As Christians, we can make a difference by using the tools of the law and the gospel,” said Wolle. “The law serves as our curb, mirror, and guide – we use it when necessary. But it’s the gospel that changes hearts.”

The key to disarming a bully is helping them realize their true identity in Christ. “We can help the person acting as a bully by making them feel secure in who they were made to be – a loved and redeemed child of God,” explained Wolle.

There are also ways in which targets and bystanders can diffuse bullying situations. For example, a bystander can simply walk away from the interaction. “Something as simple as walking away can totally take the oxygen out of the bully’s fire,” remarked Wolle.

The book takes an in-depth look at the background, causes, psychology, and types of bullying and explores how bullying can be experienced differently depending on age, gender, and power structures. It also contains a section with Christ-focused practical applications for parents, teachers, and school administrators. help parents, teachers, and students handle bullying by following Jesus’ example. She would consistently receive requests from new groups to give talks to their respective organizations. The ongoing hunger for help with bully management gave Wolle the idea to write this book. “The book is about four years in the making. I was able to wrap it up and get it published during the pandemic,” she said.

Plans are underway to translate Creating a Culture into Mandarin and distribute these copies to parents and teachers in China.

Although applicable to any reader, the book is particularly designed for parents and educators, as identity development typically peaks in fifth and sixth grade. “At this age, kids are seeing bullying all the time. It’s important we train adults to feel equipped to handle these situations with the law and gospel,” emphasized Wolle. “Jesus gave us the example. He ‘hung out’ with the down-and-out. He made us realize our true identity in Him. When dealing with bullying, we should always try to follow His model.”

DR. WOLLE

Creating a Culture Where All Are Included: A Look at Bullying through the Lens of the Law and the Gospel

Creating a Culture Where All Are Included is available for purchase on amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats.