Eric W. Gritsch Livres

The collection features seven homilies by Rev. Dr. Eric W. Gritsch, a distinguished historian and preacher known for his insightful and witty teachings. These printed meditations delve into Christian theology, connecting the seven last words of Christ to contemporary life. Gritsch's reflections on human history and experiences resonate with modern readers, making the essence of Good Friday relevant and accessible. This volume serves as a valuable resource for those striving to embody their faith in everyday life.

This comprehensive biography of Luther offers a condensed overview of significant Reformation research from the past decade, combining clarity, insight, and humor. Meticulously documented, it includes an extensive bibliography that adds to its value. The work serves as an essential resource for students of the Lutheran Reformation and ecumenists, providing valuable insights into church-divisive issues.

The narrative explores two millennia of Christian history through a satirical lens, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the essence of faith. Structured into three chapters representing the Trinity, each spanning seven centuries, the book cleverly intertwines humor with historical events. Unique features such as "pillar saints" and competing popes add depth, while engaging chapter titles like "Edifice Complex" capture attention. With a blend of wit, wordplay, and insightful commentary, it invites readers to reflect on the evolution of Christianity in an entertaining manner.

This useful guide offers a critical appraisal of a theological movement within the church catholic. The authors, a church historian and a systematic theologian, describe Lutheranism as centered in the fundamental principle of the Reformation, "justification by faith apart from works of law."The book focuses on the emergence of this chief article of faith as a proposal of dogma to the church ecumenical, its theological formulation, and its significance for the shaping of piety and doctrine. Each issue is treated in terms of both confessional history and systematic theology. Seminarians, pastors, teachers, and interested laypersons of all traditions will gain ecumenical insights as well as pertinent information from this work.

G.K. Chesterton long ago observed that real Christianity had in some ways never really been tried. Eric Gritsch, a renowned historian, a pastor, and a theologian for half a century, offers Christianity a reality check, exposing four historical movements that have weakened and abused the core of the Christian tradition. These movements represent wayward views on the relationships between Christians and Jews; between the authority of Scripture and tradition; between the church and worldy power; and between faith and morals. Readers encounter these wayward traditions in their historical trajectories, in the ways these traditions have diminished the gospel, and in the ways they have been impediments of an effective contemporary Christian witness. They represent the enduring temptation to be "like God" (Gen. 3:5), a temptation marked by a zeal for secure, unchanging, and ultimate Christian life on Earth. The author confronts these wayward traditions with the enduring challenge of faithful, cruciform, penultimate discipleship in the time between the first and second advent of Christ.

First edition published in 2002 by Fortress Press.

Exploring Martin Luther's use of wit and humor, the book delves into how he employed these elements in his biblical interpretations, pastoral interactions, and confrontations with death. Gritsch highlights Luther's sharp polemical style, showcasing his ability to exploit the absurd and incongruous to further his Reformation goals, revealing a unique blend of seriousness and levity in his approach to faith and theology.

Through personal anecdotes and reflections, this memoir captures six decades of graduate theological education, highlighting encounters with renowned figures like Viktor Frankl, Karl Barth, and Reinhold Niebuhr. Eric Gritsch, a Lutheran scholar, shares his experiences from teaching at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary and engaging in international Luther research and ecumenical dialogue. The narrative blends ambition, humor, and the challenges of academia, offering a rich tapestry of learning that will resonate with those interested in the evolution of theological education in Europe and the U.S.