A History of Lutheranism

Currents in Theology and Mission, April, 2005 by Nathan Montover

A History of Lutheranism. By Eric W. Gritsch. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002. xiv and 346 pages. Paper. $29.00.

Gritsch has undertaken a difficult, if not impossible, task. He has attempted to write a history of the Lutheran movement without borders or boundaries, encompassing everything from the development of Lutheran doctrine to the formation of the Lutheran World Federation, in what he calls a "history of global Lutheranism."

Gritsch acknowledges the problems inherent in writing such a comprehensive history of Lutheranism. He presents the church with this new volume along with a challenge to other theologians and historians to fill in the gaps that a single volume inevitably leaves unattended.

He presents his history of Lutheranism in seven stages: the birth of the movement (1517-1521); growth and consolidation of Lutheranism in Europe and its surroundings (1521-1555); the movement toward confessional identity (1555-1580); orthodoxy (1580-1675); pietism (1675-1817); diversification (1817-1918), and new ventures (1918-). Final thoughts and reflections are found in "Conclusion: Forward to Luther?" in which Gritsch contemplates how Luther and his theology speak to the contemporary church.

Though Gritsch sets out to present a history of global Lutheranism, the book concentrates on European, Scandinavian, and North American Lutheranism. Certainly he mentions Lutheranism across the globe, but he does so in a few more than fifteen pages where he considers missionary work done in Asia, Africa, and South America and presents statistics of church membership across the globe. Gritsch expresses his desire for others to complete the work that he has begun with this volume. Perhaps future historians will accomplish this task by exploring how African, Asian, and South American Lutherans have added to the theological heritage of the church by forcing the question of the relationship between justification and justice for oppressed peoples, a relationship that Gritsch identifies as integral to servanthood rooted in Luther's theology.

This volume serves well as an introduction to major movements of Lutheran history. Though it falls short of its promised "history of global Lutheranism," its accessible style will surely compel those who have not heard the story of Lutheranism to look deeper into its rich history.

Nathan Montover

St. James Lutheran Church

Bettendorf, Iowa