I’ve finally gotten around to reading The Hammer of God, which comes highly recommended by many of my favorite Mbird theologians, and was especially stuck by the marvelous opening section entitled “The Call” (which I have quoted below). But before I do, I want to share two brief, and I would say quite funny, quotes from the book’s preface.
“As the Twentieth Century was coming to an end, Kyrkans Tidning, the official weekly newspaper of the Church of Sweden asked its readers, ‘Who made the greatest impact on the church in Sweden during the 1900s?’ Bo Giertz got more votes than anyone else!”
“In fact, Giertz may be compared with his famous contemporaries, C. S. Lewis and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.”
Suffice it to say that this guy has an altogether different perspective on Bo Giertz and Swedish Christianity than the one I have going in (at least, at the outset). Is Giertz really mentioned in the same breath as Lewis and Bonhoeffer on a regular basis? News to me.
Anyway, here’s a great passage from pp. 24-25:
(bedside conversation between a dying man, Johannes, and nice lady, Katrina, about whom we are later told: “Her story is different. She was born up north. They had a pastor who laid much stress on the atonement, and it was from him Katrina learned to understand all this about God’s grace” p. 31)
“You do not lack repentance, Johannes, but faith. You have walked the way of repentance for thirty years.”
“And still not attained to it!”
“Johannes,” said the woman, almost sternly, “answer me this question: Do you really want your heart to be clean?”
“Yes, Katrina. God knows that I want that.”
“Then your repentance is also as true as it can be in a corrupt child of Adam in this world. Your danger is not that you lack repentance, but that you have been drifting away from faith.”
“What, then, shall I believe, Katrina?”
“You must believe this living Word of God: ‘But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.’ Up to this day you have believed in works and looked at your own heart. You saw only sin and wretchedness, because God annointed your eyes with the salve of the Spirit to see the truth. Do you have sin in your heart, Johannes?”
“Yes,” answered the sic man timidly, “much sin, altogether too much.”
“Just that should make clear to you that God has not forsaken you,” said the woman firmly. “Only he can see his sin who has the Holy Spirit.“
“Do you mean to say, Katrina, that it could be a work of God, that my heart is so unclean?”
“Not that your heart is unclean — that is the work of sin — but that you now see it, that is the work of God.”
“But why, then, have I not received a clean heart?”
“That you might learn to love Jesus,” said the woman as calmly as before.
And now, in tribute to this wonderful character Katrina, I invite you to appreciate Jorge Ben’s 1981 song “Katarina, Katarina”, which is brilliant:
COMMENTS
11 responses to “Excerpt from Bo Giertz’s "Hammer of God"”
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"The Hammer of God" is an excellent book. The second of the three novellas is perhaps my favourite, especially the section relating to Schartau's sermon "Jesus Only" (which strikes me as very Mockingbirdish – but I don't want to give too much away!)
As for Giertz, my understanding he did have a major role in the Church of Sweden, as the leading figure in its conservative/confessional wing for much of the 20th century. The comparison I've heard somewhere before is with someone like John Stott in the Church of England (or perhaps J.C. Ryle in the 19th century would be a better comparison, given that Stott never became a bishop?)
Thanks John, I see what you mean, and I'm sure he had a tremendous influence on the Church of Sweden. To me though, "influence on the Church of Sweden" is a bit of a paradox, since I've always been told that Sweden's church is pretty much dead, that Sweden is the heartland of EC secular atheism etc., and in light of Ingmar Bergman's films like "Winter Light" (wherein a Swedish minister, read: Sweden, loses his faith). I would guess that less than 2% of Sweden's population attends church on a regular basis, but I don't know.
John: I think Giertz was one of those trying to counteract that impression (and the reality behind it). The third section of the book is set in the context of a spiritually inert 1950s state church.
BTW, I love the original Swedish title for "The Hammer of God": "Stengrunden", which apparently has a double meaning of both "the stone ground" and "the rock foundation" – the two meanings pretty much summing up the message of the whole book.
And one more thing… the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England (my own denomination) published a pamphlet by Giertz call "Life by Drowning: Enlightenment through Law and Gospel". I posted on this here and the PDF is available here.
Hey John, I'm glad to hear that I'm wrong and look forward to reading the rest of the book, which I love so far. Clearly giertz is having an impact on me, as are you, and I'll check out that link too. Best, JAZ
One of my ALL time favorite books. His devotional book (translated "To Live with Christ") is off the chain. By FAR and AWAY the best devotional I've ever read – so cross focused. You can get it on amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Live-Christ-Devotions-Bo-Giertz/dp/0758613822/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255977825&sr=8-2-spell I have the hard cover and if you have an iphone there is a kindle edition as well. Well well well worth it. It's so amazing.
Here at Concordia Seminary St. Louis this is a required text for two courses: Lutheran Mind (just the "Jesus Only" section) and Pastoral Ministry 101 (the entire book). This book is especially refreshing to read after several weeks of more heady doctrinal language. It has been nice to work through a piece that is more of a novel and story based, yet just as true as any doctrinal piece.
Jesus Only may be the best thing I have ever read. The young pastor coming to realize what baptism is all about had me pumped up after reading it.
Nevertheless, one is still curious… yellow.
aYou guys are spot on, the Hammer of God is simply incredible. Perhaps the best book I have ever read. Life changing! If anyone is interested there is a conference in September 2010 put together by the International Giertz Society and the Pittsburgh Pastoral Conference honoring the 50th anniversity of the Hammer.
The comparison of Giertz to Bonhoeffer and Lewis is explained immediately after the sentence you quote: "All three had somewhat different theological emphases, but each was a brilliant communicator of the Christian faith, not only to his own generation but to following generations as well. Anyone who is guided by these mentors will get an authentic understanding of the Church’s faith." I maintain that Giertz would be as well known as the other two, had he written in English or German instead of Swedish. Thus we translate….
As for his influence, it should be noted that this was through a survey of the Church of Sweden's version of The Lutheran Witness. What is telling about Giertz getting the nod from the readers is that it is the faithful remnant that cares enough to be interested. The Church was certainly surprised and disappointed that Giertz won.