Christ's Church: Her Biblical Roots, Her Dramatic History, Her Saving Presence, Her Glorious Future

by Bo Giertz, Hans Andrae (Translator)

The Church, who is she asks Bo Giertz in this book, which, he adds, "is first of all for those who have some notion of the life which is present within the church walls and also have some desire to understand that life better and know more about it" If you're among the tens of thousands who've read Giertz's bestselling novel The Hammer of God about ordinary people in their relation to the Church and her message, then you know his ability to engage you in the dramatic events of everyday life. Giertz shows the same engaging ability, when he in Christ's Church takes you on a walk from her biblical roots toward her glorious future.

Genres: Christianity, Christian

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2010

Reviews

[Dcn. Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is split into two parts: "The Essence of the Church" and "The Presence of the Holy One".

The first part has chapters:
"The Biblical Foundation" - speaking about how Scriptures reveal to us the meaning of Church and our part in the Body
"Una Sancta" - fascinating narrative of Church history from a Lutheran perspective and their view of Tradition and Catholicity
"The Church in Sweden" - also interesting history even about splits and conflicts in Lutheranism

The second part to me was even more striking, talking about the four traditional Lutheran Sacraments: the Lord's Supper, Baptism, Confession, and Ordination/apostolic succession.

Being an Evangelical nondenominational Christian who is becoming Catholic this year, I was delighted to see how close Catholics and traditional Lutherans really are! The beautiful prose elicited reverence and awe, inspiring to devotion and appreciation in me of God's wonders in the sacraments.

Sections on defending infant baptism and why women cannot be ordained (which I was pleasantly surprised to find in the book!) were so well-put that I am sure to reference these in the future.

All in all I'm profoundly glad I read this book, though certainly some sections were more relevant or concise than others. The stunning prose (even being a translation!) and rootedness in Scripture and Lutheran Tradition made this a fascinating, often surprising, and heart-stirring read.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is difficult to overstate how good this book is. This should be required reading for all Christians.

The Church is the mother who continues to fight for the life of her children, be they degenerated and defiant. Yet, they are her children, and she cannot let them go. p. 55

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outside the Lutheran Confessions, this book by Giertz is quite possibly the single best exposition of Scripture concerning the Church and her role in bestowing the gifts of the Gospel of Christ Jesus through the means of grace established by God: Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, Holy Absolution, and the Office of the Holy Ministry.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't finished reading it yet, but I'll mark it as one of the best books I've read in the last few years. It looks like I'll have to add Bo Giertz to my library.