I just finished reading The Hammer of God, by Bo Giertz and I am indebted to Rev. K. for the loan. Originally a professor of mine in seminary recommended this book and when K. brought it I knew I had to read it. This review will not do the book justice but will give you a hint of what it is about and the value.
Author mini-bio (from back of book): Bo Giertz, a Christian theologian and author, is Bishop Emeritus of the diocese of Gothenburg, Sweden. An internationally respected clergyman, he has published several books and numerous articles on the subject of religious doctrine and Christian life.
The book is a work of fiction and is broken into three sections. Each section tells the story of a different pastor in a different age, each story getting closer to the time of the books publication in 1960. It would be easy to under-estimate the value of this book which not many outside of the Lutheran tradition would be aware of (and perhaps only a few within the tradition). Giertz weaves a masterful teaching on the nature of salvation, obedience to the law versus grace, and the atonement. The final sermon by Pastor Bengtsson on the atonement is perhaps the best I have ever read on the subject.
I have always wondered why pastors and theologians don’t read and write more narrative considering the masterful narratives and parables of scripture – we tend (and it seems a mark of our age) to treat fiction as though it were in some way frivolous and not nearly as helpful as non-fiction. There could be nothing further from the truth however.
Giertz is a masterful writer and empathizes with his protagonists in a way that suggests he is intimately familiar with their trials and successes. There is much to recommend in this book and it is encouraging to see how much unites our different Christian traditions rather than divides. I found one section of infant baptism interesting but somewhat out of place in the narrative and, though it was well supported, I was not convinced by the argument (that may be as expected).
Some quotes which I appreciated include the following:
“Three of the worse despisers of grace among my people have had a blessed soul experience this Spring. It was not the law that did it. So long as the thunder rolled they simply crawled deeper down into their holes. But when the sun began to shine, they lifted up their heads, and our Lord laid hold on them.”
p. 124
“The congregation is the best teacher a pastor can have.”
p. 148
"The conscience, our own anxiety, and all slaves of the law bid us go the way of obedience to the very end in order to find peace with God. But the way of obedience has no end. It lies endlessly before you bringing continually severer demands and constantly growing indebtedness. If you seek peace on that road you will not find peace, but the debt of ten thousand talents instead. But now Christ is the end of the law; the road ends at His feet, and here His righteousness is offered to everyone who believes. It is to that place, to Jesus only, that God has wanted to drive you with all your unrest and anguish of soul."
p. 204
I highly recommend the book, especially for pastors and those considering becoming a pastor (although all would enjoy and appreciate the book I think).
Harnessing Chaos 
In that case, I will bring my other copy (the one with chapter 9) by your office tomorrow so you can finish reading the book!
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