Johann Arndt: German Lutheran Theologian

        Johann Arndt is a 16-17th century German Lutheran theologian. Although Arndt is well trained in theology due to his education at several universities, he believes that theoretical knowledge of God is inferior to the love of God. Inspired by the mystics Bernard of Clairvaux and John Tauler, Johann Arndt wrote the widely popular four books on “True Christianity”, which talks about the process to find God and the Oneness of the Divine. Before Arndt’s time, there was Anthony of Egypt, a late 3rd century monk, whose life seemed to follow the itinerary laid out by Arndt in his books. Anthony practiced asceticism which was the foundation for monastic traditions. Would Arndt, the father of pietism, consider Anthony, the father of monks, as having lived a true Christian’s life? The answer seems to be yes, to a large extent.

          In the foreword to “True Christianity”, Johann Arndt puts a famous quote which can sum it up his view on theology: “It is not enough to know God’s word; one must also practice it in a living, active manner” (McGinn 2006, 276). Arndt claims that the practical aspect of faith is more important than the theoretical one and that a Christian’s life has to be “active”. In the prologue to his third book, Johann Arndt tells us how to be active and lists out the three stages of a true Christian’s life. He compares the three stages of spiritual life to those of natural life: “childhood, manhood, and old age” (McGinn 2006, 277). The first stage, repentance, is followed by contemplation of the Divine and ultimately results in union with God through love. Arndt does not seem to say that a person has to literally do penance as child, contemplate as a grown-up then find God in old age. In fact, he means that figuratively, as in a true Christian should follow that pathway.

        Taking a closer look at Johann Arndt’s proposed steps towards union with God, we can see some similarities with the life of St. Anthony. A person first has to repent for his sins. In Christian mysticism, sins can be understood as materialistic and physical desires and to repent means to let go of such desires. In Johann Arndt’s words, there is nothing for us to seek “externally in the world” because “the kingdom of God” is hidden within ourselves (McGinn 2006, 278). Arndt rejects the physical world and divinizes the spiritual one. This line of thinking seems to be the reason behind Anthony’s first steps in asceticism. After his parents passed away, Anthony gives away his inheritance and devotes himself to a life of self-denial. Anthony’s rejection of material wealth in order to find perfection in God is certainly similar to the repentance that Arndt talks about.

        After one has repented, one becomes enlightened and is able to contemplate about God “through prayer, through the cross, through which all God’s gifts are increased” (McGinn 2006, 277). Although Arndt does not tell us specifically how to contemplate, he suggests doing it by praying and worshipping the cross. It seems there is more to prayer and worship and Arndt leaves it up to our own interpretation. Perhaps this means that is not just one path that is determined by the church and each person can and should contemplate in his or her own way.

        Anthony’s contemplation is done through prayer and in isolation. Anthony withdraws from society into the dessert and remains there for almost his entire life. In the twenty years that Anthony stays in abandoned fort, he has to battle demons who try to chase him away. The fact that Anthony is able to confront the demons validates Arndt’s claim that the kingdom of God within us cannot be taken by “neither the world nor the devil” (McGinn 2006, 278). Having already given up his material wealth and cut off interaction with outside world, Anthony cannot be tempted by bodily desires. Now he is able to overcome the challenges by the devil. Arndt would say this is because of Anthony’s desire to love God.

        Johann Arndt considers union with God as the ultimate goal for Christians. He argues that this union is only possible through one’s will to love God. A person can only find God if he gives all his heart and soul because, according to Arndt, “we understand Christ as far as we able; we love him as he is” (McGinn 2006, 278). In Arndt’s writing, there is a distinction between understanding and loving God, despite the fact that both are powers of the soul. He reasons that God is so infinite that we, as finite beings, cannot possible comprehend the true nature of God. Trying to do so is not only futile but is also a disservice to the Divine. As a result of that, if one wants to find God, one should just accept and love Him for who He is.