Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1943, Blaðsíða 115

SWEDISH AND DANISH CHRISTIANITY 109
he has come to hold a very prominent position. Since, like Grundt-
vig he is convinced of the indispensability of absolute freedom to
all spiritual life, he does not utilize this position for Christian
propaganda.
Grundtvigianism in Denmark was met by a counter-current
borne up by the Kirkelig Forening for den indre Mission i Dan-
mark (‘Ecclesiastical Association for Home Mission in Denmark’).
The Home Mission originates from revivalist circles about the
middle of the i9th century, and its first, very robust leader was
Vilhelm Beck, the rector. The view of Christianity which mani-
fests itself here is not so characteristically Danish as that of
Grundtvigianism, but rather corresponds to the revivalist Chri-
stianity found in other countries. The necessity of conversion is
emphasized, and a clear distinction is made between believers and
non-believers. One must stand aloof from this sinful world and
must not take part in its pleasures, dancing, and the like. Instead
of this one is to think of the one thing necessary, the salvation of
one’s soul. Grundtvig persistently urged the importance of an
earthly citizenship; to the Home Mission social life and cultural
life are of secondary importance. Grundtvig turned against the
literalism of orthodox theology and built on the Creed more than
on the Bible; the Home Mission takes up a strictly Biblicist atti-
tude and urges theology to bow to the words of the Bible.
The Home Mission believers generally form minor circles,
but remain within the frame of the Church. In contrast to
many other types of revivalist Christianity, the Home Mission
has remained loyal to the established churcb and has always been
under the leadership of the clergy of the established church. This
is connected with the fact that in spite of the opposition to
Grundtvig, the Home Mission has been greatly influenced by him,
not least by his emphasizing of the importance of the sacraments
The Mission has not wanted to give up the infant baptism and
the Holy Communion of the Church. The circles of the Home
Mission have become some of the picked troops of the church
and have developed a church activity on a large scale. Lay
preachers have been appointed for evangelizing work, not least
in the towns. In Copenhagen Det kohenhavnske Kirkefond (‘The
Copenhagen Church Foundation’), an association imbued with
the spirit of the Home Mission, has collected funds for the build-
ing of 37 churches since 1890. The municipality of Copenhagen
has made no contribution whatever, but all has been brought