By Sven jungholm (fsaof.blogspot.com)
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."
- C. S. Lewis –
Stefan Sward, Pastor of one of Sweden’s largest fellowships, in mid-town Stockholm, suggests that Swedish churches have become marginalized, a word first used in 1970. MARGINALIZE: “to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group.”
Sward has two reflections on why the churchs’ voice is becoming silent. He suggests that the traditional free churches have lost their voice. “I think the newspaper ‘Today’ is right in their analysis.” Missing entirely are the colorful and influential leaders in the Missionary Church, The Salvation Army, the Evangelical Free Church, the Alliance Mission, and Baptist Union… We've been silent, marginalized, unknown in the wider society…And is that not the term for the traditional Free Church collapsing?”
A (Baptist) church that once had 3,000 members, today has 266 members, and a majority of 28 members can vote through a binding decision, such as has never been taken by a Christian church in Sweden, and nowhere in the world by a Baptist community.
As I read the changes taking place in Sweden and beyond I see less of a search for truth than I do as dismissing Christ from its history and culture. I would point to two obvious influences; the comfort and quality of life enjoyed and which provides a false sense of security. One might term it intellectual laziness. The second reason would be Sweden’s too prevalent submission to foreign and alien voices demanding an equal voice. Swedes in their pride to remain ultra neutral and honorable go overboard to the point of bankrupting a 900 year tradition of Christian faith. Christianity today varies significantly, not only from denomination to denomination, in Sweden, but from country to country.
In a recent television interview, Charlie Rose questioned Frank McCourt, best-selling author of Angela's Ashes, about his spirituality. McCourt likened all of the world's religions to a smorgasbord or buffet before him,and he takes a little of this from here and a bit of that from there-whatever pleases him and works for the present.
Christianity and the church continue to be tainted by modern culture and influences. The history of both Christianity and Judaism repeatedly demonstrates how religions are influenced by and adapt to surrounding cultures - sometimes in acquiescence to those cultures, however, increasingly in rebellion against them. Wherever the willingness to rethink has been squelched and buried under convention and complacency, the Christian faith in all its forms is in trouble. While some denominations claim to be growing the world in general is indifferent. What is often called “secularism” in Sweden and the rest of Europe is most often a rejection of Christianity, especially on the part some elites and opinion makers. The church is marginalized both within and without and it is relinquishing its tenuous grip on historical Christian authority. Members are jumping ship and the Swedish Lutheran Church has halved its worshipers during the past 20 years.
It isn't a case of people arguing for or against God's existence, it's a case of God, and his Son not having a substantive role in modern day life. Those who actively argue against the church and our faith and values, often do so because there is little left on which to take issue. It's an intellectual exercise where the value is in the arguing per se, not in the issues on which the verbal fencing is grounded. In Sweden I see less of a search for truth than I do a dismissal of Christ’s role in its history, present and future.
In large part this indifference has opened cracks allowing heretical teaching and races and ethnic groups far removed from northern climes to gain a foothold. Their fervor doesn't require anything beyond a casual attempt to exploit and overcome a nine-hundred year old tradition. The same holds true across borders. A USA editorial stated: "The biggest threat to Britain isn’t plague or terrorism-it has survived both before. It is the loss of the faith that shaped it. That’s something that should really frighten our British brethren-and serve as a warning to us on this side of the Atlantic. For in recent history, what has happened there soon spreads to us."
In his new book, The Future of Faith, Harvey Cox makes a helpful distinction between belief and faith.
He writes: “We can believe something to be true without it making much difference to us, but we place our faith only in something that is vital for the way we live.” If faith doesn’t seem essential for living why should I take time to examine it? We can believe without it making a difference.
“Many people are guided by today’s culture driven values and even accept a ‘God’, and that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, but that belief makes no difference in their lives. They possess mere belief but lack faith. The church in many places has begun to placate people to draw them into worship by echoing the ‘right answer’, baiting people, not with Christ, but with heaven. “
It’s a watered down message that people find ‘works for me’, because it costs me nothing and asks nothing of me. The promise of heaven with no strings attached ! Bonhoeffer’s ‘cheap grace’?
God’s plan for man is rather simple to grasp- Faith is is centered in His plan of salvation; the belief that Jesus dies for the sins of the world and His resurrection. The provision of promises and instructions on leading a moral life follow after. We, the church, must be prepared for our mission, if we want to disturb the status quo to secularists, to pray and seek a renewed equipping by the Holy Spirit, and impervious and unreceptive to all the social changes pressing around us. We are not obligated to give equal voice to those attempting to distort Christian truths for
political gain or to present a hypocritical solution in falsely representing neutrality.
Stanley Sjoberg a leading Christian figure and spokesperson in Sweden shared in his blog; ‘We believe in spiritual freedom, freedom of thought and respect between different philosophies.’ He was speaking specifically to a TV debate in which it was suggested that Christianity be deleted from Swedish history teaching in Swedish public schools.
The Education Minister Jan Björklund and the Left Party are represented by Jonas Gardell who contrast the Christian argument by ridiculing, distorting and describing God as mentally ill. Stefan Gustavsson, Secretary General of the Evangelical Alliance urges his website visitors to listen to the School Board debate and in which he stressed repeatedly that the shift of Christianity's role in the curriculum is not acceptable. Another opponent, Lars Ohly, stated that School Board's proposal was excellent, that it is pursuing the path to SECULARIZE Sweden and that people should avoid being influenced by religion.
“- Human dignity has evolved in a unique and powerful way in the West who have been influenced by Christianity. The idea that every human being has a sacred value goes back to the Christian faith that human beings are created in God's image… Western culture, with its music, literature, science and law, is marked by Christianity, "says Gustavsson. It is a fact whether you believe Christian faith is a good thing or not. “
“There are between three and four thousand churches in Sweden. To suggest that it is not important to know what the Church stands for than to know the various gods in Hinduism is plain nonsense. Christianity has a special status in Sweden. Approximately seven million Swedes are members of a Christian church. Not to recognize that Christianity has a special position is mendacious to reality. “ Lt. Peter Baronowsky SA Regional Commander Latvia
For the Greeks, the ultimate goal was knowledge. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." For Paul it was; "I know whom I have believed." Salvationists worldwide share this witness;
I know thee who thou art,
And what thy healing name;
For when my fainting heart
The burden nigh o'ercame,
I saw thy footprints on my road
Where lately passed the Son of God.
Thy name is joined with mine
By every human tie,
And my new name is thine,
A child of God am I;
And never more alone, since thou
Art on the road beside me now.
Beside thee as I walk,
I will delight in thee
In sweet communion talk
Of all thou art to me;
The beauty of thy face behold
And know thy mercies manifold.
Let nothing draw me back
Or turn my heart from thee,
But by the Calvary track
Bring me at last to see
The courts of God, that city fair,
And find my name is written there.
The Salvation Army Songbook - No. 59 - Albert Orsborn
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