This article was originally published in Swedish.
Sweden is in urgent need of new churches. When I write “new,” I mean local churches that are not connected to the established Free Church denominations (Evangelical Free Church, Ecumenia Church, Pentecostal Movement, etc.) There is some good to be found in these established denominations—of course there is. However, there are also profound systemic failures that will necessarily accompany any new church planting that they initiate. These systemic failures are varied but one of the most widespread and serious, indeed deadly, is prevailing pragmatism. An example of this pragmatism is that more or less all denominations have chosen to renegotiate their views on basic evangelical doctrines and practices because of their unpopularity. Many examples can be given of this phenomenon. Where did the church discipline sanctioned by Jesus go (Matt 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5)? What happened to the qualifications for an elder (not to mention the nature and function of the eldership, see 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-8)? What used to be self-evident truths sanctioned by God’s Word are now seen as fuzzy memories of a bygone era.
What used to be self-evident truths sanctioned by God’s Word are now seen as fuzzy memories of a bygone era.
Systemic failures
Let us zoom in on the highly topical issue of marriage and sexual ethics for the churches. It does not take a new official view of marriage to radically change theology and ethics. It is enough that what used to be a primary issue is now a secondary issue. First-order theological issues have progressively become second—and now even third-degree issues. These issues consist of the way denominations now speak about (or do not speak about) and deal with (or don’t deal with) sexual immorality of various kinds (extramarital sex, cohabitation, homosexuality). It is clear that even those contexts that claim to hold to the authority of Scripture and classify themselves as conservative have come to regard these issues as something that Christian disciples and congregations can think differently about. In so doing, they have made a significant departure from the authority of Scripture and historic Christian orthodoxy.
A church that does not vote out, dismiss, and excommunicate its pastor when he unashamedly teaches a sexual ethic contrary to God’s Word and the church’s adopted position is a sick church at best. A denomination that does not disassociate those member churches that have begun to bless same-sex relationships should no longer be a denominational option for evangelical churches. This is about basic credibility and herein lies my point: contexts that lack this credibility cannot possibly plant and give rise to credible churches. They can only reproduce more unhealthy, pragmatically-driven churches that in the long run will hinder (rather than help) the advancement of the Kingdom of God in Sweden and internationally. Healthy churches are the fruit of healthy churches.
Healthy churches are the fruit of healthy churches.
New old churches
For this reason, among others, Sweden needs new churches where Christ’s wounded sheep may be cared for. When Scripture and their own consciences no longer allow them to remain in contexts where pragmatism and fear of man override the Lord’s pure teaching, these sheep need a healthy church to attend. Sweden needs churches that build on and apply the New Testament teaching of regenerate membership, Christian church discipline, qualified eldership, and meaningful participation in the worship life and mission of the church. Sweden needs congregations where unity and purity are not opposites, but interdependent realities. It must be a non-issue and self-evident that a church member is someone who hates the sin that caused their Savior’s death (Ps 97:10; Rom 12:9). This is, after all, part of the definition of a born-again Christian. Sweden needs new churches that keep the gospel of God’s radical grace to wrath-deserving sinners central. We need churches that are more concerned about the spiritual health of their members than they are about their numbers or whether they are the subject of media criticism.
Sweden needs new churches that keep the gospel of God’s radical grace to wrath-deserving sinners central. We need churches that are more concerned about the spiritual health of their members than they are about their numbers or whether they are the subject of media criticism.
New churches are needed that belong to an old type of church. My sincere view is that the established denominations in Sweden have more or less played out their role. King Theoden’s words in The Tale of the Two Towers (the movie, not the book!) sound prophetic: “The old alliances are dead.” The Swedish Free Church, as we know it, has fallen. Therefore, a new free church must grow and take its place. It may sound drastic, but the vast majority of Christians in Sweden need to abandon the sinking ships. Large parts of the historic Free Church are already at the bottom of the sea along with an overwhelming portion of the Church of Sweden. In regards to other parts, only the masts are now visible above the surface of the water. By God’s grace, new ships are being built from old timber. Swim there! As the Reformers said: Post Tenebras Lux—after darkness comes light.
