Finnish Pastor on trial in Finland for preaching the truth

[Bonnie]

The end of 'comfortable' Christianity

Probably not in this generation, but maybe in the next, Christians in America will likely have to stand before the courts like our fellow Lutherans in Finland.

reporter.lcms.org

This is from President Harrison, a man I have great respect for. He wrote in this article:

As I write this, our good friends Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF) and Dr. Päivi Räsänen, a member of the Finnish Parliament, are on trial for charges of “hate speech” for confessing what Scripture simply and clearly teaches about God’s design for marriage and the sinful nature of homosexuality. They made the great “mistake” of quoting what the Bible says in Romans 1 and other passages. Their trial began on Jan. 24, the Feast of St. Timothy. It was scheduled to conclude Feb. 14, the Feast of St. Valentine. As the March issue of Reporter goes to press, we are still awaiting a verdict.

My husband pointed out that those prosecuting these men are guilty of "hate"--hatred towards Christians and their beliefs.

Hate speech would be pastors proclaiming from the pulpit that gays and those in same sex marriages should be persecuted, arrested, executed, etc. But these men didn't do that. The pastor just preached what the Bible teaches.

As goes Europe, so, soon, follows North America. Canada already has “hate speech” laws similar to Finland’s. Probably not in this generation, but maybe in the next, Christians in America will likely have to stand before the courts like our Finnish brother and sister. What will we say? We will confess, as our friends in Finland have at every opportunity, that all humans are precious and created in the image of God, and that all of us are sinful and in need of a Savior, Jesus.

We preach Christ crucified. The church is cruciform (i.e., cross-shaped). That’s not comfortable. It never has been. But we have a hope beyond the creature comforts of this life. Jesus promised persecution. And He promised resurrection....

A decade ago, the official (once Lutheran) Finnish church defrocked Bishop Pohjola. It expelled his vibrant and growing congregation from their building for refusing the state church’s unbiblical practice of female pastors and false teaching about marriage and sexuality. What happened to Pohjola’s congregation? Did it die?

No. While it lost a beautiful building, it soon rented a space from some Seventh Day Adventists. Now the ELMDF (the LCMS’ newest partner church) has planted 40 congregations. When I ask my friend, the bishop, how things are going, he responds, “Every time they attack us, we grow.”

Just like in the first century church.

Please pray for these men. The church in the west may not be persecuted the same way the first century church and beyond was, but it is persecuted, nonetheless, but more subtly.

 

[BJ Bear]

Yes. For what it is worth, the guys at Issues, Etc have been keeping tabs on this.

 

[Bonnie]

Yes. For what it is worth, the guys at Issues, Etc have been keeping tabs on this.

That is worth a lot, though I have never listened to a podcast.

 

[BJ Bear]

That is worth a lot, though I have never listened to a podcast.

Well, you do have a home court advantage. 😊

Its really sad what is going on in Finland, but the tradition of persecution of Jews and Christians over what the faith entails goes way back so it shouldn't surprise anyone.

Re IE, I've now added the Dr. Bombaro segments to my list of try not to miss podcasts.

 

[BJ Bear]

After poking around in Finnish news sources it turns out the verdict will be announced 3/30/22. From what I could tell, if the fix is not in, the prosecution has no shot of winning it's case. Talk about a waste of tax dollars.

 

[Bonnie]

After poking around in Finnish news sources it turns out the verdict will be announced 3/30/22. From what I could tell, if the fix is not in, the prosecution has no shot of winning its case. Talk about a waste of tax dollars.

"If the fix is not in"? What exactly do you mean, here?

 

[Bonnie]

Well, you do have a home court advantage. 😊

Its really sad what is going on in Finland, but the tradition of persecution of Jews and Christians over what the faith entails goes way back so it shouldn't surprise anyone.

That is true. That was the main thrust of the Reporter article. Nothing new under the sun, is there? Same old, same old, in different dress.

Re IE, I've now added the Dr. Bombaro segments to my list of try not to miss podcasts.

 

[BJ Bear]

"If the fix is not in"? What exactly do you mean, here?

It's an old sports saying that indicates that the outcome was predetermined or that it wasn't a fair contest or that one opponent intentionally lost.

 

[Bonnie]

It's an old sports saying that indicates that the outcome was predetermined or that it wasn't a fair contest or that one opponent intentionally lost.

Okay, thanks for the explanation.

 

[BMS]

Lgbtqi+whatever IS the point of the spear of secularism and woke ideology.
The western church is riddled with it. We have lgbt activists in the Church of England who want to see anyone praying for someone who wants prayer for same sex attraction should be arrested and prosecuted. What is happening in Finland is coming to all, even whilst they eat their own with gender identity ideology.
This lgbt activist in the church needs deliverance, Jesus taught a great deal about casting out demons, yet much of the church is too influenced by the world.
Believers need to believe that we once WERE and now are washed and sanctified (1 Cor 6)

 

[Bonnie]

Good news! Finnish Lutherans, Pastor Pohjola, and Dr. Rasanen were fully acquitted of the charges against them! Praise be to God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! I saw the article in the May 2022 Reporter newspaper.

 

[BJ Bear]

Good news! Finnish Lutherans, Pastor Pohjola, and Dr. Rasanen were fully acquitted of the charges against them! Praise be to God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! I saw the article in the May 2022 Reporter newspaper.

Yes. It is good to know that reality still has a place in Finland.

 

[BJ Bear]

The intolerant prosecutor has now appealed the unanimous innocent verdict by the three judges.

The following is an interview with one of the lawyers defending the Lutheran pastors. https://issuesetc.org/2022/05/10/13...ents-on-human-sexuality-lorcan-price-5-10-22/

 

[Authentic Nouveau]

Hate speech would be pastors proclaiming from the pulpit that gays and those in same sex marriages should be persecuted, arrested, executed, etc. But these men didn't do that. The pastor just preached what the Bible teaches.

OFF TOPIC FOR THIS THREAD. START A NEW THREAD TO DISCUSS IT--MOD.

 

[Bonnie]

The intolerant prosecutor has now appealed the unanimous innocent verdict by the three judges.

The following is an interview with one of the lawyers defending the Lutheran pastors. https://issuesetc.org/2022/05/10/13...ents-on-human-sexuality-lorcan-price-5-10-22/

Oh, great. I hope and pray the appeal is thrown out.

 

[BJ Bear]

Oh, great. I hope and pray the appeal is thrown out.

I think if the intolerant prosecutor fails again on appeal there is one more Finnish court to appeal to and then it is over.

 

[hn160]

Our church Lutheran Church of Our Savior (LC-MS) has a Finnish family that were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF).

 

[BJ Bear]

Our church Lutheran Church of Our Savior (LC-MS) has a Finnish family that were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF).

Welcome to the forums

WELS

 

[BJ Bear]

The latest verdict was a unanimous acquittal. The misguided prosecutor has 30 days to file last appeal.

 

[Arch Stanton]

The latest verdict was a unanimous acquittal. The misguided prosecutor has 30 days to file last appeal.

Hi BJ,

Off topic but I was wondering if Luther ever wrote about Peter. Do you know? Thanks!