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Tim Niskanen | The Voice of Zion May 2024 - Home & Family Article -- The times we live are busy and perhaps it seems that we are going in all directions. Our first and foremost thought is that we are here to serve God and His kingdom. When our lives slow down we may find more time for our interests. Yet young people, too, benefit from hobbies and interests. It is good to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and our entire well-being benefits from having an active mind. Many areas of pursuit could be used in God’s kingdom, such as photography, music, writing, and the love of cooking. In whatever hobby or project we set out to do, we do it to not only please ourselves but also our heavenly Father. As we work on our interests, it is good to prioritize gatherings of God’s children. Let us remember to give thanks for all that we’ve received. Fresh Vegetables, Smoked Fish and Dried Apples Tim Niskanen Many people have developed some sort of hobby. At a younger age, I built model airplanes, cars, trucks and tanks. I liked playing baseball, football and basketball with the neighbor kids. I liked walking in the woods, going fishing and hunting. I remember damming a small creek so we’d have a bigger area to ice skate on. One of my hobbies now is gardening. Fresh-grown vegetables taste better. Sometimes I plant the seeds in the ground or have them germinate in small containers. I have also bought plants in containers that are ready for planting. I have a rototiller and I overturn the ground. I check for nutrients such as potash, nitrogen, phosphorus, and the PH of the soil. I then try to get the right amount of nutrients into the soil. I also compost and add that to the garden beds in the spring and rototill it into the ground. After I’m sure the frost period is over, I start to plant. I take time to weed around the new plants to keep them clear and healthy. When the garden gives its yield, it is a happy time to enjoy the vegetables, especially the tomatoes and cucumbers. It’s also nice to share the yield of the garden with neighbors and family. Gardening gives a small taste of what farmers go through every year; God gives the increase even in these matters. Another hobby I have is smoking fish. If I am fortunate to catch any king or silver salmon on Lake Michigan, they taste good smoked! Often we’ll get sockeye salmon and I’ll smoke that too. The salmon should be fileted and cut into four to six-inch pieces. I wash the fish with salt water for 30–45 minutes. This helps remove oil or loose scales. I then let it air dry for 30 minutes. I coat the filets with kosher flake salt and let them rest another 30–45 minutes. After they are rinsed and air-dryed again, I put them into tins and spread brown sugar over the fish in a thin layer. Depending upon the thickness of the fish and the type of wood chips used for smoking, it takes 60–90 minutes at a temperature of 225 degrees Fahrenheit. The fat should come to the surface and this assures it’s reached the proper temperature. Right off the smoker, the fish tastes very good. I also enjoy drying apples. I wash them and use a manual peeler to remove the skin and the core. It takes 5 to 15 seconds to peel the skin off each apple. I load slices onto the dehydrator racks and that runs for 8 to 10 hours. I sometimes add seasoning like cinnamon or other flavors. Dried apples keep in plastic bags for weeks. Many different types of apples can be dried this way, and they make healthy snacks. Hobbies keep me moving and my brain engaged. It is a joy to share with others! I like to hear other gardeners’ stories. We share the steps we take each spring and then we can adjust or tweak what we do. Through hobbies I have learned many things, such as patience, sharing and thankfulness. Even these blessings come from the heavenly Father! Birding Is for Everyone Amy Laitala When my husband had to be connected to medical equipment, going outside was not an option. Bird feeders and bird baths were moved so they could be viewed from a window inside. Squirrels, nature’s acrobats, are athletic and can be destructive. Baffles on the poles had to be applied. We marveled with thankfulness at our heavenly Father’s natural creatures and their seasonal backdrop. Even now, as my husband is passed, I continue to watch closely the activity around the feeder and birdbath. It brings me comfort. Oft their memory brings a longing; we are yearning there in heaven to abide. (SHZ 140:1)  Φ Peace and Contentment – and a Camera Ruth Salminen Mueller I am retired and a widow, so I have much time to do as I wish. I can garden, read, paint, do puzzles and travel. And, especially on road trips, I can photograph it all. My home is in the northwest corner of Illinois and my house is on a hill that overlooks the Mississippi River. This area is the most scenic part of the state, in my opinion, and I love living here! Here, on the river, I get many opportunities to take my camera out and get pictures of wildlife, towboats, paddle and cruise boats as well as a variety of homemade vessels. A couple times, I saw the USS LST 325 as it toured up and down the river. This historic ship participated in the Normandy landing in WWII. It is the only one left in operation today. That was pretty exciting! The most wonderful subjects to photograph are the eagles that migrate up and down the river in the spring and fall. I have been able to get fairly close to these majestic birds as they rest on branches and in the grasses of the river’s backwaters. One day, an eagle sat on a branch of a small tree not far above my head. The day was so very windy that any bird had difficulties flying straight. I imagine that was why my eagle was such a willing patient subject and let me take photograph him for quite some time. All my interests, my passion for photography and the others I dabble in, give me occasion for reflection and thankfulness. I am grateful to our heavenly Father for blessings bestowed on me. In Him, I find great peace and contentment. Why Not Metal Detecting? Karl Niskanen Since 2001 I have been metal detecting. Things that I find are old pennies from the 1890s, rings, watches, even a cell phone. One of the most disappointing findings is garbage buried at the beach. I wanted to have a hobby, so my nephew bought the metal-detecting equipment for me to get started. The more I search for things the more I get into it, and it gives me the opportunity to get out in the fresh air. The beaches are the easiest to search because I can dig quickly with a sand scoop. If I search at a park, the swing set areas usually have coins to be found. I am always careful when searching as there can be broken glass, screws and nails. When I am outside, I get to see God’s handiwork. Depending on the time of day it can be quiet and peaceful, and if I get tired I can sit and rest. Even if I find nothing after four hours, I can enjoy the stillness of the day. Puzzling Electronics Jacob Niskanen The puzzles that I enjoy the most are broken electronics. Looking them over, I gain a sense of growing intrigue as I methodically check and cross off what issues may be causing the problem. I am careful to keep a humble heart; many a time I have let pride take hold of me because I thought I had the solution, only to be humbled with the actual one being revealed before me. There are lessons and blessings in hobbies of all kinds. For someone like me who has been studying electrical engineering, I want to connect the bridge between learned theory and practical application to widen my learning experiences. Questions: What kinds of hobbies or interests are worthwhile for a person who already leads a full life? How can you use your interest or special skills to help and serve others? What kinds of volunteer roles could you pursue? There are those with people skills and gifts in networking and connecting with others, rather than in hands-on crafts and hobbies. What kinds of pastimes can these people pursue? How do we maintain a balance so that hobbies and interests don’t overtake other areas of life, including our faith life? How can your hobbies and interests serve your home congregation?

The Voice of Zion June/July 2024 - Doctrine and Life Article -- This writing is an excerpt from Miten minä uskon (How I Believe), edited by Ari-Pekka Palola and published by SRK in 2020. The writings are not attributed to a certain author since they are compiled from a variety of texts originally published in Christ is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever: Writings on the Basics of Faith and Doctrine (LLC 2022), which was translated from the original Finnish version published in 2018. Installment 16 of 19. The word fundamentalism doesn’t leave anyone cold. Based on the news and current discussion, the first things to come to mind are religious and political extremist organizations, terrorism, narrowmindedness, absolutism and opposition toward anything modern. A closer look reveals that the concept has many different meanings depending on the context. Fundamentalism speaks above all of the attitude that fundamentalists have toward their religion and ideology, and of the way the fundamentalist defines his or her doctrine. In practice, however, the term fundamentalism has become a superficial label used to quieten and silence supporters of traditional Christian faith, even if they in fact have nothing to do with fundamentalism. Fundamentalism’s Origin – Adhering to the Foundations Underlying the term fundamentalism is the Latin word fundamentum, which means foundation. The early history of the concept was connected to this understanding of and remaining in the foundations of Christianity. The way of thinking referred to as fundamentalism emerged within Reformed Christianity in the 19th century to resist liberal theology and critical biblical studies, and to defend the foundations of Christianity. It fought for the right cause but did so with the wrong methods. The central mistake was linking the Bible and revelation together based on the doctrine of inspiration of the Word. The Bible began to be seen as infallible in all matters it addresses. Differences between Fundamentalist and Salvation-Historical Doctrines Christianity’s traditional concept of the Bible is referred to as a salvation-historical biblical concept. According to this concept, the Bible has both a human and divine aspect. Its writers did their work under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). The Bible contains abundant description of historical events and explanations of the world and nature related to the writers’ own worldview, but its central message is salvation in Jesus Christ. The revelation of the Bible is connected to its message of salvation. When the Bible addresses, for example, events of history and questions related to a worldview, it should not be read as an unerring document, but as a writing that reflects ways of thinking at the time the text was originally written. As such, there may be factual errors in the Bible. Despite these, the Bible is the highest authority of faith. The Lutheran understanding of the Bible can be summarized in principles: Scripture alone, clarity of Scripture, and interpretation of writings by other writings. The Bible is the source and norm of Christian doctrine. All teachings are examined and evaluated based on the Scriptures. Nothing contrary to the Scriptures or beyond the Scriptures may be taught in the church. According to the second principle, the Christian congregation understands the message of salvation in the Bible as clear and distinct and commits to it. The third principle reminds that the basis for interpreting the Bible lies within the Scriptures themselves. The Bible must be read with primary focus on its core, which is Christ. Fundamentalists also want to defend the Bible and its message. However, they draw conclusions beyond that which the Bible texts give reason for and they build a rational model to defend the principles that the salvation-historical concept understands as given. For example, according to the fundamentalist concept, considering the Bible to be God’s Word is based on the fundamentalist’s doctrine of Word inspiration. According to this, the Bible writers have acted as the Holy Spirit’s scribes in such a way that the writer’s human portion has been switched off. The Bible therefore has divine authority also in questions of history and natural science. Fundamentalists don’t read the Bible centered around its core, but rather consider the Bible to be a collection of divine arguments. In this way, the Bible also becomes a handbook of life and not a textbook of salvation. According to the biblical understanding of salvation history, Jesus condensed God’s law into the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37–40). The commandment embodies above all the second use of the law, which means that no person can be acceptable to God on the basis of loving one’s neighbors. A fundamentalist, meanwhile, considers the commandment to be above all a moral guideline on the basis of the so-called third use of the law. Adhering to the Foundation is Necessary without Fundamentalism The basis of faith is the revelatory truth of the Bible which describes the main doctrines of Christianity. Without the preservation of the truth, the Christian testimony does not remain authentic nor does it carry the gospel with it. Nonetheless, adhering to the foundations does not require fundamentalism. Fundamentalism leads to rationalism and deconstructs paradoxes in a way that is impossible to defend theologically. The discussion on the basics of doctrine is also muddled by liberal theology, which is a strong influence in the Lutheran Church. Liberal theology blurs the line between the salvation-historical biblical concept and fundamentalism by interpreting all doctrinal certainty and permanence as “fundamentalism.” Here it operates on the basis of its own understanding, in which the core of Christianity is thought to be religious experience. In Laestadianism, fundamentalist themes have emerged when discussions have addressed e.g. the authority of the Bible and the third use of the law, i.e. whether the law belongs to Christians. Conservative Laestadianism has adhered to the understanding that the law is not the spiritual teacher of a Christian, but rather that the Christian is taught by God’s grace. Fundamentalist influences have also made it difficult to distinguish between culture and doctrine. Cultural issues may then give rise to doctrines that begin to be demanded as conditions of righteousness. The discussions concerning both the third use of the law and the relationship between faith and culture are related to the understanding of the Bible. The danger of fundamentalism is countered with clear biblicism. In preaching and teaching, the Bible is the highest authority. The Bible is read in the illumination of the Holy Spirit, starting from its center, which is Christ. This principle protects against both doctrinal errors and the extension of biblical norms into the realm of secular authority. In these matters, Christians make choices guided by living faith so that they can live with a good conscience.

Erkki Joensuu | The Voice of Zion June/July 2024 - The Sabbath Word 4 Article -- He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. – Psalm 18:16–19,25–28 David’s life and battles were historical truth. More importantly they have a spiritual meaning, teaching us how he endeavored as a believer throughout the stages of his life. We can also have an inner glimpse into the heart and feelings of David. David praised God in 2 Samuel 22. This victory song to God is included in Psalm 18 as well. God delivered David a victory from the hands of his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. David’s mind was filled with thankfulness and praise. During his life, David had found himself in many great, deep waters: “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God” (Ps. 69:1–3). He was surrounded by the enemy: “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me” (Ps. 18:5,6). David fought against individuals like Goliath, Absalom, Saul and Joab and battled also against several nations like Philistine, Moab, Ammon, Syria, Arameans, Edom and Amalek. He also had his personal battles when his son died, when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, when he arranged the death of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah, when Bathsheba’s child died, when he was raising his children, and when his nation was infected by a deadly plague after the national census. During those dangerous stages of life David felt that God had forsaken him, and sin and doubts were taking over. The road of sin is like “a horrible pit” and “the miry clay” (Ps. 40:2), a lake of quicksand, which will slowly swallow a traveler if there is no one near to help. David was struggling in his faith life and even fell into unbelief. He needed help. Today, a believer can face many kinds of dangerous battles. It can be dangerous to engage in fruitless debates trusting one’s own wisdom and knowledge. Human curiosity, pride, and enthusiasm can pull a person deeper and deeper into the surging waters of religious pondering and debate. The old believers used to caution young ones: “Do not go into deep waters. The water might reach over the shafts of your boots and your steps will get heavy.” For that reason, the Bible also cautions believers of the rich, all-pleasing, and seducing false prophets (Luke 6:24–26; 1 Kings 22:8; Mark 13:12), of fables and jangling, which provoke controversy and debate, and of those misrepresenting the law with intention to oppress the righteous. “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt” (Isa. 57:20). The Bible also acknowledges the need to protect the weak faith of God’s children. Scripture instructs to avoid “foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law.” We are also instructed to leave alone those who do not receive the Word of God or admonition after they have been reprimanded a few times (1 Tim. 1:4–9; Titus 3:9–11). How should we then live with heretics, unbelievers or our spiritual enemies? David gives us a good example. Despite all the spiritual battles against King Saul, David was given a respectful and loving heart toward Saul. After Saul’s death David said, “Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death, they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!” (2 Sam. 1:22–25; Luke 6:27,28). God gave David miraculous strength and courage during his battles and led him to victory. Often, a child of God feels fear and vulnerability when the enemy surrounds. Do I have strength? How do I proceed past stumbling blocks? Temptations are intense. The waves and surges of this world swirl around. Faced with such, a believer remembers, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). The source for help is the same as it was for David. The heavenly Father calls a sinful person near to Him in His kingdom. God’s Word exhorts believers to cling to “the godly edifying which is in faith.” He offers His hand, He wants to take you to His haven, to His kingdom from deep waters, from the ways of sin and unbelief. He wants to light your candle and enlighten your darkness with the message of forgiveness of sins (Ps. 18:28).

Andrew Hotari | The Voice of Zion June/July 2024 - The Sabbath Word 2 Article -- How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. – Psalm 13 Psalm 13 originates in the depths of severe trial. It is the prayer of a struggling soul that has turned to the heavenly Father for answers. The psalmist feels that he has suffered for a long time and in this perceived absence of God’s help we hear the repeated cry: “How long, O Lord, how long, how long, how long?” This psalm of David has not been linked to any given event in his turbulent life. When we recognize the thoughts contained in this passage, we see how it portrays aspects that can apply more generally to the constant battle of living faith. Many have pointed to that time in David’s life when he fled for his life from King Saul. We remember that Saul hunted David for many, many years. “Saul became David’s enemy continually” (1 Sam. 18:29). This period began in earnest when David’s wife Michal helped him escape through the window of their house into the night after Saul’s servants had been ordered to go and slay him. He left everything behind; his country, his home, his wife, family, and everything that he possessed. Here was a young man in the prime of his life; highly acclaimed; a champion of the Lord God of Israel whom songs were sung about, now living as a nomad in hiding. David lived in constant fear of death, fleeing from place to place, country to country. The wrath and anger of his determined pursuer was fueled by the resources of an entire nation. At times there were thousands of soldiers seeking him amongst the rocks and caves of the wilderness. Even when David would have had opportunity to retaliate and slay his enemy while he slept, he found himself unable to lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed. Some historical accounts estimate that this period from David’s first departure until the eventual passing of Saul lasted close to a decade. Surely this kind of fearful, wearisome and lengthy trial could give cause for such a psalm. One can very easily begin to think that God has forgotten him or her. Job, like David, faced shockingly difficult trials. Job also asked of the Lord, “Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?” (Job 13:24). Both David and Job described an enemy that seemingly had free reign over them and caused them to suffer greatly. David feared in this psalm that the enemy would prevail and that he might be permanently cut off from the Lord through death. Isn’t this the greatest fear of a child of God, that we would be separated permanently from God our Father? Eternal death is the greatest tragedy possible for humans, far greater than any temporal suffering or fatality. Sometimes we too can feel that our three-fold enemy is an overwhelming adversary. But God has promised to be strong in the weak. David did the right thing: in time of trouble he turned to the Lord. “Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help” (Ps. 22:11). He continues, “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord; he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him” (Ps. 37:39,40). In a time of heavy suffering, we might confront God with impatience and resentment. He becomes responsible for our conflict. He is not protecting us from misery. He has forsaken us. Dear travel friend, have you ever felt this way in your life? Do you sometimes feel as if your heavenly Father has forgotten you? As if He has left you to fight an impossible battle alone? In our own personal life of faith, we can experience similar thoughts, fears, accusations and questions expressed by the psalmist. We can feel much sorrow, bitterness, helplessness and worry in the midst of tribulation. We often become weary and discouraged. But has He really forgotten us? Does God make mistakes? Or have we simply lost our trust? Isaiah wrote that the Lord “will not forget thee. Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hand” (Isa. 49:16). He has inscribed the image of His chosen ones into His hands. We can read further, “In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer” (Isa. 54:8). We remember the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:20). Dear child of God, let us always remember that we will never be forsaken or forgotten! When we read from holy Scripture about the lives of the former travelers, does it not bring into focus our own personal endeavor? We find that we are all but faulty sinners who fight the good fight of faith day by day, moment by moment. We are carried by the power of the gospel message. And like David, we need to simply trust in God’s mercy. Have you ever spoken to a journey friend about difficult trials experienced in the past? It’s often a very healthy conversation because it brings to light the wonderful grace and love of God. When one is able to reflect that God has helped in the time of trouble and by His grace alone, we can again say, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us” (1 Sam. 7:12). With joy we join with the writer of our text and “sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.”

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion June/July 2024 - News & Notes Article -- In June, many young people and young adults finish their schooling, at the high school and college levels. We wish all this spring’s graduates God’s blessings at this milestone and in days and years to come. You can proceed with joy into what comes next in your life, praying that God would show the way and bless your steps. Summer months are busy, especially for families with a confirmation student. This year there are eight camps throughout North America. A lot of work has gone into planning and staffing these camps. Thank you to all who will set aside some of your summer to serve at camps. It would not be possible to have these camps without the hundreds of staff who commit to camp work. Camp generates many lasting memories for students and staff alike. It also, through the relating of positive camp experiences, creates a continued expectation for meaningful events. Please take the time to ask for and listen to your children’s camp stories. We will soon gather in Longview to celebrate our annual Summer Services. We ask our heavenly Father to bless our travel and our gathering. We look forward to the LLC Annual Meeting which also happens that weekend. It is an opportunity to meet delegates from all LLC congregations and to hear your thoughts and input on our operations and plans for 2025. Oh! Summer swallows, come and sing and larks beneath the heaven, you nightingales whose voices ring within the care of Zion, now trill with happiness and soar with hearts that long for heaven’s shore, the land of peace eternal. – SHZ 564:6 Update on LLC Activities Summer mission trips to North America will be made by Tapani Kirsilä of Toholampi, Finland, and by ministers traveling with the Language Camp group. We look forward to hosting these guests from Finland in the month of July. The language camp group includes nearly 50 campers traveling with group leaders Jukka and Sirpa Kolmonen of Oulu, Finland, and Pekka and Heidi Tuomikoski of Liminka, Finland. The group will begin their visit at Summer Services and then head to Hasscib Lake Camp in Michigan for a week. After camp, the group will travel through Minnesota, South Dakota and Colorado before ending their trip in Arizona. We wish the whole group God’s blessings as they prepare for their trip to the United States. The application period for opisto scholarship applications for the 2025–26 year ended May 15. We are happy to note that once again there was wide interest in applying for an opisto scholarship. Recipients will be selected later this summer. If you didn’t apply for a scholarship but are interested in a self-pay spot at one of the opistos for the 2025–26 opisto year, please contact Ruth at rdelacey@llchurch.org to get your name on the list. In its April meeting, the LLC Opisto Scholarship Committee approved disbursal of $6000 from the Opisto Fund to benefit 2024–25 opisto scholarship recipients. This amount will be divided evenly among the recipients and paid directly to opistos to be applied toward the amount the students pay in tuition. The Opisto Scholarship Committee, currently consisting of members from Minnesota, also discussed adding members from other mission areas, the northwest and southwest. Plans are being finalized for the 2024 LLC International Choir Camp to be held in Reisjärvi and Espoo, Finland, August 4–13. Matthew and Liisa Keranen will serve at the camp on behalf of LLC. Other staff members include Viena Kontkanen, Sheldon Ylioja and Heikki Penninkangas. There are 57 campers, of which three are from Sweden, seven from Canada, 28 from the United States and 19 from Finland.

Seppo Särkiniemi | The Voice of Zion August 2020 -- Installment 17 of 20, translated from the book Christ Is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever: Writings on the Basics of Faith and Doctrine.(Ed. Ari-Pekka Palola, SRK, 2018) The word fundamentalism leaves no one cold. Based on the news and current discussion, the first things to come to mind are religious and political extremist organizations, terrorism, narrowmindedness, absolutism and opposition toward anything modern. A closer look reveals that the concept has many different meanings depending on the context. The definition of the concept has also changed over time. Originally, fundamentalism referred to the unchanging, enduring contents of Christian faith and its defense. Nowadays the word speaks above all of the attitude that fundamentalists have toward their religion or ideology, and of the way the fundamentalist defines his or her doctrine and correlates it to the rest of society. Fundamentalism has also become a superficial label some use to silence and quieten supporters of traditional Christian faith who in fact have nothing to do with fundamentalism. In my article, I will review some characteristics of fundamentalism and how it is manifested within Christianity. I will also review what discussion has taken place around fundamentalism and what each Christian should know about it. First, I will briefly describe the history of this concept as part of reformed thinking, and then I will describe its doctrinal significance, which also pertains to Lutherans. Adhering to Foundations Underlying the term fundamentalism is the Latin word fundamentum, foundation. The term then primarily refers to adhering to, valuing and returning to foundations. The early history of the concept was in fact connected to this understanding of and remaining in the foundations of Christianity. The history of fundamentalism is connected to the phases of the Reformed and Evangelical revivalist movements in England and especially in the United States. A reformed spiritual revival led by John Wesley arose in England as early as the late 18th century. Wesley criticized the Anglican Church, which he considered spiritually dead, and taught Christianity focused on spiritual experience which also emphasized practical sanctification. Faith was thought to show in the life of a Christian as clear external signs that distinguished the Christian from the world. Evangelical theology was based on nine principles: biblical inspiration, the Trinity, human corruption, Christ’s position as God’s Son and mediator, justification by faith, conversion and sanctification effected by the Holy Spirit, Christ’s second coming and judgment, the office of the Word and the sacraments of baptism and communion. When the evangelical movement spread to New England in the United States, it gained a strict Calvinist emphasis. Its teachings emphasized the complete corruption of human nature and, as its opposite, the sovereignty of God’s grace as the sole basis of salvation. It also included double predestination, i.e. the notion that God has predestined each human either to salvation or eternal perdition. Its essential aspect was the fact that it joined the Bible and revelation together on the basis of the doctrine of the inspiration of the Word. The Bible began to be viewed as an infallible source in all matters it addressed, even history and natural sciences, for example. A Defensive Reaction against Biblical Criticism and Liberal Theology At the turn of the 20th century, the societal and religious movement called liberalism or modernism created a need to defend the foundations of biblical faith. New research methods in language, history and literary studies were applied in biblical criticism. It was thought that the Bible should be studied with the same methods as any other cultural document. This resulted in research findings that many felt deviated from traditional Christian instruction, thus threatening the foundations of faith. Meanwhile, liberal theology wanted to reshape the basic concepts of Christian faith in a new way so that they could be more easily combined with research findings in the natural sciences. Traditional Christianity includes the notion of revelation, in which God’s will is revealed to people. It involves the idea of doctrine as a describer and interpreter of the content of Christianity. Liberal theology rejected both of these. According to liberal theology, the Bible no longer shared or conveyed a message from God, but rather it should be read as a narrative of human religiosity. The Bible thus lost its normative character. Since the Bible was not considered to contain a divine message, the doctrine based on it was no longer considered an expresser of true faith. Revelation was replaced by human experience, which rose above the Bible to examine and evaluate its teachings. The Bible was not rejected per se, but rather it was interpreted in a new way. All religions were thought to fundamentally express different forms of the same feeling of religiosity, and it was thought that a divine spark dwells in all people. This conclusion was reached when Jesus was stripped of His divinity and also the role of Redeemer. Jesus was simply a “fantastic person,” and the religious movement He created the best so far. Because Christian faith was no longer seen as representing the knowledge of one true God, mission work did not include a demand for conversion, but rather the aim was to achieve fruitful interaction. Values were also a basis on which grounds for cooperation between religions were sometimes sought. The most genuine and valuable nature of Christianity was no longer connected to Christian doctrine but rather to morality. Atonement and the forgiveness of sins was not necessary because following Christ became a movement of morals and leading a good life. The effects of liberal theology are still felt today. In order to oppose liberal theology and biblical criticism and in order to defend the foundations of Christian faith, a way of thinking and a movement called fundamentalism emerged within Reformed Christianity. From the perspective of traditional Christianity, the actions and teachings of fundamentalism were to a large extent valid and justified. Fundamentalists emphasized the significance of doctrine and the doctrinal practice of using the Bible to explain faith’s most fundamental ways of thinking. Fundamentalists correctly identified the dangers that liberal theology and doctrine based on new biblical research posed to traditional Christianity. They used their own fundamentals, or doctrine, to defend the inspiration of the Bible, Jesus’ divinity, the virgin birth, miracles, the existence of sin, the atonement death, new birth and Jesus’ second coming. However, fundamentalists gradually drifted to the sidelines, first societally and then also theologically. When fundamentalists tried to block the teaching of the theory of evolution in American schools in the 1920s, unrest and controversy ensued. These alarmed a large number of supporters of reformed churches and they distanced themselves from fundamentalism. In the 1950s, a significant portion of American evangelicalism broke away from fundamentalism. Meanwhile, however, fundamentalist ideology spread even more clearly to also pertain to Lutheran churches. Next I will briefly examine fundamentalism as a theological question to the extent that it has influenced Lutheran churches. Differences between Fundamentalist and Salvation-Historical Doctrines Historical-critical biblical research has also forced the Lutheran Church to discuss the concept of the Bible. The debate continues to be heated and it centers on how Lutheran Christianity’s core message and content are explained. Classical Christianity’s concept of the Bible is commonly referred to as a salvation-historical biblical concept. According to this concept, the Bible has both a human and divine aspect. The Bible is written by people, and its texts must be read in the context of the time period in which they were written. The Bible contains a wealth of descriptions of historical events, explanations – based on the writers’ worldview – of how the world and nature function and, most importantly, the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. The existence and consistent manifestation of this message of salvation throughout the Bible connects to the book’s divine nature: its writers did their work as guided by the Holy Spirit. However, there existed a far greater number of texts like those in the Bible than the texts that were selected for inclusion in the Bible. The editing and selection of these texts took place amidst the Christian congregation through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore the salvation message of the Bible reveals God’s revelation. The Bible is the highest authority of faith. The revelation of the Bible is connected to its message of salvation. When the Bible deals with events of history and with questions related to a worldview or e.g. the field of biology, it should not be read as an unerring, divine document, but as a writing that reflects mindsets at the time the text was originally written. As such, there may be factual errors in the Bible. The Lutheran concept of the Bible can be summarized in three expressions handed down from the time of the Reformation: by Scripture alone (sola scriptura), the clarity of Scripture (claritas scripturae) and Scripture interpreted by Scripture (scriptura sui ipsius interpres). The first principle refers to the Bible’s position as the source and norm of Christian doctrine. All teachings and teachers are examined and evaluated on the basis of Scripture. The church cannot teach anything contrary to or beyond the Scriptures. According to the claritas principle, the Christian church has always understood the Bible’s salvation message clearly and unambiguously and remains committed to it. The third principle reminds us that the basis of biblical interpretation is found in the Scriptures themselves. The Bible must be read in terms of its essence, Christ. Through this reading approach, the Bible remains internally intact and serves the reader with a clear message. Fundamentalists also want to defend the Bible and its message. However, they draw conclusions beyond that which the Bible texts give reason for and they build a rational model to defend the principles that the salvation-historical concept understands as given. For example, according to the fundamentalist concept, considering the Bible to be God’s Word is based on the doctrine of Word inspiration. According to this doctrine, the Bible writers have acted as the Holy Spirit’s scribes in such a way that the writer’s human portion has been “disenabled.” The Bible therefore has divine authority also in questions of history and natural science. Fundamentalists don’t read the Bible centered around its core, but rather consider the Bible to be the source of divine arguments that establish and create Christian morality. In this way, the Bible also becomes a handbook of political life. Of course the salvation-historical concept of the Bible also maintains that the Bible has a connection to morality. Here, however, moral is thought to belong within the realm of general revelation. This means that in creation, God has placed His law into the hearts of all people, and therefore all people regardless of religion have a similar sense of morals. It is altogether a different matter whether people listen to those morals and whether they honor its principles. Morality is Christian in that it is based on natural law instated by God. Nonetheless the Bible has not been written as a textbook of morals, but rather to enlighten Christ. Meanwhile each Christian wants to honor the moral law ordained by God such that he or she can live keeping a good conscience. According to the biblical understanding of salvation history, Jesus condensed the natural law into the Great Commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:37–40). The commandment embodies above all the second use of the law, which means that no person can be acceptable to God on the basis of loving one’s neighbors. A fundamentalist, meanwhile, considers the commandment to be a moral guideline on the basis of the so-called third use of the law. It is difficult for fundamentalists to understand the doctrine of two regiments, i.e. kingdoms or governments. According to the doctrine of regiments, God cares for His creation with “His left and His right hand.” The earthly regiment or kingdom is based on the God-given gift of reason. Good temporal life is maintained with the help of obligations imposed by authorities and, ultimately, by force. As members of the earthly kingdom, humans also study God’s creation. The means and methods of research are determined by human understanding and judgment. It is difficult for a fundamentalist to accept that research and revelatory truth form two different worlds. For example, in matters of the age and phases of the earth, a representative of the biblical understanding of salvation history trusts that if the result of the study is incorrect, the scientific community will correct itself in due time. The fundamentalist bears a heavy burden of proof because he or she thinks that science must also arrive at the same position as the writers of the Bible in questions related to their worldview. Adhering to the Foundation Is Necessary Without Fundamentalism The basis of faith is the revelatory truth of the Bible which describes the main doctrines of Christianity correctly and truthfully. Without the survival and preservation of the truth, the Christian testimony does not remain authentic nor does it carry the gospel with it. Nonetheless, adhering to the foundations does not require fundamentalism. Fundamentalism leads to rationalism and deconstructs paradoxes in a way that is impossible to defend theologically. The discussion on the basics of doctrine is also muddled by liberal theology, which continues to be a strong influence in the Lutheran Church. Liberal theology blurs the line between the salvation-historical biblical concept and fundamentalism by interpreting all doctrinal certainty and permanence as “fundamentalism.” Here it operates consistently on the basis of its own understanding by which religious experience is thought to be at the core of Christianity. When an experience is genuine to the one who experienced it, there is no criteria external to the experience by which one could evaluate the truthfulness of the experience and its adherence to classical Christianity. Based on its own viewpoints, liberal theology builds its own model of Christianity that, like fundamentalism does but from a different approach, breaks the foundation of classical Christianity. In Laestadianism, fundamentalist themes have emerged when discussions have addressed e.g. the authority of the Bible and the third use of the law, i.e. whether the law belongs to Christians. The Lutheran confession distinguishes between the law of the Ten Commandments (natural law) and the Old Testament cult law, the law of holiness and purification regulations related to worship. Natural law is still in effect and still applies to all of us, but the cult law and rules are no longer in effect in the new covenant and therefore do not apply to Christians. This distinction has not always been noticed when according to the Creed the role of the Bible as highest authority in faith and life has been emphasized. These issues have also caused schisms in the history of Lutheranism. Conservative Laestadianism has adhered to the understanding that the law is not the spiritual teacher of a Christian, but rather that the Christian is taught by God’s grace. Fundamentalist influences have also been visible in the difficulty of distinguishing between culture and doctrine. Cultural issues may then give rise to doctrines that slowly begin to be demanded as prerequisitesfor salvation. Both the discussion on the third use of the law and the discussion on the relationship between faith and culture are connected to the question of the Bible. The danger of fundamentalism has been recognized among Conservative Laestadians and there is a desire to battle against that with clear biblicism. In proclamation and teaching, the Bible remains the highest authority. The Bible is read as illuminated by the Holy Spirit centered on Christ. This principle protects against both doctrinal errors as well as the extension of biblical norms to the realm of the secular regiment, to which political and cultural issues inherently belong. In these matters, the Christian makes choices guided by living faith so that he or she can live with a good conscience. Bibliography Martikainen Eeva Oppi – metafysiikkaa vai teologiaa? Lutherin käsitys opista. Suomalaisen teologisen kirjallisuusseuran julkaisuja 156. 1987. McGrath Alister Kristillisen uskon perusteet. Kirjapaja 1999. Pokki Timo Evankelikalismi ja uskon tuntomerkit (teologia.fi/component/content/article?id=571) Pöhlmann Horst Georg Dogmatiikan pääkohdat. Kirjaneliö 1974. Ruthven Malise Fundamentalismi. Into 2013. Vainio Olli-Pekka Postmoderni filosofia, kulttuuri ja kristillinen teologia. Suomalaisen Teologisen Kirjallisuusseuran julkaisuja 276. 2013 Väisänen Matti Fundamentalismin raamattukäsitys (luterilainen.net).

Derek Mattila | The Voice of Zion May 2024 - What Does the Bible Say? Article -- Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. – Matthew 5:6 The word “beatitude” comes from the Latin word beatus, which means “blessed,” and one who knows blessing feels divine joy and happiness. In each Beatitude, Jesus describes the heart of a child of God and provides a promise with it. What are the two parts of a Beatitude statement? For this fourth beatitude, Jesus mentions familiar physical yearnings, common to all people. Hunger and thirst are temporal, bodily urges that we all have experienced and understand. We know that whenever we have gone without sustenance – food or water – for an extended period, our minds are consumed with filling the need. We will do anything in our power to end this longing. This metaphor adds power to Jesus’ statement. God has blessed us in recent times with the possibility to listen to online services, sermon archives and songs and hymns of Zion from our personal devices. This is a great blessing of our time, because we know that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). How are you affected when you cannot regularly attend services? I recall a time when as a young man, circumstances were such that my companions and I were not able to hear the Word of God for a while. Then, when we finally returned to our vehicle, we put in a tape of congregational singing. Our hearts were overjoyed to hear God’s Word even in poetic form, and we sat in silence listening to the sermons in song. Hearts had hungered for God’s Word. Another time there was a different set of circumstances that prevented me for long periods of time from attending the gatherings of God’s children. My heart began to grow cold. I complained to my wife that I was not happy with the congregation we were part of, and I made excuses to not attend church, even when I had the opportunity: too busy, tired, things to do and so forth. Only God can open the eyes of one in such a condition, and He opened mine. The hunger to hear His Word and be in the assembly of God’s congregation returned. Why does Jesus use an example of bodily needs? God’s Word provides the daily manna for which our souls hunger. We need this manna every day; it is not something we can gather enough of to spread out over the weeks, months, or years. Matthew writes in chapter 6, verse 33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” This seeking is not a one-time matter. A child of God always wants to hear with believing ears what the Holy Spirit teaches. We humble ourselves before our heavenly Father and the mother congregation and accept what they teach. Through faith, we own the righteousness of Christ; it is not our own to bring with us outside of God’s kingdom. What does “being filled” mean? When Jesus refers to being “filled,” He is referring to everlasting life. Jesus speaks in John 4:14 of the water of life. “But whosever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” We can think of a well. Getting water from a well requires work. We must lower the bucket, fill it, and pull the bucket back up. But this water of life is not available through works; it is given as a gift by faith in the merit works of our Lord Jesus Christ. It flows as a fountain in each believer, as the forgiveness of sins preached freely one to another. When we endeavor in righteousness of faith, carrying a clean conscience, our faith will one day carry us to heaven, where we will never hunger nor thirst. Discussion Questions • What is righteousness? • Why might we hunger after it? • How will Jesus fill those who hunger or thirst in the right way? • How does righteousness, which is not any of our doing, nonetheless show in our lives?

Kimmo Puolitaival, Sam Roiko | The Voice of Zion May 2024 - Article -- The biennial meeting of sister organizations LLC, SFC and SRK took place April 4–10, 2024, in Monticello, Minnesota. The purpose of these recurring meetings is to update the cooperative work document related to mission work, child and youth work, confirmation school work and publications. The first days of the meeting focused on timely topics of each sister organization. One discussion topic was the pressures for change experienced in the Finland’s national church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Additional topics that were discussed were the Christian and government and timely topics related to alternative spirituality and faith. Over the weekend, meeting representatives attended the LLC Ministers Camp at Stony Lake Camp. God blessed the camp. God’s word and the gospel refreshed the participants. Participants experienced palpable brotherly and mutual love. In many speeches, it was noted that we believe the same, no matter if we are from North America, Sweden, or Finland. The third portion of the meetings discussed issues related to expanding foreign mission work. The sister organizations have cooperated closely in foreign mission fields since 2000. God has allowed a time of visitation among many nations. Currently, mutual mission work is carried out in twelve foreign countries. The number of service guests that attend weekly is estimated at over 7,000. In addition, service requests have come from several new countries. We noted that in addition to the staff employed by the central organizations, there is a greater need to use volunteers to share the responsibility of planning and implementing the work. It is especially important to support the activities in foreign mission countries so that they too could participate in the work to a greater extent on the local level. The cooperative work meeting representatives agreed to establish a working group to prepare a proposal for an organizational model, division of responsibilities and timetable for progress which would be presented to the board of directors of each sister organization. The new website kingdomofpeace.net also received much interest. The purpose and goal of the website is to direct people who are seeking to find the fellowship of God’s children. God alone knows what the future of mission work is. Our duty is to sow the word. God gives the increase. The introduction presented by LLC representatives about Christian education, especially Sunday school, was also felt to be very important. Sunday school has a significant role in Christian education in North America, and the extensive efforts of local congregations in this work has a tradition going back decades. The final topic for discussion addressed publications activities. Publications have an important function in the work of all the sister organizations. During the discussion, it was noted that technological developments bring both challenges and opportunities. The share of digital communication is increasing. Mutual work of the sister organizations in publications has been deep and extensive, and it is hoped that this cooperation would continue. These face-to-face meetings provided an opportunity to discuss the mutual work and underscored how we can continue to do this work together. God knows what tomorrow brings, and it is secure to trust that His will will be done. It was comforting to conclude our gathering with this perspective.

Allen Pirness | The Voice of Zion May 2024 - Column -- I’ve been part of discussions regarding comments made online, and we agreed that at times the conduct of believers has brought sadness. The concern is that sometimes social media comments have been distasteful, mean-spirited and hurtful. This has been on my mind for a while, and I felt it useful for me to process this in the light of God’s Word; I also want to consider my own online presence. When I read the comments section after an online news article or social media post, I often feel that many comments were written in anger or with a selfish need to air disgust. I have wondered, if the person writing the comments had a better opportunity to gauge the negativity of their emotion, would they still hit the “post” button after typing? Maybe a good use for AI (Artificial Intelligence) would be to review comments and suggest to the author prior to posting that their comments seem hurtful and ask, “Do you really wish to post this?” I would hope that this would slow or prevent some of the incivility we see online. I can’t approach this topic from a place of superiority because I have needed to delete comments quickly after posting them or before hitting the post button. In my mind’s eye, I see a cartoon of an old man sitting in his chair muttering into an open newspaper with the caption “The way the comments section used to be.” When believers read online articles, a comment section or a social media posting and find it goes against our beliefs, it doesn’t feel appropriate nor effective to post a rebuke in reply, especially anonymously. Our response may be based on God’s Word, yet if the tone conveys “the final word” on the topic in question, it doesn’t feel good to read. Overbearing language and tone do not show the balance of grace and truth that brings out the mind of Christ. Jesus taught an important lesson on the question of moral superiority when a woman caught in adultery was brought before him by her accusers. He didn’t even look up to see who was there yet instructed that whoever is without sin could cast the first stone. This is very important for us to consider when wishing to pass our emphatic judgment on an issue. When we face questions of right and wrong in our personal life it may be appropriate to express our views on the topic, but even there our example is much more important than the expression of our view. Anonymity, when online posting, creates a disconnection to the ownership of comments. Online pseudonyms, for the purpose of posting hurtful comments, deliver a deception that says, “I really do not wish to be attached personally to this comment, but I am willing to make everyone experience my displeasure by forceful insertion of the abiding truth on this matter.” If we read a believer’s comment on social media postings or discussion forums that causes concern, it becomes our Christian duty to privately approach the individual. It does not serve anyone if we begin to use the forum as a place of online rebuke or on the other hand try to ignore it and hope that someone else will deal with it. There are also times we wonder why a believer has liked an inappropriate post or comment. It’s important, if we have concerns about another’s “likes,” to individually express our concern by asking the person about it. Just as we would appreciate the loving care from our brothers and sisters in faith, we also need to extend that care to our brothers and sisters. It’s a comfort that in times of societal change brought about by innovation and discovery, we can turn to God’s Word for timeless instruction. The Apostle Paul was a modern man in his time. His mind was opened to a lot of different experiences and ideologies while serving the believers of his time. Some of the experiences brought concern because they warred against living faith. He could see that some of the things that the believers were hanging onto from their former ways were causing them difficulty in the endeavor of faith. He encouraged them to put those matters away and not return to them. Paul encouraged the believers of different cultures and traditions to be joined together in the most important matters and to leave differences aside. When something new emerges in society, believers are no different than the rest of society. Some are early adopters of technology and others are less inclined to disrupt what they are accustomed to. Not everyone is exposed to social media or internet discussions, yet the Holy Spirit guides us all in the same peaceful discussion around it. God has seen our day since before the beginning of time. He has given in our time a relatively easy standard of living and with it much energy for discovery and leisure. He has also given us a special time of work and confessing our faith in the world. The internet has been a blessing for the benefit of humanity and for the furtherance of the living gospel. The threefold enemy has taken this powerful tool and found many ways to corrupt and destroy lives with it. May we always remember that the light of God’s kingdom always shines to the world in a modern way. As we say today, it meets people where they are. If your online presence, including your messages, likes and created content, portrays something that doesn’t show the light of God’s kingdom, may God give you the footsteps to take care of this. It’s okay to apologize for hurtful messages in the same place they were posted, after they have been deleted. In owning our wrongs, we don’t have to continue to carry them. We are encouraged to bring these matters into the light of the congregation to care for them with the gospel. This doesn’t mean that we would need to make a public spectacle of caring for them but even privately we can hear and believe from a brother or sister in faith the forgiveness that comes from the heart of the heavenly Father. We are faulty travelers at the best of times, so let’s endeavor to bring the brightness that shines from God’s kingdom, not the darkness that comes from our earthly portion.

The Voice of Zion May 2024 - Home & Family Article -- Peer pressure isn’t only relevant to teenagers—it’s a force that shapes the choices and actions of people of all ages, from all walks of life. Though the term “peer pressure” can sound ominous, it actually serves first and foremost as a safeguard. Pressure—or influence—from those around us offers a valuable way to learn about our environment. In this feature, believers from Wyoming delve into the ways peer influence affects us, whether we’re navigating the challenges of adolescence or grappling with the complexities of adulthood. Writers explore how peer pressure shapes our decisions, values, and relationships, and discuss strategies for staying true to ourselves in moments when we may wish to resist conforming. They Remained Strong under Pressure Lori Johnson Chapter three in the Book of Daniel tells the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The story speaks of how King Nebuchadnezzar assembled a large golden idol. He then called together all the rulers of his provinces. He commanded that at the sound of music playing, everyone must fall down and worship his idol. Anyone who did not bow down and worship the king’s idol would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Three believing men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were among the people who were commanded to worship this false idol. The men knew that they could not worship a false idol and remain believing. The Bible doesn’t directly speak directly of anyone pressuring the men to join others in worshipping the idol, but there was likely peer pressure from their friends and colleagues to do as the king commanded. Perhaps some pressured with coercive comments like, “How dare you disobey the king!” Perhaps others pressured more fearfully, “Surely you will die if you do not bow down as the king has commanded!” But the three believing men were able to have a positive influence on each other: they were able to encourage each other to trust in God and remain believing. When the music played, the believing men did not bow down to the king’s idol. As a result, they were brought before the king, and the king commanded that they be thrown into the fiery furnace. The furnace was heated to such a high temperature that the soldiers who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace perished from the heat. To the great astonishment of the king, the fire did not kill the believing men. When the king looked into the furnace, he saw not three men, but four; the fourth one was in the form of the Son of God. The actions of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego caused the king to change his command: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abegnego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God” (Daniel 3:28). Even as Jesus walked among Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, He walks among His flock today. We feel His presence through the Holy Spirit, and trust that He will help us to create positive peer pressure—the influence of the Holy Spirit—among all of us in His congregation. Care of the Congregation Influences Us Laona Koivukangas and Susan Edwards Listen, loved one, God is calling unto life and righteousness. He invites you to His kingdom to eternal blessedness. – SHZ 141:1 This song verse touches the hearts of believers in Gillette, Wyoming. We are a very small, quiet flock traveling together toward heaven. A spiritual storm passed through our congregation, and we’ve experienced firsthand that in order to hear God and remain close to Him, we must be still. He didn’t forget us, but rather He kept our small flock of believers firmly in His care. God’s kingdom is our place of respite in this world, and negative peer pressure has no place here. When we succumb to negative influence, we are appeasing humans and this can lead away from God. In Galatians 1, verse 10 we read, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” As believers, we wish to remain as close to Christ as possible. We strive daily to live our lives as children of God, keeping a clean conscience. In doing so, we are a light unto each other and the world. The importance of believing escorts in God’s kingdom is felt so strongly here. We notice the love and bond we have every time we gather. We instinctively look out for one another and freely visit about faith matters. We can uplift one another, support each other in daily life, and forgive each other’s sins while traveling together as one. As children of God, there is peace in our hearts. Appropriate Influence Helps Shield Our Faith Erica Plough We have the unique perspective of living in a very small congregation. Being that we’re small and everyone knows everyone else very well, there is no option to “stay in the background” here. Each person has their duties for services and feels obligated to let the rest know if they won’t be at church on a given day so others know not to wait on them! That’s the form of “peer pressure” we really have here--to show up. When we have visitors, we are all pushed out of our comfort zones to welcome them and chat; we can’t wait and hope for someone more outgoing to do it. This results in a rewarding experience, even though most of us here tend to think of ourselves as naturally shy and reserved. Likewise, when given the opportunity to visit larger congregations, we are happy to be welcomed with enthusiasm! It’s heartwarming to hear the greetings of “God’s Peace,” sing familiar hymns with a larger group, and hear the same comforting message of the gospel we hear at home via the Internet. The adults in our congregation all originally came from larger congregations, but our children have mostly grown up here and they don’t have experience being in large churches except on occasional trips. They are excited to go visiting but have expressed being overwhelmed by the size of the crowds of kids! It is so meaningful to them when visiting a larger congregation to be welcomed and included by even a few others. As peer pressure and fitting in is felt most intensely in kids and teens, they feel both the sting of being a stranger, and of being fearful of reaching out when they are on their home turf more strongly than their parents. But our kids also have found the joy of expanding their friend groups when visiting with others. It’s a joy to be driving home from a visit and hearing our kids tell us, “I made a friend.” Likewise, it’s hard when they tell us they didn’t feel included. If we feel any drawbacks about living here, it’s that our haps age kids are lacking in believing company. We pray that God has a plan even for this current situation. Children, especially teenagers, naturally begin gravitating away from the influence of home and parents toward their peers as they seek acceptance and look for their own place in this world. A parent’s job is to help the young ones navigate situations where they might run into pressure from unbelieving—or even believing—peers to partake in activities that wound the conscience. We can create a safe, open environment at home where children can freely share their experiences and concerns. We can preach the gospel when anger and frustration result from difficult encounters with peers. We are reminded often that a believer is “in the world, but not of the world.” We should instruct as such and model healthy interactions with those who are not in faith. This includes being kind and respectful while also openly and honestly sharing how we believe when we find ourselves in situations where our faith could be impacted. The Bible instructs us to seek fellowship and unity with others who share our faith, rather than engaging in relationships that could lead us away from our faith or compromise our morals (2 Cor. 6:14). Youth can experience difficulties and pressure from believing friends and acquaintances as well. We don’t all have the same interests and hobbies, and the natural tendency of people to form likeminded or family-centric groups can mean some feel excluded at times. As parents, we can encourage our children to actively reach out to others and include them in our activities, and to remember that our primary goal need to be to support and encourage brothers and sisters in faith. When keeping faith and a good conscience are our priority, we will find ways to have good fellowship with believing peers. In our home here in Gillette, we have been blessed with a nice community. Large families and traditional values are accepted and even the norm here. When sharing our beliefs with neighbors and teachers, we have found that time and again we are met with acceptance and positive feedback. So often we feel slow and hesitant to confess our faith for fear of judgment, misunderstanding and possible ridicule, but we should be free to openly share with those around us. Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32). Positive Peer Pressure Keeps Me Social Aaron Johnson I’m not aware of negative peer pressure in my life. I get invited out by unbelieving coworkers, but it’s easy to decline respectfully, with no offense taken. I travel often and notice other congregations have more haps. Bigger congregations give the opportunity to have more friends, but it may also be harder to get to know people. There is unspoken peer pressure to fit the vibe within different groups. Positive peer pressure helps keep me social. I enjoy being in a small congregation because it allows me to know everyone around me. It’s comforting to know I’m always free to stop in and visit everybody. Discussion Questions Some pressure to conform is useful; it helps our society function in a cooperative way. Give examples of this. There are several examples in the Old Testament where believers confessed their faith and were shielded from harming their conscience. Share your experiences of this. How does peer pressure impact decision-making? Everyone is impacted by peer pressure; what pressure might parents of today’s teenagers feel? How can parents help children navigate peer pressure from believing friends and from those who are not believing? What are effective ways to resist negative peer pressure? We lead by example. What example would we like to show others? What would we like our behavior and attitudes to communicate to others around us? How can we best help and influence each other in God’s kingdom?