For some time Danes
have been leaving and continue to leave the Folkekirke, Denmark’s state
church, in significant numbers. According to the October 2012 issue of Folkekirkens Mellemkirkelige Råd publication Inter-Church News,
Folkekirke membership has declined from 85.4% to 79.8% since 1999. The article adds that “this decline is
suddenly quite steep” as what began as a mere trickle has become a steady
stream. It is notable that the
resignation figures for all of 2011 totaled 13, 587, but in the first six
months of 2012 alone 12,406 Danes left the Folkekirke.
Various causes are assigned
for this trend, including the nation’s financial crisis as well as the Folkekirke’s
promotion of gay marriage. It is also
attributed to “a bad press,” whatever that may mean, and “aggressive atheism.” The article cited above opines, perhaps a
bit lamely, that “part of the explanation lies in the number of
newly-nationalized immigrants who are not members of the Lutheran Church and,
hence, do not pay the church tax of around 0.9% (2011) incumbent on all
Lutheran Church members.”
From our perspective it
would appear that rampant secularism is the major cause of the decline. With its highly socialized governmental
system, Danes are snugly comfortable from cradle to grave with little thought
that there is life after death that demands a choice in the here and now between
heaven and hell. It is little wonder many
Danes consider the church passé and irrelevant, and because they do the parish
churches have been emptying for years. We can hear the pain of a dear Danish Christian
friend who wrote recently: “We are very
thankful for your prayers as you know that the church in Denmark for a big
part is betraying our Lord.”
This is not to say there are
no exceptions to the trend. There are
pockets of vibrancy in local parishes here and there throughout the
country. The Valmenighed movement
appears to be gaining momentum and revival movements within the Folkekirke
continue to have their devoted adherents. If at some point the Folkekirke drops
its status as a state church, as seems to be the trend in Scandinavia, it is within the realm
of possibility these revival movements may result in splintering of the
Folkekirke as it is known today..
So, where does this leave
Evangelicals and the Danish free churches?
They have their own set of problems and preoccupations of such magnitude
they may or may not be up to the evangelistic challenge presented by the vacuum
created through Folkekirke departures. Surely
there are Danes who hunger and thirst after righteousness. And it is for this
reason that the free churches need to get their act together to foster an
aggressive evangelism and an enhanced emphasis on the planting of new churches
rooted in a sound biblical theology.
If ever there was the need
for a nationwide revival of faith in Denmark, this is the time.
Danes need to hear and know that “Jesus Saves!” So often repeated we hardly hear it anymore, the
truth of the Word of God remains: “If my people, who are called by my Name,
will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked
ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal
their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV). It reads the same in Danish: “Mit
folk, som mit navn er nævnt over, så ydmyger sig og beder og søger mit ansigt
og vender om fra deres onde veje, da vil jeg høre dem fra himlen og tilgive
deres synd og læge deres land” (Anden Krønikebog
7:14)..
PRAY earnestly
that God will honor and answer the prayers of believers in Denmark as well as in other lands concerned for a genuine
Spirit-led revival reaching every corner of “det yndigt land" (the lovely
land).
PRAY that
God would raise up a new evangelist voice, or many such voices, to fearlessly and
faithfully proclaim the Good News of the Gospel in such an irresistible way
that Danes would listen and respond.
PRAY that
the Danish government would relax its tightened immigration and residence requirements
so that biblically sound workers from other countries would find it easier
to assist evangelistic and church planting efforts in Denmark.
PRAY that Danes
living overseas that have come to know the truth and power of the Gospel of
Christ in their lives and subsequently have become thoroughly grounded in the faith would
consider return to the homeland as witnesses of the saving grace of Christ.