There are limits to the interpretation of the words of the Bible, says Jan Magnus Fauske (27 years). This year already 6 thousand people decided to sever ties with the Norwegian Church.
The holiday mood prevails in the biblical camp of Farcasa lake Aremarket in Ostfold. Recently received his theological education Jan Magnus Fauske Lilleba (Jan Magnus Fauske Lillebø) quietly delivers a sermon from the stage of the hall during the daily Bible hour.
He is one of those who this spring announced its exit. The decision about the wedding of same-sex couples forced him to say goodbye to the Church where he was baptized and received confirmation.
“It is sad, but theological education has led to the fact that I don’t feel at home in the new Church. There are limits to the interpretation of the words of the Bible,” says 27-year-old theologian.
His religious home is the Norwegian Lutheran Missionary Society, which today has approximately 300 thousand members in prayer and mission houses across the country.
“Many people think we are smug bigots, but that’s probably because we are confident in our understanding of the Bible and the word of God. It gives us strength in life,” says Lilleby.
Three thousand announced his retirement three weeks
During Church Cathedral in Trondheim this spring, many of them felt that their patience ran out when people with a different sexual orientation are invited to get married before the altar. Nearly a thousand people have announced their exit from the Church of Norway for three weeks when the media reported extensively on same-sex marriage in Church.
2938 people sent their applications in protest against the decision of the Church Council, and just this year already 5992 people decided to sever their ties with the Church.
Record 2015
2015 was a record year when it was given 15 thousand 486 applications for release. There was no strength to endure from liberal believers, because the Church Council in Kristiansand refused to marry same-sex couples.
“There is nothing unusual in the many exits of the churches and parishes in it, when attention is focused on the Church,” says OLE Inge Bekkelund (Ole Bekkelund Inge), head of the Church Council.
“It is a human right to exit a religious community. We want to make the Norwegian Church has become open and popular Church where all the baptized may feel his connection with her.
Only in the missionary’s house I feel at home
At Bible camp in Ostfold many shares the view that the national Church no longer rests on the Bible.
“I go to Church only on Christmas and Easter, and only in the missionary’s house I feel at home,” says Anne Marie Calland (Anne Marie Kalland) from Haugesund, which is already 15 years together with his family spends a vacation in Farcasa.
“Many decide to remain a member of the Church of Norway as long as you can vouch for the sermon, but it depends on the pastor,” she adds.
Between two stools
“The old culture is preaching right now is trying to sit between two chairs. Lutheran mission organizations decided to remain in the state Church, and there is an unwritten rule that a house of worship and the Church should not compete with each other,“ says researcher Egedal Olav (Olaf Aagedal), who has a PhD on the culture houses of worship. The Church was invited to the Sunday Church service and a house of worship was offered in the evening singing, music and meetings for the revival of faith and charity bazaars, and voluntary participation in the missionary work.”He sees several dilemmas in the culture houses of worship, which was formed by the preaching of the Norwegian Church in the last century:
“A house of worship resolutely refuses to charismatic Christianity and defines itself as a movement-oriented teaching, firmly based on the Bible. But he is also a Church, faith-promoting, where the strong feeling of closeness to God.
Offer christening and wedding
A Lutheran mission organizations in recent times have positioned themselves as a religious community and to offer such rituals as baptism, confirmation, wedding and funeral. Norwegian Lutheran Missionary Society is one of such organizations.
Bjørn Magne Heyer (Heier Bjørn Magne) — Chairman of the Board Bible camp in Farcasa and a member of the Missionary home in Rakkestad, remains a member of the Norwegian Church.
“I think it will look like a provocation, if the Missionary house will start conducting Church services on Sunday in the first half of the day.”
He still wants coexistence with the Church, but recognizes that in the future may be competition in the question of the means of religious instruction.
“Today we offer intensive training for confirmation, and I see that there may be a dispute about who should teach children and youth the Christian faith, the modern Church or house of worship. Many will choose the latter, so that children are not faced with a watered-down understanding of Christianity.”
