Too much Christianity in Christmas!

 

Oh yes, I know, it is not Christmas yet. Don’t worry, Christmas will come but hopefully not start too early.
 
Honestly, I think that shops etc start to decorate and have sales too early, sometimes in October but that’s not what I’m talking about here.
 
It is: Are there too much of Christianity in Christmas?
 
A strange question, right?
 
But you see for some it is. Well, we do not know if Jesus was born December 25. Some say it can’t have been, some say well actually yes, but in that case I’m a guy who says “who cares” let's celebrate!
 
But why am I talking about this now!?
 
I read an article the other day that some local politicians in Sweden want to ban typical Christian elements in Christmas celebrations, especially in schools or other public settings.
Sounds strange?
 
I think so. It’s like saying that we should ban American flags on 4^th of July.
 
But these politicians want to do so, so that Christmas will get more included.
How? 
 
Banning songs that have words of Jesus in it, not having school graduation in a church, no Christian symbols etc.
 
To not have the graduation in a church is easy to fix, but in some cases, they have had these graduations in a church, but the priest or pastor has not been allowed to pray over the children or give them his or her blessing.
 
Very strange.
 
But if I was that priest or responsible for that church, I would say to the school that in that case you need to find somewhere else to go.
It is not a human right to have graduation in a church.
 
If you do not like Jesus well don’t celebrate, don’t sing these songs etc.
 
They did a survey among middle school students and high school students and the majority of them wanted to be in a church on graduation day, they wanted to sing the hymns, they wanted the priest's blessing.
And so did the majority of the teachers.
 
So why do we really discuss this !?
 
We Christians need to stand up and be honest with our faith, not just in this case though.
 
Tell these politicians to find something else to do and leave Christmas alone.

Silent prayer

 Silent prayer by itself is not a crime

I have seen footage online of people being arrested in England for scilent prayer. Almoast all the time outside abortion clinics. Why you might ask!

Why pray there? Why arrested.

UK officials have repeatedly clarified that simply praying silently is not illegal and not something police should treat as an offence on its own.

So if someone is just standing somewhere and thinking/praying quietly, that alone does not justify arrest.

Why pray and why against abortions is perhaps easier to answer.

From a Christian perspective, opposition to abortion is usually rooted in a few core theological and moral ideas. Different denominations may emphasize these differently, but here are some I guess main reasons commonly given.

One central belief is the sanctity of human life. Many Christians point to the idea that all human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). If life is understood as carrying inherent dignity from conception or early development, then abortion is seen as ending a life that already has moral value and purpose.

Closely related is the idea that life belongs to God, not ultimately to us. Passages like Psalm 139 (“you knit me together in my mother’s womb”) are often used to argue that God is personally involved in human life before birth, not only after.

Another theme is Jesus’ teaching and attitude toward the vulnerable. In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly shows special concern for children and the powerless (e.g., “Let the little children come to me,” Matthew 19:14). Many Christians extend that concern to unborn children as among the most vulnerable.

There is also a moral reasoning angle: the commandment “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) is interpreted by many Christians as applying to innocent human life at all stages. From that view, abortion is morally wrong because it intentionally ends that life.

Why pray?

We see prayer as more than just asking God for outcomes. It includes:

• Interceding for the vulnerable: praying for unborn children, mothers, and families in difficult situations
• Seeking wisdom and compassion: abortion is often tied to complex circumstances (fear, poverty, pressure), so prayer is a way of asking for discernment rather than reacting only emotionally
• Repentance and moral clarity: many Christians pray for their own hearts to stay aligned with God’s values, not hardened or indifferent
• Action guided by love: prayer is often seen as something that should lead to practical care—support for pregnant women, adoption, counseling, and community help

 

But location and behaviour can matter

Problems arise in places with special rules, especially:

• “Buffer zones” around abortion clinics
• Areas covered by Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) or the Public Order Act

In those areas, it can be illegal to do things that are judged as:

• trying to influence someone
• causing harassment, alarm, or distress
• or engaging in “intrusive” conduct
• 
  

Even silent prayer can be investigated if authorities believe it’s part of a wider behaviour pattern aimed at influencing clinic users.

Influence that is what we do, all of us. I bet you do that everyday. Things you say, things you do etc. That’s normal. And Christianity was not to be just personal it is that to but also communal.

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3. Why people get arrested in these cases

So I have heard from English politicians that when arrests happen in “silent prayer” cases, it’s usually not because:

• “thinking prayer is illegal”

but because police believe the person is:

• deliberately positioned to influence others in a restricted zone
• refusing to leave an exclusion area
• or breaching a local enforcement order

Some of these cases are still legally disputed and have gone through courts.

Prayer is understood as communication with God, and therefore something that belongs to conscience and religious freedom.

From that perspective, the idea that silent prayer alone could be treated as wrongdoing feels troubling, because Christianity generally holds that:

• God sees inward intention (not just outward speech)
• Faith involves both public and private prayer
• Conscience is not something the state should normally police

So many Christians would strongly defend the principle that you cannot criminalise thought or silent prayer itself.

 

Respect for law and public order

At the same time, mainstream Christian teaching also strongly emphasises:

• respect for governing authorities (e.g., Romans 13)
• loving one’s neighbour
• avoiding behaviour that pressures, harasses, or intimidates others

So many Christians would say: even if prayer is good, it shouldn’t be used in a way that intrudes on or pressures vulnerable people, especially in sensitive settings like healthcare facilities.

This is where some Christians accept “buffer zone” laws in principle: not because they oppose prayer, but because they prioritise protecting others from perceived influence or distress in a specific space.

 

 

But should we as christians protest against all this?

A big theological and ethical divide shows up here:

• Some Christians emphasise intent: “I am simply praying quietly, not interacting with anyone.”
• Others emphasise context and impact: “Even silent presence can be interpreted as pressure in certain settings.”

 

Even Christians who support buffer zones often still worry about a broader precedent:

• If silent prayer can be questioned in some contexts,
• could other forms of quiet religious expression also become restricted?

So there is a shared concern across denominations about protecting freedom of conscience and religion, even when people disagree on abortion, protest boundaries, or public space rules.

 

Many Christians would say it is legitimate to protest if they believe:

• people are being punished for silent prayer or internal belief
• the law is being applied in a way that effectively criminalises conscience
• there is a wider precedent threatening religious freedom or free expression

From this angle, protesting isn’t just about one case—it’s about defending a principle Christians see as important: that faith and prayer should not be treated as wrongdoing in themselves.

This is often grounded in ideas like:

• “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29, often cited in Christian civil disobedience discussions)
• protection of conscience and worship

So yes, some Christians would say protest is appropriate—especially peaceful, lawful protest.

Disrespected?

 Have you ever felt let down, disrespected? Not taken seriously ?Your family? Your organisation, church?

Personally or as a group?

Well no matter what, it is hard. Very hard. I know the feeling. I felt this way when I was younger. I was sad, disappointed, and sometimes angry.

Still happens today, and I guess it will continue to happen.

Mocked because I'm a Christian, questioned for my faith and that I have decided not to drink alcohol etc.

 

From a Christian perspective, not being taken seriously can be painful—but it’s also something the Bible speaks to quite directly.

First, it’s worth noting that even central figures of the faith weren’t taken seriously. 

Jesus Christ was mocked, dismissed, and ultimately rejected by many. In the Gospels, people questioned His authority, misunderstood His message, and even those closest to Him sometimes doubted. So in that sense, being overlooked or not respected doesn’t mean your value or truth is diminished.

A common theme in Christianity is that worth comes from God, not from human approval. Passages like Galatians 1:10 emphasize not living to please others but to be faithful. The idea is: if your identity is grounded in God, then other people’s opinions—while still emotionally impactful—don’t define you.

There’s also a call to humility. In Philippians 2, believers are encouraged to be humble and not seek status or recognition. That doesn’t mean accepting being treated poorly, but it reframes recognition as something that isn’t the ultimate goal. Sometimes not being taken seriously can even become a test of patience, character, and trust.

At the same time, Christianity doesn’t say you should just stay silent or accept dismissal in every situation. Figures like Paul the Apostle spoke boldly and defended their message when needed. There’s room for calmly asserting yourself, speaking truth, and setting boundaries—just without tying your worth to whether people listen.

Alright—here’s a grounded, step-by-step way a Christian approach might look in real life when you feel like you’re not being taken seriously:

I was reading the Bible, books by different theologians etc and I came up with this step by step order to deal with it, well with a lot of help I would like to say.

 

1. Check your anchor first

Before reacting outwardly, pause and ask: “Am I basing my worth on their reaction?”
Christian teaching centers identity in God, not in people’s approval. Even Jesus Christ was dismissed, so being overlooked doesn’t automatically mean you lack value or truth.

This step isn’t about suppressing feelings—it’s about not letting the situation define you.

So if you get an unwanted email, do not in effect answer it there and then, wait a day or two. It helps.

2. Examine honestly (without self-attack)

Ask yourself:

• Was I clear?
• Was my tone respectful?
• Is there something I could improve?

This reflects humility (a big Christian theme), but it’s not about blaming yourself. It’s about staying grounded in truth rather than reacting defensively.

 

3. Respond calmly and directly

Instead of withdrawing or getting aggressive, try something like:

• “I don’t feel like I’m being heard—can I explain that again?”
• “This matters to me, and I’d like you to take it seriously.”

This mirrors how Paul often spoke—firm, but not hostile.

So again in affect, right away, then it is easy to get aggressive so again wait!

 

4. Set boundaries if needed

If someone consistently dismisses you, it’s not un-Christian to address it:

• Limit how much you engage on certain topics
• Be clear about what you expect in conversations

Christianity teaches love and patience—but not passivity in the face of ongoing disrespect.

 

5. Let go of what you can’t control

At some point, you have to accept: you can’t force people to take you seriously.

This is where trust comes in—doing what’s right, speaking truth, and then releasing the outcome. That’s a repeated pattern in Scripture: faithfulness over control.

To let things go that you can not control is the key but so hard. I am struggling with this, but by God's help I'm getting better.

6. Keep your character intact

It’s easy to become bitter or sarcastic when you’re dismissed. The Christian call is to stay grounded in patience, honesty, and self-control—even when it’s not returned.

That doesn’t mean being weak. It means choosing who you are regardless of how others act.

7. Find the right audience

Even Jesus Christ didn’t keep explaining Himself to people who were determined not to listen. Sometimes the wise move is to invest your energy in people who are open and respectful.

Every step is necessary and if you like me are struggling with many of them,

Keep working on it, keep praying, God hears you….

Eurovision song contest

 Eurovision Song Contest

 

Do you watch that? Are you engaged in it?

This time Bulgaria won and Israel came second.

 

GB came last almost as usual, what’s wrong!!

 

Sweden did not do well this time and I have to admit, I have not heard the song, and I did not watch it this time, just got the news the day after.

 

I have to admit that I watched every year before, but during the last 5-6 years not at all.

 

I don’t think it's fun anymore, but hey that’s me.

 

In recent times it is getting more and more political, political in that sense that it is against Israel.

 

If you think Israel is doing something that is wrong, fine you can protest but is this the time doing so ok?

 

You can protest during marches, etc but perhaps not choose those where they scream that they want to behead the Jews.

 

 

 

This event should be an event of Joy, happiness, inclusion, non-political, every person counts etc, and then it doesn’t.

 

People are screaming hate. Not nice.

 

Even some countries were boycotting the show this year, one of them Spain. Why?

 

Perhaps next time Spain should be in the show but competing against Catalonia?

 

Well, If I look at Sweden. The jury has in 2023 and in 2024, 2025, 2026, no points to Israel but the Swedish audience did vote for Israel. I think that says a lot.

 

As a Christian I and we are called to speak truth but in love (Ephesians 4:15)

And to stand against hatred in all forms.

 

Eurovision should be a platform for love and unity, not one of hate and division.

Please let us be a generation that lifts up, not tears down!

 

Called to Work

 Called to Work: A Christian Reflection on Daily Labor

 

Work, well that is necessary. Some live for their job, some not. No matter how we look at working we need it and salary matters but also if you like it or not. Some jobs are very heavy, shifts etc, but you have so many great friends there. That is important as well.

Some jobs will leave you with aching shoulders , backs, knees etc, some are very stressful.

One thing I noticed though is that the higher position you get, the better the salary, the better the environment, better working conditions. Why is that?

Well, I'm not here to sort that out but work is one of the most ordinary parts of life, yet from a Christian perspective, it carries extraordinary meaning. From the very beginning, work was not a punishment but a calling. In Genesis, humanity is placed in the garden “to work it and take care of it.” This reminds us that work, in its pure form, is participation in God’s ongoing creation.

But most of us don’t live in gardens. We live in deadlines, meetings, responsibilities, and sometimes frustration. Work can feel draining, repetitive, or even meaningless. So how do we reconcile this daily reality with a faith that tells us work matters?

First, Christian faith reframes why we work. It is not only for income, status, or survival, but as an act of service. Whatever our role—whether leading a company, caring for children, studying, or doing tasks that feel invisible—our work can become an offering. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” This shifts the audience of our effort. Even unseen work is seen by God.

Second, work becomes a place of formation. Challenges, conflicts, and responsibilities are not interruptions to spiritual life—they are part of it. Patience grows in difficult colleagues, integrity is tested in small decisions, and humility is shaped when things don’t go our way. In this sense, work is not just something we do; it is something that shapes who we become.

Third, we are reminded of limits. In a culture that often idolizes productivity, Christianity speaks clearly about rest. The rhythm of Sabbath tells us that our value is not based on output. We are human beings, not machines. Rest is not laziness; it is trust—trust that God sustains the world even when we stop working.

Finally, Christian reflection on work invites us to ask deeper questions: Does my work contribute to what is good? Does it serve others? Does it reflect love, justice, and truth? These questions don’t always have simple answers, but they help align our daily efforts with a greater purpose.

Work will never be perfect. There will be days of joy and days of frustration. But when seen through the lens of faith, even the most ordinary tasks can carry eternal significance. In the end, work is not just about what we produce—it is about who we serve, and who we are becoming in the process.

Labour Day May 1

 Labor Day in Sweden is quite different from the version you might be familiar with in countries like the United States. In Sweden, it’s tied strongly to politics, workers’ rights, and international labor movements rather than just being a general holiday for rest.

Sweden’s Labor Day—called International Workers' Day (Första maj)—has its roots in the global labor movement of the late 19th century. It was inspired by events like the Haymarket affair in the United States, where workers protested for an eight-hour workday.

In 1889, socialist and labor organizations across Europe declared May 1st as a day of international worker solidarity. Sweden quickly adopted this idea.

The first major May Day demonstrations in Sweden took place in 1890. Workers gathered in cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg to demand:

• Shorter working hours
• Better working conditions
• Fair wages

At the time, Sweden was industrializing rapidly, and many workers faced long hours and poor conditions. The day became a platform for expressing these concerns publicly.

It has been a tool to protest and if you are left or right it does not matter, good working conditions is something we all want to have.

But

For so many reasons this Labour day in Sweden and Europe has in a way lost its value.

You see now it is not so much about workers rights it is more about identity.

I never take part in these marches but I have seen on the news and this year especially there were much more Palestinian, Iranian, Cuban flags than Swedish flags.

People were screaming that the government (right) were fascists, racists. People were screaming about the global intifada, and we know what that looks like, look at England etc.

Hate speech on Israel etc. Not fun at all.

 

Now what could a Christian labor day look like?

Labor Day often arrives as a welcome pause—a long weekend, a breath between seasons, a moment to rest. Yet beneath the barbecues and late-summer sunlight lies something deeper: a chance to reflect on the meaning of our work in light of our faith.

From the very beginning, work was part of God’s design. In Genesis, we see that God Himself worked—creating, shaping, and bringing order to the world. Then He entrusted that work to humanity, calling us to steward creation with care and purpose. Work, in its truest form, is not a burden but a calling.

But anyone who has worked a difficult job, faced burnout, or struggled with purpose knows that labor can feel heavy. That’s because we live in a world where work is often disconnected from meaning. It becomes a grind instead of a gift, a source of stress instead of an expression of God’s creativity.

Labor Day invites us to reclaim a biblical vision of work.

First, it reminds us that all work has dignity. Whether you lead a company, teach children, care for a family, or serve in quiet, unseen ways—your labor matters. Scripture tells us in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” There is no small task when it is offered to God.

Second, it calls us to rest well. God not only worked—He rested. The rhythm of Sabbath is not optional; it is essential. In a culture that glorifies busyness, choosing rest is an act of trust. It says, “God is in control, even when I stop.” Labor Day can be more than a day off—it can be a reset of our hearts toward God’s rhythm of grace.

Third, it challenges us to care for others in their labor. The Bible consistently calls for justice and compassion in how workers are treated. As Christians, we are invited to notice those whose work is overlooked or undervalued and to advocate for fairness, kindness, and dignity in every workplace.

Finally, Labor Day points us toward eternal purpose. Our work here is not the end of the story. Every act of faithfulness—every honest effort, every quiet sacrifice—echoes into eternity. When we work with integrity, serve with love, and persevere with hope, we reflect Christ to the world.

So this Labor Day, and for us here in Europe the coming ones, take time to rest—but also to remember. Your work has meaning. Your effort is seen. And in Christ, even the most ordinary labor becomes something sacred.

“Facing Crime Without Losing Our Soul: A Christian Response in Sweden”

 

The war between these gangs have been going on for years now.

 

In the beginning politicians, police and people in general were talking about how on earth it can happen, that it is perhaps the society’s fault that this can happen and what to do.

 

During some years more that 30-40 young men were killed each year on the streets and many more wounded.

 

If they could not get you, they placed bombs, were you lived, home-made bombs or hand grenades smuggled in from the Balkans.

 

So very quickly Sweden went from a very peaceful nation to a nation of violence. We had the most shootings in all of Europe.

 

Police got some new tools, laws were changed and the shootings went down. Churches started to work with these criminals, many changed, but still, it is going on.

 

Two days ago, a bomb exploded in the middle of the day, no one got killed or hurt.

This morning when I open the newspaper, two young men was shot in a city named Norrkoping and in my city of Malmo there was a home-made bomb explosion during the night.

 

Some of these shooters are sometimes as young as 13 and sometimes they are girls.

 

Almost every time shooters and people getting shot have foreign background, and yes sometimes totally innocent people get in the way.

 

Why? How? What?

 

Christianity consistently calls for truthfulness without sensationalism

(see Gospel of John 8:32 — “the truth will set you free”).

Crime is real, but fear should not be our compass—truth and wisdom should.

 

Even people involved in crime are not beyond redemption. That’s central to Christianity. Figures like Paul the Apostle started as persecutors and became transformative leaders.

But this doesn’t excuse crime

There will be consequences

We Christians should condemn these actions without denying that people can change.

The Bible doesn’t ignore crime. It strongly supports justice and accountability. Governments are seen as having a role in restraining evil (Epistle to the Romans 13:1–4).

A Christian perspective can and should

• Support effective law enforcement
• Encourage fair but firm consequences
• Advocate for policies that protect communities

 

Churches like ours are doing a lot to reach out, other institutions etc are doing the same. Many are changed but still so much to do. I do understand the anger, hopelessness, frustration, I do feel that way sometimes, but we should never loose hope. When you feel there is no hope, pray.

We should Offer hope, not just critique

• Prayer for affected communities
• Encouragement to engage rather than withdraw
• Hope rooted in the belief that evil doesn’t have the final word

Amen