By Kevin Armbrust
The case is closed. At 1 p.m. on March 30, the Helsinki District Court in Finland issued its decision to acquit both the Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, and Dr. Päivi Räsänen, a medical doctor and longstanding member of the Finnish Parliament.
The trial of Pohjola and Räsänen began on Jan. 24. Their prosecution grew from a complaint in 2019 regarding the publication of Räsänen’s 2004 pamphlet, Man and Woman He Created Them: Homosexuality and the Challenge to the Christian Concept of Man. In that pamphlet, published under Pohjola’s authority, Räsänen confesses the biblical view of marriage and sexuality, including the Bible’s teaching that homosexuality is a sin.
This story from Finland has echoed throughout the world, as the very Word of God was placed on trial. As the trial proceeded, the prosecutor general discussed interpretation of the Holy Bible. The words that were labeled as hateful were none other than the very teachings of the Scriptures. Though the prosecution demanded that writings, interviews and social media posts be taken down, and that both Räsänen and Pohjola pay a fine, the court ruled to acquit.
“I feel relieved that the Helsinki District Court unanimously dismissed all charges,” said Pohjola. “This was a great victory not only for me and Mrs. Räsänen but for everybody, even our opponents, because freedom of speech and religion are basic rights in a democratic society.
“However, the prosecutor most likely will appeal the decision to the Appellate Court, so the decision of the District Court is not yet final. I’m pleased that the rule of law was maintained in Finland and the court was not taken over by the all-present and powerful gender ideology, which tries to the silence biblical teaching on human sexuality.”
Upon hearing of the acquittal, Pohjola expressed his thanks to all who have prayed for him. “I feel very humbled that so many congregations and Christians have kept us in their prayers and so many have in various ways shown their support,” he said. “I want to thank all for the love and support we have received here in Finland.”
As befits his faith and flows from his love as bishop and pastor, Pohjola wants to encourage the church to remain faithful: “I hope that this encourages us and all others who share the same struggles to confess Christ Jesus and biblical teaching with joy and boldness. After all, it is His Word and He is responsible for it and for those who testify in His name. The Lord be with you all!”
Posted March 30, 2022
Print page
Glory to God in the highest! Now, come what may in this fight, on this front, Onward! We Christians must never give up or be dissuaded, for our own souls and those of our fellow man are at stake. The Devil prowls about the Earth, seeking souls to devour, and is as active as ever trying to do so. We must do all that we can to deny those souls to him.
Praise God for accepting His word without substituting human values.
Praise God! May He continue to be with these fauthsuk pastors.
Praise God.. While this is a battle in the war raging in this sinful world. A victory for the Word of God is always cause for celebration. The Gospel continues to reach the people of Finland and the World!! Great article, Dr. Armbrust!
While glad the charges were dismissed for the sake of free speech, I am disappointed in this article. I am a same sex attracted man in my 60s who decided on celibacy when I was 15. Over 45 years I have probably paid a higher price for the biblical view of marriage and sex than the vast majority of those celebrating this verdict. What disturbs me is that this booklet keeps being called “a biblical view of marriage and sexuality” by Christian leaders It is not. Although the booklet and the Bible agree that sex should be reserved for marriage and marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman, the basis on which this booklet builds its case, in spite of a few Bible quotes, is not biblical but rather a reflection of the freudian/darwinian view common in the eugenics movement of the early 20th century. A lot of the arguments are based on the theories of “reparative therapy” made popular by Moberly and Niccolosi in the 1990s which were, themselves, based on beliefs espoused by early psychology. This “therapy” did untold harm as many of us put tremendous resources into changing our orientation only to find such therapy did not really work – and in fact, when you think about it, the goal of such therapy was to exchange one lust for another (which is really a sick and non-biblical concept). Further, since such therapy sees homosexuality as being a “developmental disorder” and places the blame especially on parents. A huge impact of this therapy was the destruction of families as clients were let to blame their parents. Finally, as with so many discussions of homosexuality, the Gospel is all but missing, mentioned a coup0le of times in a kind of general way. Such overwhelming law and paucity of Gospel in so many discussion of homosexuality and gay marriage make despairing sinners of kids in their early to mid teens. I long ago gave up hope for finding friendship and belonging in the Church. I obey Christ because He is God but the actions of pastors and Christians have demonstrated for me that hope for friendship is merely disappointment. So, I am glad the verdict was acquittal for the sake of free speech but let’s not pretend that this booklet was biblical or Christian just because it has a thin veneer of bible quotes.