International Lutheran Council issues statement on persecution of Finnish church

Two Finnish leaders are being prosecuted for articulating the historic Christian teaching on human sexuality.

Finland’s prosecutor general has charged the Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, diocesan dean and bishop-elect of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, with incitement against a group of people. The charges stem from his agreement with a 2004 booklet that articulates historic Christian teaching on human sexuality. In addition, the prosecutor general has similarly charged Dr. Päivi Räsänen, a Finnish member of Parliament who authored the booklet identifying homosexuality as a sin and teaching that a failure to recognize sin as sin undermines the very need for a Savior.

Through a recent International Lutheran Council statement signed by 48 confessional Lutheran leaders worldwide, LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison addressed these events: “The actions of the Finnish State in prosecuting Christians for holding to the clear teaching of the very words of Jesus regarding marriage and sex (Matthew 19:4–6) are egregious. … We Lutherans make this strong confession along with Drs. Pohjola and Räsänen.”

Join us in praying for Christians throughout the world, that boldness of confession would lead all to Christ and Him crucified, as the church stands on the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

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