MARCH 23. 2002

MARCH 23. 2002 XX

March 23, 2002: A Histoical Day for the Swedish Pentecostals

Dear visitors at this web-page:

The month of March should under normal circumstances be a month of hope and joy. It is spring time in Sweden and the country comes out of a long sleep, struggling to get back to life after several dark and cold months. The air smells different and the sky gets a new color. The young people gather on the streets and the birds start to sing again.

But to me March 23 will probably be remembered as one of the gloomiest days of my life. Everyone who knows me recognizes me as a positive and joyful person, full av plans, challenges and expectations. I am progressive in my thinking and has challenged status quo when I have considered it damaging to the church and its life.. But this time it was different. For a couple of hours my life took "time out." I felt numb, sad and very confused. The reason behind my confusion was the creation of a new Pentecostal Fellowship in Sweden, called PFFS "The Pentecostal Fellowship of Free Churches." The name does not sound revolutionary. Many organizations are birthed every single day, and there is nothing strange about that. But with PFFS it is different, because its birth split my spiritual home in two big groups separated with a huge crack.

How could everything turn around so fast? Why did it happened? Many of us had told the leaders to take it easy, to stop the clock and do a thorough theological analysis. But the only answer we got was this: "It is not a theological question." How could they expose their ignorance in such a way? All research papers reveal that the importance of the free and autonomous local church was the cornerstone of the theology in the SPM churches. That was exactly that which made it so radical, so different. The vision from 1919 about a free, non-denominational fellowship was something we were all proud of. We were "unique" in a positive sense. The Swedish Pentecostal Movement (SPM) had proved by itself for more than 85 year that there was no need of a national or regional board. But that decision caused it suffer persecution from other Christians and free churches and was constantly ridiculized for not lining up with the other denominations. It was during these years that the doctrines were "polished" and defined.

Many of us hoped that the risk of splitting the movement in two groups would prevent some of the leaders to fulfill and carry out the organizational changes. But we were wrong. Now it is done and life has to continue. However, March 23, 2002 is a historical date for many Pentecostals. It is as important as 1919, but so different in direction and purpose.

Lakeland March 24, 2002

Nils-Olov Nilsson

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