After working for Arrow Electronics for one year our boss had asked our team who wanted to do some product training. No one on our team wanted to step forward because we already all had so much on our plate. However, I volunteered and it ended up being a blessing because the training was being held by a supplier Atmel in Trondheim, Norway. Here were some of my thoughts as I walked the streets of Trondheim and learned the culture from many who lived there....

I got to see the castle and the churches here today. They are not as spectacular as those we saw in France and Italy. However, it is unique to see how God is worshiped in different parts of the world. Norway is a very "Christian / religious" place. King Olav was very powerful in his influence of the people and a very devote Lutheran. He established many churches through out the country, but the only down side is that the churches established before are now dying. There is no separation of church and state was we have it in the US. Most of the churches are provided a subsidy by the government and many of the priests are chosen from political leaders and the king.

There has been much debate as to whether or not they are going to try to separate church and state. Many of the Norwegians are much like Filipinos, except not as devout. They see church more as a tradition and attending mass is viewed only necessary three times a year on Easter, Christmas, and their national holiday. However, that is why church and state has not been dissolved because this tradition is so strong that if they separated the church from the state most of the churches would close because they would not get any money from the government.

Ironically, even though many people do not attend church out here many of them are baptized and consider themselves Christian. But just like my conversations with the folks at Atmel, many of them do not have a strong understanding of Scripture. Many of them still are like the rest of Europe, they desire to be independent and have beliefs that are grounded on Scripture but more out of values and ethics they want to choose to uphold. The majority of the people only end up believing what popular society accepts and believes. So in the end they are only fooling themselves that they are truly unique and independent in their thinking.

It seems as if this would be a fertile ground for ministry a place where if there were believers who really loved the Lord and were grounded in Scripture that it would really affect the entire society.