Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice. The Need.

Introduction:Most of you know that that the week of July 8th through the 16th Debbie and I were in Iceland – The Land of Fire and Ice. It was an amazing trip – so full of beauty.

Where is Iceland? Well, it's not the end of the world, but you can just about see it from there! (Show on world map)

We enjoyed an incredible 9-day journey around the Ring Road and the Golden Circle (Show our route on Hwy 1). It is over 840 miles to drive around the island of Iceland - We probably drove over a thousand miles in all.

Waters Surrounding Iceland

Seas surrounding Iceland: The Greenland Sea to the North, the Norwegian sea to the East, the Atlantic Ocean to the South. There is also the Denmark strait which separates Greenland and Iceland by about 200 miles on the West.

Population of Iceland

Iceland is a sparsely populated nation (380,000 people) with a land mass of some 38,770 square miles. It sits alone in the middle of the north Atlantic Ocean. I have read that it is about the same size as the State of Virginia (42,742 square miles).

The Island of Greenland

Its bigger brother is Greenland (largest Island in the world) which has a much larger land mass of some 836,000 square miles, but it has even a smaller population of around 56,800 people which live in sixteen towns. (Here is what it looked like from the air – Show pictures here).

Typography and other Facts about Iceland

Getting back to Iceland.Iceland has a rugged landscape, and it was truly amazing to drive through much of it. It features an active volcano East of Keflavik (where the airport is located) in a town called Grindavik (Presently no one is allowed to travel in that area – Show video of the area). There are over 200 volcanos of various types. I recently read that 1/3 of all lava flow in the world has come from Iceland.

Iceland also has a lot of geothermal activity throughout. We stopped at several sites and walked around. They also have a “mini” Old Faithful, although it is not as spectacular.

Iceland also has immense glaciers. The largest glacier in Europe is there called: Vatnajokull (Vanta Glacier), which cover 8% of Iceland and is a quarter mile in thickness.

Iceland also boasts about its black sand beaches, which we walked on.

Iceland also has the barren highlands of the West (we didn’t go there because you need a four-wheel drive). I have heard that it is truly an amazing place.

Iceland is very close to the Arctic Circle. There is an island off the coast of Iceland called Grimsey and the Artic Circle goes right through it. Debbie and I drove up to the closet point to the Arctic Circle to a town called Raufarhofn. It was here that we took pictures of the Artic Henge.

Iceland experiences 24 hours of sunlight at the height of summer (it never got dark) and around 3 hours of sunlight at midwinter.

The People of Iceland

What about the people of Iceland? The Icelandic people are rugged, tough and determined. In a land of such extremes, the Icelanders have developed a way of life that demonstrates their ability to survive and thrive in any circumstance. In fact, the unofficial slogan of the Icelanders is, "Þetta Reddast," which loosely translates to, "Everything will work out in the end!"

The Viking Period

Iceland was originally settled by pagan Vikings. Ingolfr Arnarson was the first to sail to Iceland in 874. Others followed him. Iceland was the third to the last major land mass to be settled by humans.

When we stopped at Godafoss we read a sign there that read:

History tells us that in the year 1000, Porgeir, chieftain of Ljosavatn district, and Lawspeaker of the Althing, was entrusted with the momentous task of deciding whether Icelanders should adopt the Christian faith. When his decision was formally accepted, he went home and threw his statues of the pagan gods into the waterfall, Godafoss (Waterfall of the gods) is said to derive its name from this event. It is 12 metres high (39.5 feet tall).

Catholicism arrived in Iceland around the year 1000 AD. Although there is some archeological evidence that it may have arrived as early as the 800’s.

Catholicism was eventually replaced by Lutheranism during the Reformation and to this day, 59% of the population are registered members of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland. The state-sponsored church is largely controlled and funded by the government.

What about the Church of Iceland?

Debbie and I went to Church several times a day while traveling through Iceland. I want to show you some pictures of the many Churches we stopped at (Show pictures here).

The National Church of Iceland

The National Church of Iceland is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (Nothing Evangelical about it). The pictures of the Churches, I showed you are a picture of Iceland’s past. Ancient relics of bygone days. Christianity has almost entirely disappeared in Iceland.

Show picture of the Church at Reykjavik.

Jesus replaced by Liberalism

The national church has become extremely liberal and is now essentially a secular organization. One person told us, “That most of the churches in Iceland are used for music concerts, or social gatherings.”

A Transgender Jesus

For example, the children's Easter ad put out by the state church in 2020 prominently featured a "transgender Jesus." It pictured a bearded Jesus with breasts, makeup and a dress dancing under a rainbow. (The ad promoted Children attending Sunday school. That ad cost the Church $ 14,800, and was funded through the Bishop’s office). After receiving backlash, the church removed the ad from social media — but not buses — and released an apology. However, the church also argued that it believes “it’s okay” to depict Jesus as a woman, transgender or anything else.

A Church that is Prochoice

A coalition of Icelandic bishops recently released a statement arguing that those who promote pro-life causes are clearly under the influence of a cultic mindset.

Baptism into Nothing

Most Icelanders are still baptized as infants, but many will never step foot inside another church meeting at any point in their lives. The lack of belief was demonstrated in a recent national survey which found that, of those polled aged 30 and under, exactly 0.0% claimed to believe in a creator God.

Iceland’s Unsaved Clergy

Even the clergy in these churches do not need to hold specific doctrinal beliefs and many are self-professed atheists. Historic church buildings can be found all throughout the nation, but most of them stand as empty shells of a bygone era.

A Small Christian Witness Exists

In actuality, about 0.1% of the population consider themselves to be Bible-believing Christians, which in Iceland’s population adds up to around 350 people. 350 people out of 380,000 people.

Therefore, Iceland is considered to be the least evangelized nation in Europe.

Rejects Historic Christianity

The progressive Icelandic culture regularly rejects and clashes with the historic Christian faith and practice.

No Religious identity

Most Icelanders, even those still registered as members of the state church, do not claim any sort of religious identity.

A majority would say they are either atheistic or simply uninterested in anything religious or spiritual.

When asked about their views on life's biggest questions, many Icelanders would reply with a hearty, "Þetta Reddast!" and move onto a different subject.

The Icelanders are also typically content with their situation in life as the government is able to provide for them in various ways.

This is the challenge of gospel ministry in Iceland. Pastor Dale Kellar said to Debbie and me, “How do you share the gospel in a culture of spiritual apathy and with people who do not see any need for a Savior?”

Slides of Happiness

Can people be happy without God? All the worldly data so its possible. Look at the following statistical information:

· Happiness data worldwide 2023 - Iceland # 1

· Global Peace Index – Iceland # 1

· Life Expectancy – Iceland rates great!

The Honest Slide Tells the Truth

You can print anything to make people believe what you want them to believe. Are Icelanders really that happy? Data shows otherwise.

· Iceland ranks # 1 in use of Antidepressant Consumption.

The Real State of Iceland

Statistically, Iceland is reported to be one of the happiest, healthiest, peaceful and equal nations in the world. Yet, they are also the highest consumers of antidepressants per capita worldwide. What might this reveal about the spiritual need of the Icelanders?

Icelanders need the Lord. I picked up a paper at the airport just before we boarded our plane for the flight home. It is called, The Grapevine, and in it was an article about the rise of STDs in Iceland. Contrary to what they may want the world to believe, they are a lost and depressed people. They need Jesus Christ!

God is not finished with Iceland

Here is the good news - God has not abandoned Iceland! The Lord is evidently working amidst this physically and spiritually dark nation of the north. Through a few small, faithful local churches (Three in number), God is using his people to spread the gospel throughout the nation with the goal of seeing new churches planted and new souls won to Christ. I want to encourage you to PRAY for our Icelandic brothers and sisters as they seek to reach the people of Iceland with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

PRAY that Icelanders will be captivated by the TRUTH of the Gospel and reborn through the Spirit of God.

Here is a verse in the Islandic language:

“Ljósið skín í myrkrinu og myrkrið tók ekki á móti því.” (Jóhannesarguðspjall 1.5)

In English it is John 1:5 that reads,

“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Conclusion: The Bible says,

“How will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:14-15).

Dear SLBC Family - Missionaries are needed in Iceland. We need people to “Go” and carry out the Great Commission. Making disciples of all nations. Teaching them to observe all things that He has commanded. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

William Carey, the gospel worker in India who is frequently referred to as the father of modern missions. Before he left for India, he had a conversation with his dear friend Andrew Fuller. Describing the need for faithful partners in the mission, Carey told Fuller, “I will go down into the pit, if you will hold the ropes.”

Friends, listen, there are only three churches preaching the gospel in all of Iceland (only three congregations). The gospel cannot be taken to Iceland without a steadfast group of rope-holders who will use their resources, given by God, to help SEND servants out into the mission field.

You and I cannot take our money to heaven, but we can invest in reaching places like Iceland – a land in need!

PRAY – GIVE – SEND – GO – Please do something!

A word of warning – If we as Christians do not take our faith serious and live out the truth of the Gospel than the day will come when our land will be dotted with Churches nobody attends. And I for one do not want to see that happen.

· I will preach my lungs out.

· I will live my faith out.

· I will share Jesus with lost people.

· I will use my resources to reach the world.

· I will pray for Iceland.

· I will be faithful to my calling as a Pastor.

· No liberal teaching here. I will cut it straight.

· God, find us faithful. Lord, find us faithful.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that you labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58).