Christianity in Denmark

Christianity in Denmark: The Kingdom of Denmark or the Danish Realm includes the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Metropolitan Denmark, also known as Continental Denmark or Denmark Proper, is located in Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden to the Southwest; Norway to the South; and Germany to the North. The capital city is Copenhagen, while the official language is Danish. Denmark has a human population of 5,982,117, with Danish as its almost homogenous ethnicity at 86.11% of the population.

According to official statistics from 2019, 74.7% of its people identify as members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the country’s state church since 1848. Islam stands at 5.5%, while other faiths include Roman Catholicism, Jehovah Witness, Serbian Orthodox Church, Judaism, Baptist Church, Buddhism, Mormon, Pentecostal and non-denominational Christian groups.

Brief History

Gotho-Germanic tribes inhabited Denmark since prehistoric times. A seafaring people, the Danes played an important role in the era of Viking exploration and raids in Western Europe between 800 BC and 1050 AD. St. Ansgar first introduced Christianity in the country in 826 AD. King Harald Bluetooth, who reigned from 935 to 985 AD, was the first Danish monarch to become a Christian. In 1536, the Reformation started by Martin Luther led to the establishment of a national Lutheran church in 1848. It is pertinent to note that Denmark’s influence extends beyond the Baltic and Northern Europe. Iceland and Greenland have been governed by Denmark since the Viking era. In 1918 Denmark recognised Iceland as a sovereign state united with it under a common king. Iceland became fully independent in 1944. The incumbent King of Denmark is Frederik X, while the Prime Minister is Mette Frederiksen.

God’s Canvass

Denmark consists of the northern part of the Jutland peninsula and an archipelago of 406 islands. The largest island is Zealand, on which the capital city, Copenhagen is situated. Many of the larger islands are connected by bridges, while a bridge-tunnel across the Oresund connects Zealand with Sweden. A sizeable portion of the country’s terrain consists of rolling plains, while the coastline is sandy, with large dunes in the northern Jutland. Once extensively forested, today Denmark largely consists of arable land. It is drained by several rivers, the most significant being Gudena, Odense, Skjern, Susa and Vida. The pictures below represent parts of the fauna and flora of the country.

Fauna

The country is home to large number of deer, hare, rodents, bats, carnivores, insects and freshwater fish. Some of the animals are shown below.

Flora

Plants native to the country include pines, spruce, oaks, birches, chestnut, maples and hazelnuts. Some of the plants are presented in the pictures below.

Beaches

Culture

 Denmark’s culture is rich and diverse, characterised by a deep appreciation of tradition, community and innovation. The Danes attach great importance to the concept of ‘hygge’, which emphasises cosiness and well-being in the community. The connection with nature and the seasons is expressed in festivals and traditions. Denmark’s culture is a reflection of its striving for harmony, creativity and social equality.

Traditional Attire

 The traditional clothing of the country reflects its rich heritage and cultural identity. From the vibrant streets of Copenhagen to the tranquil countryside, the Danish national costume tells a story of resilience and tradition. It echoes the colours and patterns of the nation’s landscape, especially its Viking legacy. The pictures below capture some of the diverse traditional attires worn in the country.

Cuisine

Danish cuisine, known for its simplicity and naturalness, values seasonal and local ingredients. It combines traditional dishes such as smorrebred and wieberbrod with a preference for seafood and the cosy concept of ‘hygge.’ Typical Danish dishes reflect the country’s commitment to sustainability and modern culinary innovation. Some notable Danish dishes are shown below.

Status of Christianity in Denmark

Liberalism, which is the idea that God has changed His nature to accommodate human development, is the single most disruptive feature of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. It is the same malaise afflicting many denominations in the West, including the Church of England. Proponents, who assume the toga of progressivism, preach a polluted Gospel that denies the inerrancy and immutability of the written word of God in the Holy Bible.

Many serious-minded Christians in Denmark have dissociated themselves from the state church, particularly those in the Pentecostal fold. Paul the apostle in 2 Timothy 4:3 predicted what is happening in many institutional churches: “For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itchy ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their desires.” Therefore, let us go boldly to God’s throne of grace to pray for the salvation of all unsaved people in the country.

Prayer Point

1. Pray that Almighty God would judge the demonic principalities and powers using their human agents to pervert the Gospel of Christ in Denmark.
2. Use King Frederik X and the Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen as points of contact for every unsaved person in the country, living within or outside it shores.
3. Pray that the Father would destroy all infrastructure and platforms that are used to promote Satanism and other false religions in the country.
4. Ask the Father to remove the covering cast of darkness from the minds, heart and spirits of all unsaved souls in Denmark.
5. Pray that the Father would send labourers into His harvest in the country.
6. Ask the LORD to destroy faulty spiritual foundations in the lives of many who identify as Christians, but live as worshippers of satan due to pollutions from liberalism.
7. Pray that God would sanctify all Christian believers with His word.
8. Ask the Father to raise up men and women in Denmark, who have the ability to preach the word in season and out of season.
9. Pray that God would open the eyes of Christian believers to understand the important role of the Holy Spirit in the church, and to grant them the grace to yield to His leading in all areas of their lives.

Intercession Checklist

 Use the map of Denmark provided in the text to select a town, city or region for focused intercession. Present the chosen geographical space to the Father, and tell Him that you are claiming its people for Christ as His ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20). Remind the Father that He had instructed the Messiah to ask Him for all nations as His inheritance as recorded in Psalm 2:8.  

***** Some materials sourced from Denmark History, https://familysearch.org, Culture in Denmark, http://www.vintrica.com, Traditional Danish Clothing: Insights on Roots and Culture, https://civilisable.com, Denmark, https://en.m.wikipedia.org.