The following is my article sent to the opinion section of Helsingin Sanomat. The topic was a visit to Finland by a foreign preacher. I don't know him personally, but after watching a few of his speeches, I understood that this is a standard Christian proclamation of repentance and holiness. That's what we really need, because it is not God's will that we fall into sin. However, I often notice how far I am from perfection. That's why I have prayed that I would be renewed in my faith.

   Well, in any case, the following is my short article. I am convinced that Christian faith, when Jesus is allowed to intervene in our lives, is the best thing that can happen to people. It not only brings eternal life to people who trust in Jesus, but it is also beneficial socially. Crime and many of society's expenses decrease when people come into a right relationship with God and each other.

Why does the HS editorial team oppose Jesus?

Helsingin Sanomat once again had an article that indirectly rejected Jesus by attacking one of his servants (Vilma Ikola: Anti-gay preacher allowed to perform in Vantaa, 10.11). The same line has continued on the pages of the magazine for years – a line that is negative towards Christian faith and morality, which is based specifically on the teachings of Jesus and the apostles he appointed.

   A good question is, is Jesus so bad that he must be strongly opposed, as has been done by the HS editorial staff? If we follow the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, only good things will result: crime will decrease, racism will disappear, marriages will last and human relationships will improve. This is because, when people follow Jesus, they want to leave behind a life of crime (e.g. pickpocketing in Helsinki shops, violence, fraud, drug crime, etc.), wrong attitudes towards others and to repent of all their wrongdoings. These teachings appear repeatedly in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Why does the HS editorial team oppose these good teachings, which also lead to a reduction in society's costs (e.g. housing allowances and other benefits are often caused by the breakdown of marriages and the breakup of families. On the other hand, favoring abortion leads to children not being born, the population pyramid is distorted and Finland goes into debt).

   What about homosexual behavior, which HS has repeatedly defended? It should be distinguished from homosexual inclinations, which a person himself cannot necessarily do anything about (every person has wrong inclinations, but if we want to follow God's will, we want to get rid of them). Instead, this matter is about the fact that the line between right and wrong behavior has been moved. Behavior that was previously considered wrong is now accepted as right. It is not a question of bullying people, but Jesus and the apostles taught sexual morality in such a way that sex is right only within the marriage of a man and a woman, and not elsewhere (Matthew 19:4-6, 1 Corinthians 7:1-5). If someone does not accept this, that person must resolve the matter with God himself.

Jari Iivanainen