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Their 1879 "Swedish Mission Church"
formation by former Bethany Lutheran Church members
due to the "atonement" issue
~ An account by Mr. Bill Carlson
2 of 2
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formation by former Bethany Lutheran Church members
due to the "atonement" issue
~ An account by Mr. Bill Carlson
2 of 2
--------------
As a teenager going to the Lindsborg Rural High School and on to Bethany College, yet living at home, the Swedish Mission Church of 1879 was going to become the church of my mother and sister in the early 1960s. (We were California transplants.) Our relatives, Lydia and Emil, were life members of Bethany Lutheran Church. I recall hearing of heated discussions concerning the "atonement" issue, even then.
Here you will find Mr. Bill Carlson's explanation. (Dr. Emory K. Lindquist's explanation is in the preceding section.)
//
It is from Mr. Carlson's 2011 book, Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now.*
Chapter 11
"Church Division and Controversy"
Pages 27-30
//
It is from Mr. Carlson's 2011 book, Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now.*
Chapter 11
"Church Division and Controversy"
Pages 27-30
"A few years after the first church was erected in Section 7, a split occurred due to a number of controversies, not the least of which was the issue of atonement. A number of differing opinions led to a deep split among close friends who were active members of the Church of Sweden, as well as disagreement of the real meaning of atonement.
"Following much study and conversations at various times, the writer can express some frustration as to how these dedicated early Christian settlers could become so upset regarding the atonement issue. Today we find the issue of atonement to be of a minor issue as it relates to salvation and the belief in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, for he has atoned for all of our sins on the cross at Calvary. It is the acceptance of Jesus as our Savior that leads us to a heavenly home when our days are over here on earth.
"It is understandable there are those who will take issue with this particular paragraph.
"It would appear a number of other disagreements were included in the split. The reason for immigrating for some was church freedom, a more informal structure of worship, strong personalities, strict rules of Rev. Olof Olsson, and his insistence on belonging to the Augustana Lutheran Synod of America. Many expressed the fear of once again becoming oppressed in their worship with hard fast rules as they experienced with the state Church of Sweden. Further, many yearned for a more informal worship with less liturgy involved in their Sunday services.
"There were those who were not pleased by the admission of Dr. Olsson and the congregation into the Augustana Synod which occurred at a meeting in Andover, Illinois, in 1870. There was much grumbling among the people who opposed this move. Dr. Olsson answered them by stating that it was not good to exist as an individual congregation, but that it was necessary to belong to some group or communion, as he felt the Augustana Synod was the best and most logical.
"A few of the immigrants had organized Bible studies and prayer meetings in various homes in the absence at times of Rev. Olsson, who felt threatened by the possibilities of members slipping away from what he had envisioned in Sweden, that of a "pure" church. Dr. Olsson frowned on the practice of inviting traveling missionaries into members' homes and welcoming them to speak in their church.
"Another area of contention was the practice of baptism and the necessity of a conversion, or recommitment experience at the age of accountability. Friendships were weakened and families were split over these spiritual issues that arose among church members. Hot discussions in the stores and on the streets of Lindsborg were very common.
"During this time a new church had been built in Lindsborg, on north Main Street, and was soon ready for worship services. It was about this time the division occurred within the Bethany Lutheran membership.
"Dr. Lindquist, in Smoky Valley People, states "between 1874-1876 forty-two (42) members either withdrew membership or were excommunicated by Rev. Olsson from the pulpit on a Sunday morning." 10 of the 12 charter council members left the church.
"The Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant Church was established in Sweden in 1878. Most of those who left Bethany Lutheran Church quickly joined the new Swedish Mission Church which had been built in the Rose Hill area north of Lindsborg, and later on the corner of Lincoln and Washington in Lindsborg.
"In addressing the church split over spiritual practices and beliefs, it must be emphasized that the healing began to occur slowly in the late 1870s. Old friends once again spoke to each other, transacted business with each other, bringing unity and forgiveness among these hardy, strong-willed and hard-working Swedes. It has been said, if it had not been for the fact these Swedes from Sweden were strong in opinions, and were people who were determined to seek the scripture, they would never have been successful in the new country over five thousand (5,000) miles from their homeland.
"Rev. Olsson, in poor health, left Lindsborg in 1876 taking a leave of absence. He never again served as pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church. He and his family frequently returned to the Smoky Valley where they were warmly received. Quoting again from Dr. Lindquist writings, " Rev. Olsson, upon his return in 1888 for Holy Week, was asked to preach in the Swedish Mission Covenant Church on Palm Sunday evening where he was received with hugs, wide smiles, and yes, years of reconciliation."
"Throughout the late 1800s and even up through the 1930s and 1940s, some tension seemed to be continued between the Lutherans and the Covenant people. Very few religious functions took place in Lindsborg including all churches in town. One major breakthrough commenced in the mid-1920s with elementary students attending the church of their choice for Wednesday released morning sessions of the Bible.
"Some years later there was additional cooperation among all local churches when third and 4th grade students met on Wednesdays in the Covenant Church and the 5th and 6th grade students in Bethany Lutheran Church with teachers from all local churches. These became optional to all students sometime later, but even so, today [2010] around 2/3 of these students take advantage of these release time Bible sessions.
"During the early to mid 1900s, it seemed there was almost an unwritten "taboo" for a Lutheran boy to date a Covenant girl, or a Covenant boy to date a Lutheran girl. There seemed to be some sort of suspicion.
"One family of three brothers sort of broke the ice between the churches in the 1940s as the oldest Covenant boy commenced dating a Messiah Lutheran girl which became the subject of conversation. A few years later his brother started dating another Messiah Lutheran girl. This brought questions and some light rumblings among a number of both Lutheran and Covenant members.
"When the youngest boy became involved dating still another Messiah Lutheran girl the father of the boys would only smile when questioned, saying nothing. However, he was encountered one day by several men from his church with " Why do all your sons date those Lutheran girls and not our covenant girls?" Undoubtedly tired of all the questions, the father's reply was simply, I will tell you why. It is because those Lutheran girls are so much prettier than our Covenant girls." Case closed.
"And, yes, all three Covenant boys married their Lutheran girlfriends."
For Their 1879 "Swedish Mission Church" formation by former Bethany Lutheran Church members due to the "atonement" issue ~ An account by Dr. Emory K. Lindquist ~ Part 1 of 2, go HERE.
"Following much study and conversations at various times, the writer can express some frustration as to how these dedicated early Christian settlers could become so upset regarding the atonement issue. Today we find the issue of atonement to be of a minor issue as it relates to salvation and the belief in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, for he has atoned for all of our sins on the cross at Calvary. It is the acceptance of Jesus as our Savior that leads us to a heavenly home when our days are over here on earth.
"It is understandable there are those who will take issue with this particular paragraph.
"It would appear a number of other disagreements were included in the split. The reason for immigrating for some was church freedom, a more informal structure of worship, strong personalities, strict rules of Rev. Olof Olsson, and his insistence on belonging to the Augustana Lutheran Synod of America. Many expressed the fear of once again becoming oppressed in their worship with hard fast rules as they experienced with the state Church of Sweden. Further, many yearned for a more informal worship with less liturgy involved in their Sunday services.
"There were those who were not pleased by the admission of Dr. Olsson and the congregation into the Augustana Synod which occurred at a meeting in Andover, Illinois, in 1870. There was much grumbling among the people who opposed this move. Dr. Olsson answered them by stating that it was not good to exist as an individual congregation, but that it was necessary to belong to some group or communion, as he felt the Augustana Synod was the best and most logical.
"A few of the immigrants had organized Bible studies and prayer meetings in various homes in the absence at times of Rev. Olsson, who felt threatened by the possibilities of members slipping away from what he had envisioned in Sweden, that of a "pure" church. Dr. Olsson frowned on the practice of inviting traveling missionaries into members' homes and welcoming them to speak in their church.
"Another area of contention was the practice of baptism and the necessity of a conversion, or recommitment experience at the age of accountability. Friendships were weakened and families were split over these spiritual issues that arose among church members. Hot discussions in the stores and on the streets of Lindsborg were very common.
"During this time a new church had been built in Lindsborg, on north Main Street, and was soon ready for worship services. It was about this time the division occurred within the Bethany Lutheran membership.
"Dr. Lindquist, in Smoky Valley People, states "between 1874-1876 forty-two (42) members either withdrew membership or were excommunicated by Rev. Olsson from the pulpit on a Sunday morning." 10 of the 12 charter council members left the church.
"The Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant Church was established in Sweden in 1878. Most of those who left Bethany Lutheran Church quickly joined the new Swedish Mission Church which had been built in the Rose Hill area north of Lindsborg, and later on the corner of Lincoln and Washington in Lindsborg.
"In addressing the church split over spiritual practices and beliefs, it must be emphasized that the healing began to occur slowly in the late 1870s. Old friends once again spoke to each other, transacted business with each other, bringing unity and forgiveness among these hardy, strong-willed and hard-working Swedes. It has been said, if it had not been for the fact these Swedes from Sweden were strong in opinions, and were people who were determined to seek the scripture, they would never have been successful in the new country over five thousand (5,000) miles from their homeland.
"Rev. Olsson, in poor health, left Lindsborg in 1876 taking a leave of absence. He never again served as pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church. He and his family frequently returned to the Smoky Valley where they were warmly received. Quoting again from Dr. Lindquist writings, " Rev. Olsson, upon his return in 1888 for Holy Week, was asked to preach in the Swedish Mission Covenant Church on Palm Sunday evening where he was received with hugs, wide smiles, and yes, years of reconciliation."
"Throughout the late 1800s and even up through the 1930s and 1940s, some tension seemed to be continued between the Lutherans and the Covenant people. Very few religious functions took place in Lindsborg including all churches in town. One major breakthrough commenced in the mid-1920s with elementary students attending the church of their choice for Wednesday released morning sessions of the Bible.
"Some years later there was additional cooperation among all local churches when third and 4th grade students met on Wednesdays in the Covenant Church and the 5th and 6th grade students in Bethany Lutheran Church with teachers from all local churches. These became optional to all students sometime later, but even so, today [2010] around 2/3 of these students take advantage of these release time Bible sessions.
"During the early to mid 1900s, it seemed there was almost an unwritten "taboo" for a Lutheran boy to date a Covenant girl, or a Covenant boy to date a Lutheran girl. There seemed to be some sort of suspicion.
"One family of three brothers sort of broke the ice between the churches in the 1940s as the oldest Covenant boy commenced dating a Messiah Lutheran girl which became the subject of conversation. A few years later his brother started dating another Messiah Lutheran girl. This brought questions and some light rumblings among a number of both Lutheran and Covenant members.
"When the youngest boy became involved dating still another Messiah Lutheran girl the father of the boys would only smile when questioned, saying nothing. However, he was encountered one day by several men from his church with " Why do all your sons date those Lutheran girls and not our covenant girls?" Undoubtedly tired of all the questions, the father's reply was simply, I will tell you why. It is because those Lutheran girls are so much prettier than our Covenant girls." Case closed.
"And, yes, all three Covenant boys married their Lutheran girlfriends."
For Their 1879 "Swedish Mission Church" formation by former Bethany Lutheran Church members due to the "atonement" issue ~ An account by Dr. Emory K. Lindquist ~ Part 1 of 2, go HERE.
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*The Bill Carlson Family has kindly extended permission to share these selections from
his 2011 Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now in SWEDES, 4-29-23.
-------
*The Bill Carlson Family has kindly extended permission to share these selections from
his 2011 Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now in SWEDES, 4-29-23.
-------
1879 "Swedish Mission Church"
Source: 1907 "Souvenir of Bethany College and Lindsborg, Kansas"
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