Religion and Relationship

Many years ago, as a young woman, I was visiting with my grandfather in his later years.

We were having a heart-to-heart talk. In the course of the conversation, I thanked him for sharing his Lutheran faith with our family.

I thought what I had said would please him, but to my amazement, he shook his head and looked sternly at me. In his strong Swedish accent he replied, “No, no, Jan! It is not Lutheran. …. It is Jesus!”

Now let me be clear here. My Grandfather loved his church and was in the pew every Sunday. As a young man, he brought his deep-rooted faith with him from Sweden.

As the years...