TGC Norden have just published my first article with them and it’s on the theme of hospitality. Here’s the intro and if that whets your appetite then you can read the whole thing here

In the summer of 2022 Sweden briefly blew up the internet when the cultural habit of not feeding house guests (unless by prior arrangement) offended the rest of the world. In typical Swedish style, explanations of the practice were offered, with defenders of the tradition saying Swedes were just ‘not wanting to cause offence’ or perhaps had ‘not planned ahead’ to provide food for unexpected extras. 

Over the years I’ve lived in Sweden (I was born in the UK) I’ve both heard from others and observed myself that Swedes have some particular challenges when it comes to displaying hospitality that is recognizable as such by people from other cultures. If it happens at all it looks very different here than almost everywhere else outside of the Nordics.

Now, if I was to ask you to describe a ‘gospel-centered home’ what would you say? What images come to mind? Perhaps one of the first things that comes to mind is of a family reading the Bible and praying together. And I’m not going to find fault with that. That should, (even though it isn’t) be taken as a given. Of course Christian parents should read the Bible and pray with their children and share their faith with them. As far as bars to clear go, that is not a particularly very high one.

But I didn’t say ‘family,’ I said ‘home.’

For the full article head over to the TGC Norden site