Sharing the Gospel with the Happiest People in the World

Last month, the World Happiness Report declared that for the fourth year in a row, the residents of Finland are the happiest in the world. In fact, Finland and its fellow Nordic countries—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland—have all been in the top 10 happiest countries since 2013. (This year, the United States reached No. 14, up from 18 in 2020.)

“Clearly, when it comes to the level of average-life evaluations, the Nordic states are doing something right,” the report’s authors noted in a section titled “The Nordic Exceptionalism: What Explains Why the Nordic Countries Are Constantly Among the Happiest in the World.” Their conclusions include low corruption, well-functioning government institutions, and high levels of social trust.

But even exceptionally happy Danes can be lost Danes. Only 9 percent say their faith is very important to them, 10 percent pray daily, and 3 percent attend worship services weekly.

So how can I, a pastor in Copenhagen, convince the happiest people in the world that they need the gospel? Read More