Lutheran Woman Today, a publication of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, published an article in their June 2011 magazine called “Holden Together.” In the article we are told about a retreat and Bible study where ELCA pastor, Matt Larson, taught on Genesis 1, 2 and 3. The pastor did not teach the traditional historical understanding that Moses wrote these chapters, instead it was “Yahwists” and priests. The take-away message of this Bible study on creation and Adam and Eve was, “(j)ust because it’s not real doesn’t mean it’s not true.” (link to the article)
The article earlier stated, “(w)hen asked to describe the creation story, members of our group offered similar words: allegory, symbolic, myth, parable.”
Here is an ELCA affiliated magazine promoting the denial of the words of the Bible and make no mistake, it is also teaching their readers that they can not trust that what the Bible says is true.
In the same article about the retreat, a Methodist preacher spoke to the group, the author tells us “he excoriated America for ‘raining down fire’ on the Middle East and called for forgiveness and reconciliation in our foreign relations.”
This is so typical, many leaders in the ELCA and the mainline denominations that it is full communion with, blame America, hate on Jews and deny Scripture.
“I believe the World Council of Churches has distinguished itself as one of the greatest tools used by Satan to water down, confuse and dilute the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a dying world.” - Hal Lindsey
Please check out this video about the World Council of Churches (which the ELCA is a member of), Christians against Israel and interpretation of scripture.
If you haven’t seen this, Bishop Hanson released a statement saying that he "appreciated" President Obama's controversial Israel - Palestinian speech. Read this blog for more.
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If you have information, articles or blogs you would like Exposing the ELCA to consider posting, you can send them by using our new “Submit Information” page. (see here)
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Did you know that the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (ELCA) has a Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice (CCME)? The Center’s mission statement is “A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice (CCME) at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) fosters and deepens relations between Christians and Muslims as a significant part of its larger purpose of building bridges of mutual understanding, respect and cooperation among people of all faiths.” (see here)
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The April issue of The Lutheran magazine (ELCA) recommends utilizing the teachings of noted pastor, Rob Bell. (see here)
Bell was recently featured in Time Magazine regarding his highly controversial new book, Love Wins, promoting the idea of universalism, that everyone will go to heaven. (see here)
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Below is a television report on St. James Lutheran Church in Greenfield, IN, which recently voted to leave the ELCA and join the NALC. Also included is a link to a radio interview with St. James’ pastor, Larry Gember.
Fox Network News in Indianapolis (watch here)
Radio WIBC in Indianapolis (listen here)
You may like Glenn Beck or you may not, but he hits the nail on the head in this video segment. Please check it out and forward the video on to all your friends; the ELCA is part of the problem of which he speaks.
It gives me no pleasure to say, but the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has taken the side of those that are against truth and against Israel. The ELCA has chosen the path of hate. They are part of this evil that Mr. Beck so clearly points out.
The ELCA has sided against Israel continually (see here). Our denomination is actively seeking a boycott of Israeli goods and of USA companies which do business with Israel. (see here) One of the leading theologians in the Lutheran church, Carl Braaten said the ELCA is anti-Semitic. (read here) The ELCA calls Israel “occupiers.” They use all kinds of bias rhetoric against Israel. The ELCA condemns Israel at every turn, yet they say nothing about the atrocities committed against the Jews. The ELCA website even says that Christians who support Israel are following heresy and these Christians “are actually anti-Semitic.” (see here)
David Housholder, former ELCA pastor and current blogger on an official ELCA website, just recently wrote questioning whether the people in Israel are really Biblical Jews. Later he says “(t)he Bible is ambiguous as to whether Israel is a physical or a spiritual nation.” (see here and here)
So why is our denomination taking the opinions and talking points put out by anti-Semitic terrorists as its own? The ELCA is taking it in and regurgitating this anti-Semitic propaganda. Its wrong! Stand up to it, denounce it and reject it.
In a time when hate towards Israel grows every day, we need to stand for the truth. I agree with Mr. Beck. I will stand with Israel.
The ELCA’s Presiding Bishop is "dismayed" that the United States did not side with another recent United Nations Security Council’s attempt to condemn Israel. Bishop Mark S. Hanson is in agreement with the 50 plus Muslim nations who are telling the Jews where they can live and build homes and where they can not. (read here)
First off, the Israelis own East Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria (or the West Bank) and Gaza because they won it in the Six Day War (1967), a battle where Arab armies first surrounded Israel, massing on their borders. (read here and here)Now the ELCA’s Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson is telling the Israelis that they are not allowed to live or build houses on the land they own. It’s crazy! I wonder if Bishop Hanson has told any other ethnic or religious group where they can build houses and live and where they cannot? The ELCA Bishop sounds like a mouth piece for the many anti-Semitic nations of the world.
Read more about the ELCA’s view, statements and position on Israel. (here)
The ELCA Advocacy Network on Jan. 18, 2011 sent out an email asking ELCA members to “Tell the President - Support a UN Security Council resolution condemning settlements. Tell the President to - Join the international community in reaffirming that Israeli settlements are illegal, are a major obstacle to peace, and should be halted immediately and completely.” (I’ve decided not to link to the ELCA propaganda but it is on the ELCA Advocacy website)
The ELCA has taken the position and talking points of the Arab world in its continued demands for Israel to abide by the Arab version, vision and plan for "peace."
The Muslim world has an everlasting hatred for Israel, and sadly the ELCA is acting as a mouth piece of that hatred. The ELCA leadership is anti-Semitic to the core. David Neff writes that noted theologian Carl Braaten said, “the ELCA is antinomian—it rejects the law of God. . .ELCA leaders sneer at the idea that we can look to a book as our authority—especially a book written by Jews. Antinomianism and anti-Semitism are always found together.” (read here)To read more information on the ELCA's stance on Israel - see here.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America desires to pressure Israel. They want Israel to conform to the ELCA's vision of what peace should look like. "In April 2009 the ACCSR (Advisory Committee on Corporate Responsibility) approved a guide for congregations, synods and Lutheran institutions on how to develop a Selective purchasing policy" regarding Israel. (see here)
The ELCA's "Selective Purchasing Policy Guide - Middle East Strategy and Selective Purchasing Policy" tells us, "(i)n 2007, the Churchwide Assembly elaborated on these economic measures with the following action:
'To call upon the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to underscore the call for economic initiatives by this church and its members in the “Peace, Not Walls” campaign. Such initiatives, in consultation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, could include:
- purchasing of products from Palestinian providers and
- exploration of the feasibility of refusing to buy products produced in Israeli settlements. Also to be explored is the entire investment activity by this church.'” (see here)
This guide for congregations, synods and Lutheran institutions includes a link to a "list of products to avoid from the (Israeli) settlements."
Not only is the ELCA trying to encourage an unofficial boycott of products made in parts of Israel, they are also putting pressure on American companies to stop them from selling products to Israel, as seen here,
"Advisory Committee on Corporate Responsibility (ACCSR) recommended in November of 2006 (and subsequently adopted in the spring 2007) the following plan of action for the programs work: . . .
- Continue the dialogue with Caterpillar on development of a human rights policy, expressing our continuing concern with the presence of their product in the Middle East hostilities and destruction of Palestinian homes.
- Continue to review the possibility of approaching other companies on a human rights (resolution) basis.
- Consider at the ACCSR the opportunities and limitations for fulfilling the mandate of the Peace Not Walls campaign relative to the stewardship of resources, specifically in the area of multinational corporations that have established facilities or operations in the Occupied Territories (as defined by the United Nations)." (read here)
So let me get this straight, the ELCA's plan is to hurt Israelis economically and try to force them to give up their businesses, homes and land that God promised them, putting themselves in more peril, so that Arabs, including some who are Christian, can live in a female oppressive society, under Sharia Law, where Christians are persecuted for their faith?
The Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), has been elected president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). He is replacing Bishop Mark Hanson, who is the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA.
The election of Bishop Munib Younan should not be celebrated. His belief in replacement theology is evident (sorry to say it is also popular with many Lutheran's in America)
Here are a few quotes from the man himself, speaking of Christians who support Israel and who believe Scripture which says God's everlasting covenant stands with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob's descendants, the Jews.
"We don’t consider these people [Christian Zionists] a legitimate Christian sect or denomination," Munib Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, said.
"It has nothing to do with true Christian teachings and ideals," insists Bishop Younan. "It is actually a heresy."
"To the Americans and the world at large, we would like to say that the Christians of Palestine stand firmly with their people for freedom and justice and deliverance from the Israeli occupation."
"To the Palestinians and the Arab world, we say do not lump Christian Zionists with true Christianity which stands with the oppressed and the weak against the oppressor," says Bishop Younan.
"And to Christian Zionists we say, you are not welcomed here. Don’t come to our country to dupe and mislead people with your money and poisoned ideology." (read here)
Bishop Younan was also an original signer of the Palestinian "Kairos" Document. The document has a host of outlandish statements and it is easy to see the bias and anti-semitic nature of it. This is the same document the ELCA has been heavily promoting.
Here is a well detailed review of the Document. (read here)
The ELCA and Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson is showing its anti-Israeli bias again.
A newly released news article by the ELCA says, "The church leaders also addressed concerns regarding Israeli settlement construction and settlement expansion, humanitarian relief into Gaza, the future of Christianity and the group's commitment to Jerusalem as a shared city, both shared as a holy city for three faiths and also shared in terms of Palestinian and Israeli governments, according to Hanson." (read here)
I question the positions ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson takes on all things concerning Israel. He continues to rail against Israel and call for the Israelis to give up its land and capital of Jerusalem. Why? Is it to pacify the arabs who demand it. You can be assured that the arab christians living in the Holy Land would not have a better life in that scenario. They would be ruled by Shari'ah Law and would face death for believing in Christ. Ask Christians if living under Muslim rule is better than a democratic government and then look at what is happening in Gaza, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, etc. Christians are regularly killed for their faith and live as second class citizens in those countries. (And you should see how they treat women)
If Israeli land was given to the arabs there would also be a mass exodus of arab Christians from the Holy Land, for the reasons stated above. Is this what the ELCA wants? This is what has been happening to the Christian population in Bethlehem. (read here)
Splitting Jerusalem will not bring peace to anyone, it would just hurt Israel. Giving land to radical orthodox Muslims wont stop them from hating the Jews. That can only happen if they reject the teachings of the Koran. The orthodox Muslims do not want Jews in any of Israel, and they will not stop their terrorism and demand for all the Jewish land.
If the ELCA demands will not bring peace but will bring more persecution to the christian palestinians, why then does the ELCA still hold these positions? Why is the ELCA siding with Muslims and against the Jews? The answer lies in the ELCA's feelings about Israel, or Jews in particular. Based on the ELCA's policies, actions, non-actions, words and silence, the ELCA leadership reveals their deep seeded hatred for the Jewish people. (see here)
I believe it is Anti-Semitism at work here, and the ELCA is either being deceived by Lucifer or outright working with him.
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