_One would think, with the financial struggles the ELCA is having, that they would at least try to be wise with the gifts and tithes to God that they receive from people.  However, much like the United States government, they love to spend on their agenda. 

For example, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America wants you to come to “Ecumenical Advocacy Days.” (March 23-26)  At this gathering you "will explore economy, livelihoods, and our national priorities . . . hear from theologians and policy experts, equip ourselves to speak confidently on key policy issues, and take our message to our elected officials in Congress."  But wait, is "(m)oney tight? We understand, and to help more people attend EAD, the ELCA is providing scholarships."  (read here)

"ELCA scholarships for Ecumenical Advocacy Days cover the conference registration fee, hotel costs, and travel expenses to Washington D.C. (either flight or mileage reimbursement)." (read here) 

Isn’t that nice?  Your tithe is going to train people to be lobbyists and political activists, and you can be sure the training will be centered around the ELCA’s political priorities. 

That’s not all.  You know the money you sent to ELCA World Hunger?  It is being used to send lobbyists to the Iowa State capital.   Called "Lutheran Day on the Hill," "passionate advocates" will be going to lobby state legislators.  "This opportunity is offered at no cost to attendees."  Lunch is provided and you also get a t-shirt.
"This event has been made possible through a grant from ELCA World Hunger. We are proud to be a partner in Lutheran Day on the Hill with the three Iowa Synods of the ELCA."  (read here)

And lastly, another example of how our denomination is quick to spend God’s money on their ideology.  "Lutheran School of Theology Chicago Offers LC/NA Course Free For CEU's."  This ELCA seminary is offering free Continuing Education Units for a course called "Transformation + Action = Oxygen."  The course "is designed to empower, equip, inspire, and activate participants to have life-giving, well-timed, appropriately-framed conversations with their congregants regarding the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities." (read here)

This course comes from Lutherans Concerned / North America, whose purpose is "to unite gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their supporters within the Lutheran churches."  (read here)

And it’s free at this ELCA seminary!
2 Comments
 
 
_I came across “this gem” by way of facebook.  Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), an ELCA school, posted a video titled “S**t Seminarians Say” (the curse words were edited by Exposing the ELCA) on their facebook page.  (see PLTS’s page here)

Let me be clear, this is on the seminary’s official facebook page, not a PLTS student’s page.

If you watch the video your treated to an individual use the “F” word.  The exact phrase is "I ****in' love kale."  (see video here)

The video was an attempt at humor, and I am sure many will find it humorous.  I just don’t know why one of our ELCA seminaries, whose job it is to instruct the future leaders of our denomination, would post a video that contains this kind of language.

The video is the work of theradicalspirit.org.  The website claims to be “an online journal of Unitarian Univeralist hope.”

And for those of you that may think I am nitpicking here, please consider the following Scripture:

Ephesians 5:4 - Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Matthew 15:10-11 - And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Colossians 3:8 - But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

James 3:10 - From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
2 Comments
 
 
There is an interesting teaching series that the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, an ELCA seminary, is promoting on their seminary run Web of Creation website.   The resource is called “The Earth Bible.”

Here is a description of this resource:
“The Earth Bible has been developed by a team of scholars from Adelaide, South Australia. In this significant new series, writers from around the world read the Bible from the perspective of justice for Earth. Ecojustice principles are used as guidelines as they ask questions of the text: Does a given text value or de-value Earth? Is the voice of Earth heard or suppressed? Are humans portrayed as 'rulers' over Earth or kin with Earth? Does Earth suffer unjustly?” (read here)

I think most would agree that it is good to treat God’s creation well, but this is taking things a few steps too far.  Christ is the focus of Scripture not “the Earth.”  Here we have an ELCA seminary, running a website with financial support from the ELCA (see here), promoting the reading of God’s Word with ecojustice as its main focus.
Add Comment
 
 
It is not always easy doing what is right and standing up for Christ and God’s Word.  I have been called names you wouldn’t expect “Christians” to call another person.  I have been accused of being hateful. I have been threatened by an ELCA seminary professor saying he would make sure I never received a Masters of Divinity degree.  Just this week, I was banned from the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau forum (ALPB) after merely posting two links which provide information regarding the actions of the ELCA concerning the abortion issue (on a posted thread entitled "Abortion and the Church.")

The Bible tells us “(t)hat is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:10

So for Christ’s sake I gladly take the scorn and anger.  ELCA supporters can say whatever they would like about this ministry and my work.  People are at risk of eternity in hell because of the false teachings of the ELCA. God has called me to this ministry, to shine light on what ELCA leadership believes.  That is what I will do.  In the words of Horatio G. Spafford, “It is well with my soul.”
 
------

Thank you to those who have helped support Exposing the ELCA with your financial gifts and encouragement.  It is a great blessing to me and my family. 

Find out how you can support Exposing the ELCA here

3 Comments
 
 
We have seen ELCA leadership attempt to eliminate masculine pronouns when referring to God (see here, here and here).

This is confirmed again in a written conversation between three ELCA seminarians:

Person One - posts that he - "(i)s unsure if Wartburg's conversion of me toward a posture of inclusive language about God is a blessing or a curse as I learn songs for VBS!!! I cringe every 4 seconds as I hear masculine pronouns!"

Person  Two - "I do the same thing here during bible studies!!!"

Person Three - "YOU TOO!!!!! It's driving me NUTS! Hahahaha...funny thing is I NEVER thought it would."

(Person One is referring to Wartburg Theological Seminary when he says "Wartburg.")

It is interesting how removing masculine pronouns for God is called "inclusive."


2 Comments
 
 
David Lose, The Marbury E. Anderson Professor of Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary, recently spoke on a podcast entitled, “What is the Bible?”

During the podcast he said this about the Bible,
“(i)t is this collection of stuff, all kinds of stuff from all over the place that have been passed down and put together and sometimes edited and changed . . .” (listen here)  

Prof. Lose is stating a standard teaching theory in the ELCA called Redaction Criticism.

“Redaction Criticism of the Bible is the theory that different copyists and commentators of the early biblical writings embellished and altered the biblical texts throughout early Jewish and Christian history to make them appear more miraculous, inspirational, and legitimate. An example of redaction theory would be the claim that Old Testament prophecies were modified by redactors after the fact to make them appear as miraculous prophecies. Redaction criticism reduces the quality of the biblical record, casts strong doubt on its inspiration, and implies that the Bible is not trustworthy as a historical document." (read here)

And one wonders how the ELCA can make policies and take positions that are completely contrary to what God tells us in scripture?  It's because many leaders in the ELCA have very little regard for it.

Read more about Redaction Criticism and the ELCA here.

Read more about David Lose from Exposing the ELCA here.

Add Comment
 
 
In the 2011 issue of The Lutheran we learn this interesting fact. 

“In 2005, the Dover, Pa., school board went to federal court over a conflict about their order to teach ‘intelligent design’ in biology classrooms. Members of the seminary (ELCA’s Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg) faculty were engaged in the controversy, opposing the curriculum.”  (see here)

So ELCA faculty members, who teach future pastors the Bible, actively oppose a “theory” of God’s involvement in the forming of this world from being taught in high schools?

People who teach in ELCA seminaries should listen to the words of Jesus, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”  John 18:16 
Add Comment
 
 
The Bible teaches that we need to believe in Christ.  John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

The teaching of universalism, in essence, says that everyone will go to heaven no matter what they do, think, believe or worship.  This is not Biblical and it is very dangerous.  People will go to hell because they believe in universalism and not Christ.  Yet here is a Luther Seminary (ELCA) professor arguing the merits of universalism and encouraging the preaching of this heresy.

“The Rob Bell Controversy: Does Anyone Go To Hell?“ by David Lose, Director, Center for Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary. (read here)

For more information on the ELCA’s support and teaching of universalism/ universal salvation see here. 

Add Comment
 
 
One would think that ELCA pastors, bishops and teachers would believe Scripture.  However all one has to do is read, “The Clergy Letter - from American Christian clergy: An Open Letter Concerning Religion and Science,” to find that most do not.

Over 1500 ELCA leaders signed this letter which states,
 
“the overwhelming majority (of Christians) do not read the Bible literally, as they would a science textbook. Many of the beloved stories found in the Bible – the Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark – convey timeless truths about God, human beings, and the proper relationship between Creator and creation expressed in the only form capable of transmitting these truths from generation to generation. Religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth.”

Make no mistake, what these Christian leaders are saying is that they do not believe what the Bible actually says.  They are calling the story about creation, Adam and Eve, and Noah’s ark, lies.  These ELCA leaders think they know better than Jesus, the Old and New Testament writers, and 2000 years of Christians, who knew these stories to be true.  (read more here)

The letter goes on to say, “We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests. To reject this truth or to treat it as ‘one theory among others’ is to deliberately embrace scientific ignorance and transmit such ignorance to our children.”

Really?  So those that believe God’s account of creation, are “ignorant?”  Maybe these religious elites should read from this website about the many scientists who are skeptical of Darwinism. (read here and download the list of scientists who signed "A Scientific Dissent from Darwinism.")

More from the letter, “We believe that among God’s good gifts are human minds capable of critical thought and that the failure to fully employ this gift is a rejection of the will of our Creator. To argue that God’s loving plan of salvation for humanity precludes the full employment of the God-given faculty of reason is to attempt to limit God, an act of hubris.” 

Let me get this straight, now these “Christian” leaders, who say that the Biblical account of creation is not true, are now telling us that if we believe God’s account of creation we are REJECTING God’s Will? 

Finally the letter says, “We urge school board members to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge.” (read here)

Here are “Christian” leaders urging school boards to have the teaching of evolution be a “core component of HUMAN knowledge.”   These are the people teaching us and our children about Jesus and the Bible?  

Someone may ask, “What’s the big deal?”  “Who cares if ELCA leaders and pastors don’t believe what the Bible says about creation?”

Here are a few quotes that highlight why we should care:

"More cases of loss of religious faith can be traced to the theory of evolution--- than anything else." - Martin Lings, quoted in Christian Century July, 1982

“Evolution is the greatest engine of atheism ever invented.” - Noted evolutionist, Professor Will Provine, in “Evolution: Free will and punishment and meaning in life.”

"Any creationist lawyer who got me on the stand could instantly win over the jury simply by asking me: 'Has your knowledge of evolution influenced you in the direction of becoming an atheist?' I would have to answer yes and, at one stroke, I would have lost the jury." - Noted evolutionist, Dr. Richard Dawkins - The God Delusion  (2008)  p. 93

While I was studying at an ELCA seminary, the Dean of Students told me that not one ELCA seminary professor in the United States believes Adam and Eve were real people.  I couldn’t believe that this would be true, but after viewing the signatures of the letter, it seems that the Dean’s statement is true.  Sadly, seminary professors’ beliefs are being picked up by their students, our ELCA pastors.

Linked at the end of this blog is the list of current and retired ELCA pastors, ELCA seminary professors, ELCA college professors, ELCA seminary presidents and ELCA Bishops who agree with this letter and signed it.  Some of the notable signers are: Bishop Allan Bjornberg (ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod), Bishop Paul J. Blom - Houston, Texas, Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber, The Rev. Stacy Boorn (herchurch), The Rev. Michael Cooper-White, D.D., (President - Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA), Bishop Ralph W. Dunkin (West Virginia -Western Maryland Synod), The Rev. James Kenneth Echols, Ph.D. (President - Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago), The Rev. Paul W. Egertson, Ph.D. (Bishop Emeritus - Southwest California Synod), The Rev. Anita C. Hill, The Rev. B. Penrose Hoover (Bishop - Lower Susquehanna Synod), The Rev. Robert L. Isaksen, (Retired ELCA Pastor and Bishop of the New England Synod), The Rev. Jeff R. Johnson, Kevin S. Kanouse, (Bishop Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod), Paul R. Landahl (Bishop Metropolitan Chicago Synod), Bishop April Ulring Larson (La Crosse Area Synod), The Rev. Duane H. Larson, PhD., (President - Wartburg Theological Seminary), The Rev. Felipe Lozada-Montanez (Bishop of the Caribbean Synod of the ELCA), The Rev. Dr. Gerald L. Mansholt (Bishop Central States Synod), The Rev. Robert W. Mattheis (Bishop Emeritus, Sierra Pacific Synod), The Rev. George Paul Mocko (Bishop Emeritus, Delaware-Maryland Synod), Bishop David G. Mullen (Sierra Pacific Synod), Bishop Dean W. Nelson (Southwest California Synod), Bishop Margaret G. Payne (New England Synod), The Rev. Dr. Ted Peters (Interim President - Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary), The Rev. Dr. Jerry L. Schmalenberger (Retired President - Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary), Bishop David R. Strobel (Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod), The Rev. Dr. Christopher M. Thomforde (President - St. Olaf College), Bishop Ron Warren (ELCA Southeastern Synod), The Rev. Dr. Howard E. Wennes (Retired Bishop ELCA), The Rev. Paul M. Werger, (Bishop Emeritus - Southeastern Iowa Synod) and The Rev. Dr. Herman Yoos (Bishop - South Carolina Synod).

More than 12,000 American pastors signed this letter and over 1500 of them are Evangelical Lutheran Church in America leaders.  By the way, these are just the signers who listed “ELCA” or “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America” with their signature (for the most part).  There are many more signers who only listed their Lutheran church’s name.  I would estimate there are at least 350 Lutheran pastors who did this and most of those would be ELCA pastors, I’d assume.

Check and see if your pastor signed the letter.  I’ve linked to it because of the vast space needed to list them all.  See the list of ELCA leaders here. 
3 Comments
 
 
Universal salvation, the view that all people will be saved, is taking over the ELCA as the prominent belief regarding salvation, thanks to the leadership of the denomination. (see here  and here)  This anti-Biblical, dangerous belief is thriving and leaders in the ELCA are not only doing nothing to stop it, but they are promoting it.  All at the expense of billions of souls.

Truth be told, there is no reason to be preaching and teaching universal salvation.  First and foremost, it goes against God’s truth revealed to us in the Bible (see here ).  Secondly, if it was true, a person would be saved no matter if he/she believed in universal salvation or not. 

We know that universal salvation is unfounded and false, yet the ELCA is promoting this belief.  The ramifications of this wrong teaching have eternal consequences.  1) Because those that believe this are not telling people about their need for our Savior.  2) People do and believe whatever they want because they think they are “saved know matter what.”  Sorry, but universal salvation in the gospel of Satan.

Sadly here is another ELCA leader preaching and teaching universal salvation.  Mark Thomsen, Visiting Professor of Mission, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), writes,

“It would appear that if one takes Jesus seriously, faith in the finality of Christ necessarily includes the recognition of God's creative saving work outside of hearing and believing in Jesus Christ!”

“God's universal transforming work identified in the resurrection of Christ has saving significance for the whole of creation and the whole human family, not just for those who hear and respond to the gospel.”  (read here)

The universal salvation believing leaders have taken over the ELCA.  In our seminaries you have professors that teach pastors, who in turn, affect eternity for millions of people as well as future generations.  


Add Comment