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.
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.
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.
ELCA Professor Ralph W. Klein is Christ Seminary-Seminex professor of Old Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. (see here)
In an essay called “Reading the Bible as Lutherans in the Twenty-First Century” (read entire essay here) Professor Klein shares with us some of his views on Scripture. He says,
“Our liturgical customs send out uncertain and potentially misleading affirmations about this “Word of God.” When we say at the end of the first or second readings, ‘The Word of the Lord,’ we are stating at best an incomplete truth. For these words just read, however much guided by the Spirit, are also written or spoken by finite men and women, children of their times, with their own limits, presuppositions and even biases, and they addressed the people and the questions of their own times.”
“. . . much of the Bible could be described as (very helpful) words about God rather than ‘the Word of God.’’’
“The affirmation of the gospel, which our predecessors referred to as the material principle, is finally what gives the Scriptures their authority.”
“The canon itself, finally, is not nearly so important for us Lutherans, as what many of the canonical books contain.” (Canon is defined as “the books of the Bible.”)
“As I read various Lutheran essays in preparation for this address, I was often struck by how clear the essays were about the central, gospel-based authority of Scripture and how ambiguous they were when talking about the Bible’s authority on other matters . . .”
“Part of a Lutheran approach to hermeneutics that locates the authority of the Scriptures in their central saving message means that at times we must accept the possibility that a position taken by a biblical writer is wrong or unhelpful.”
Professor Klein doesn’t seem to think God was involved in the writing of the Bible. Scripture says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” - 1 Corinthians 2:13
You choose who you want to believe.
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When you read Professor Klein’s essay, keep an eye out for the following: feminine language for God - liberation theology - placing the world’s values over Scripture - dismissing Biblical statements on homosexuality based on his “Twenty-First Century” reading of Scripture/his own opinions.
Dennis M. Roser, ELCA pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, told the following story.
"When I was studying at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (1998-2002), we were not permitted in most classes or in chapel services to speak of God as 'Father' or refer to Him with the pronoun 'Him.' Additionally, one of our professors always led the Lord’s Prayer with the introduction, 'Our Father and Mother . . . .' Rev. Roser also stated "there were professors who spoke frequently of God as 'her.'” (read here)
So an ELCA seminary prohibits students from calling God "Father?" Jesus called God "Father." Jesus told us to use the term "Father" for God. (Matt 6:9) But it's not OK for seminarians to use that term for God at this ELCA seminary?
The ELCA leadership and seminaries are leading the charge away from scripture and toward the world's view of morality. The ELCA seminaries teach the ELCA pastors and the pastors go out and teach the parishioners. Here is what one church in Omaha, NE says.
"The challenges we face today as individuals and communities cry out for more modern interpretations of scripture and creeds. Not everything about "that old time religion" is good enough for today's spiritual journey." (read here)
The poison is seeping into the veins and going to every part of the body.
Countering the (ELCA) SPIN DOCTORS...
(an article from the Faithfulness Gathering website. See here)
They say:
"But You don't have to call a gay pastor..."
The truth is:
Any ELCA pastor, gay or straight, can become a bishop or serve on the bishop's staff! This is a poor compromise, in fact, no compromise: you are forced to accept the decision for all of the ELCA.
They say: The ELCA does so many good things for people that you can't get other places... (LSS, LDR, WH, LWR)
The truth is:
The ELCA does some things well, but anyone, including other denominations like the Missouri Synod, work together with the ELCA (for now), to help serve people in need. You don't need the ELCA to support Lutheran World Relief, for example. The decision by the ELCA has actually threatened some of these ecumenical relationships, especially in mission outreach work. Some of your donations in the ELCA social organizations (World Hunger) has actually been used for radical social advocacy, and not feeding people.
They say:
You won't get good pastors if you leave, groups like CORE and LCMC don't have seminaries...
The truth is:
There are currently LCMC students scattered all over at different seminaries, including Luther Seminary in St. Paul.. ELCA seminaries already teach students from other denominations, including non-Lutherans! There are currently two groups working to form new, independent seminaries for Lutherans.
They say:
There aren't any pastors out there for you if you leave.
The truth is:
A new mission start in Waseca, MN, had over 28 candidates apply - mostly ELCA pastors trying to get out. A new mission church in Alexandria, MN had over 30 candidates applying. There are pastors out there, but would you want to send a new seminarian into the ELCA during a time like this? Obviously, location matters, but ask yourself if the ELCA has helped supply your congregation with solidly bibilcal, faithful pastors recently? For the larger churches, they can be more choosy, but for the smaller, more rural churches, it can be difficult. Again, the most vulnerable suffer.
They say:
Places like LCMC don't have good oversight, you won't have the support you have in the ELCA if your congregation falls into conflict or a sexual misconduct.
The truth is:
The ELCA has just inflicted every congregation with a sexual misconduct by ignoring the biblical norms for marriage and sexuality. They have betrayed our trust! While it may be true that LCMC, for example, does not have a heavy,expensive bureacracy that has committees and experts for crisis like these, they do have a few groups that do work with congregations in crisis. They could do more, but congregations could also do more to take responsibility for themselves rather than be spoon fed by synods. Sometimes the conflicts are made worse by synod intervention, rather than helped. There is no easy, perfect answer in this broken world.
They say:
Well, the church has spoken, you voted for this. We didn't force it upon you, you decided!
The truth is:
A few more than one thousand people gathered to take a vote, were told that they don't represent anyone, that they should follow the spirits leading, and then they disappeared after the vote. No one is there to hold accountable, there are no checks and balances. A few, well organized and well funded advocates, have systematically placed people in positions of authority, using everything from quotas to appointment power, to make these changes. The only vote left is with your pocketbook and your feet.
They say:
Well, I (would have) voted against this because I don't think the church was quite ready for this yet.
The truth is:
If you are really for it, then you ought to be truthful enough to advocate for it openly and loudly, or you are a coward.
If you are really against it, then you out to be truthful enough to advocate against it openly and loudly, instead of hiding your head in the sand hoping it will just go away. Sometimes you have to take a stand, or you will stand for nothing.
They say:
Very few churches have left, perhaps only 1-2%. It really isn't that big of a deal you are making it out to be.
The truth is:
Only 1-2% of ELCA congregations have left, which sounds insignificant! But when you have 10,000 congregations in the ELCA, that percent means that over 200 congregations have left or are preparing to leave! That is larger than some other Lutheran denominations like the AALC! LCMC has more than doubled in the last year, and is now the 4th largest Lutheran denomination with over 400 congregations. And of those 2%, many are very large congregations, and in fact, some synods are nearing bankruptcy as they are losing their largest contributing churches. Over the years we've been losing them - like the largest, North Heights with over 10,000 members. Or last summer, Lutheran Church of Joy in Phoenix, AZ. Or Hosanna! in Lakeville, MN. Many of our largest, most vibrant churches, have left, cut benevolence, or are in the process of leaving. Is that a big enough deal?
They say:
It doesn't affect us, here. It will help the mission of a church in a few places, we need not worry about.
The truth is:
It does affect us, all of us. Not only this issue of homosexuality, but also the big questions of scripture and its interpretation and application to our everyday lives. This issue is just the one that has gotten the most attention of late, and in fact, there are many other areas or issues which have an impact, whether we like it or not. For example, abortion - the ELCA health plan pays for abortions. Or Israel, the ELCA opposes Israel and favors the Palestinian cause. Education - the ELCA has opposed charter schools and other attempts to bring reform education. Missions - the ELCA no longer sends out missionaries to do evangelism, direct outreach with the Gospel (although some missionaries do it on their own). Policies of "accompaniment" prefer to respect the religions of the people they reach, and tend to focus only on feeding and clothing and medical, or social justice issues, at the expense of any talk of conversion.
They say:
Gays and Lesbians will flock into our churches and make up for the losses we're experiencing. We will be a more loving, inclusive, and grace filled church without those that left.
The truth is:
Gays and lesbians might come, but many already were coming and are welcome, as all sinners in need of repentance are. This whole movement has actually made it more difficult for them to worship, or even to serve as pastors in the ELCA, if they are celibate. The reality is that only 1-2% of people consider themselves homosexual, which will not necessarily have any effect on the church, financial or numerically, in the positive.
No need to believe in Jesus. Believe whatever you want! ELCA seminary professor, David J. Lull, says you are going to heaven no matter what.
This is Part 2 (see Part 1) of an examination of Dr. David J. Lull, Professor of New Testament at Wartburg Theological Seminary series of lectures in January 2010 titled, "Preaching Lent and Easter."
The following are quotes from Dr. Lull's lectures -
"For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom [lytron] for many (Mk 10.45) - The term 'many' is not restrictive, as if it meant 'to give his life as a ‘ransom’ for some but not all'; rather, it is equivalent to 'all': 'to give his life as a ‘ransom’ for all.' And we know that 'all means all': not just Christians, or believers, or good people, but all people." (pages 6-7)
"We need to pause a moment to consider another reason why I’m skipping over the important ecumenical discussion of 'the doctrine of justification.' I have come to believe that, as important as that Reformation doctrine is, along with the partial rapprochement between Lutherans and Roman Catholics on that doctrine—to which the Methodists have added their affirmation—that doctrine’s vision of salvation is too limited. It isn’t big enough to encompass those who are sinned against: the innocent poor, especially the poorest among the poor; the innocent victims of violence in their homes, communities; innocent victims of war; innocent
victims of genetic malfunctions and disease; innocent victims of ordinary accidents; and innocent creatures who are victims of ecological injustice. The list could go on. These innocent victims do not need forgiveness for their plight!" (page 3-4)
"God’s salvation is for 'all.' The problem is that Paul wrote that 'if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.' Doesn’t that mean salvation is only for confessing Christians? But Paul also quoted Isa 28.16: 'No one who believes in him [that is, God] will be put to shame.'
And Joel 2.32: 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord [that is, God] shall be saved.' Also, remember that this section of Romans begins with 'the righteousness that
comes from faith says…' (Rom 10.6). For Paul, a monotheistic Jew, that means faith in God." (page 12)
"Jesus did not have to die as a condition of God’s forgiveness of sins. Mark knew that Jesus knew that God had always forgiven the sins of “many/all,” and that God would keep on forgiving their sins." (page 9)
Dr. Lull teaches the future pastors of the ELCA, and has been for many years. If the students believe this teaching of universal salvation then when they are pastors they will not be telling anyone about the truth of salvation in Jesus Christ. The lost will remain lost, just as the devil wants.
Dr. David J. Lull, Professor of New Testament at Wartburg Theological Seminary gave a series of lectures in January 2010 titled, "Preaching Lent and Easter." It is amazing what ELCA pastors are being taught by our seminaries.
For all of my life I thought Jesus died for my sins. Thankfully Dr. Lull set me and the 2000 years of Christian teachers and believers straight.
Here is what Dr. Lull teaches.
"Jesus did not have to die as a condition of God’s forgiveness of sins. Mark knew that Jesus knew that God had always forgiven the sins of “many/all,” and that God would keep on forgiving their sins." (page 9, http://www.wartburgseminary.edu/uploadedfiles/
Events/Lullone.pdf)
" . . .I can’t get past the idea that God had a thirst for innocent blood that had to be quenched, or that God’s justice required a death-penalty for sinners until Jesus’
death satisfied God’s wrath. Even if Bible passages can be made to support these ideas, I can’t get past the idea that God had been unforgiving before Jesus died. That’s not the God I find in the Bible." (Page 1, http://www.wartburgseminary.edu/uploadedfiles/
Events/Lulltwo.pdf)
"So, an alternative to traditional substitutionary or satisfaction atonement theories is to think of “Good Friday,” not as the beginning of God’s saving action in Jesus, but as its “end,” in the sense that it represents the aim and purpose, the “first passion,” of what God was doing in Jesus’ life all along: namely, entering in full solidarity and accompaniment with the marginalized and oppressed." (Page 2,
http://www.wartburgseminary.edu/uploadedfiles/
Events/Lulltwo.pdf)
Fellow Christians. Please investigate what your denomination is teaching and decide if you want to continue to be part of that denomination and what they teach.
A lot of hot (and crazy) wind is blowing and it is coming from Philadelphia. Specifically from Lutheran Theological Seminary (ELCA) Professor Jon Pahl.
Jon seems upset. I don't blame him. He works for a denomination that has turned its back on God's word and is in danger of dying. People are leaving the ELCA in droves and Jon gets most of his paycheck from that dying denomination. So he is going on the attack.
Professor Pahl begins, "All in all, the core of Lutheran CORE is rotten."
He claims heresies abound in Lutheran CORE and that the organization is about "American imperial ambition."
"Its mostly white, male, clergy fear the loss of privilege that heterosexual orientation and male status have so faithfully (and profitably) delivered over the decades and centuries," says the professor. Jon should really stop there because this fit he is throwing will do nothing to persuade the bible-believing ELCA members to want to stay in the ELCA. But he doesn't.
"Informed largely by American civil religion, and seeking to preserve not the 'great tradition' of the church, but instead the 'traditional' values of heterosexual, white, male, privilege, it is my studied historical judgment that Lutheran CORE cannot, and will not, play a major role in the history of the church," says Professor Pahl.
Our good professor then says the way Lutheran CORE defines marriage does not come from the Bible or Lutheran Confessions but it does come from the "'Defense of Marriage Acts' that have emerged in federal and state legislation as efforts to keep gays and lesbians from the civil and economic rights. . . These laws are distinctively American" (meaning "bad"), "and they are unjust because they legitimize unnecessary violence."
Professor Pahl, thank you for helping to support the view that the last place anyone would want to call a pastor from nowadays, is an ELCA seminary.
Article, found on the official ELCA website. (readers, thank you for sending this article to me)
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