A friend sent me a study course called "Sense and Sensuality" by Rev. Gary Blobaum. It talks about "What Has Happened in the ELCA and How It May Affect Us." It is a very interesting read. Here is one point related to the ELCA and the scripture I thougth I'd share with you.
"In one of our sessions, the question was asked: “Will the ELCA make changes in the Bible?” It already has. To prepare congregations for reception of the new worship resource, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, an introduction to the current ELCA understanding of worship was sent to pastors and congregations. One of the major themes of that small volume was the inclusivity of worship. In many and various ways, the ELCA tells us to include everyone, to recognize no distinctions, to permit no boundaries between church and world. To deploy the Bible in its goal of “invitation and welcome to all people,” the volume offers this sentence: “As followers of Christ, we are called to welcome others as Christ has welcomed us (Rom. 15:7).” Now it may be a small point, but that is not quite how the verse reads. Paul is not really speaking in this verse about welcoming others, namely, those outside the church. He is speaking of relationships within the church. He says: “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.” Ah, but it would have been so much more convenient had the verse said “welcome others;” surely that is what Paul meant! And if he didn’t mean others, he should have! In any event, we can change it. Once you get the hang of overriding Scripture, you can do it without thinking. . .
We can also note the revisions to the Psalms in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. In order to avoid masculine pronouns, the editors of the ELW took the liberty of switching from third person statements about God (“he”) to second person addresses to God (“you”). For example, whereas the twenty-third psalm actually reads, “He restores my soul,” the ELW changes this to “You restore my soul, O Lord.”
Is it unreasonable to imagine that the ELCA will eventually alter the exact words of Scripture in its references to homosexuals?"
"In one of our sessions, the question was asked: “Will the ELCA make changes in the Bible?” It already has. To prepare congregations for reception of the new worship resource, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, an introduction to the current ELCA understanding of worship was sent to pastors and congregations. One of the major themes of that small volume was the inclusivity of worship. In many and various ways, the ELCA tells us to include everyone, to recognize no distinctions, to permit no boundaries between church and world. To deploy the Bible in its goal of “invitation and welcome to all people,” the volume offers this sentence: “As followers of Christ, we are called to welcome others as Christ has welcomed us (Rom. 15:7).” Now it may be a small point, but that is not quite how the verse reads. Paul is not really speaking in this verse about welcoming others, namely, those outside the church. He is speaking of relationships within the church. He says: “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.” Ah, but it would have been so much more convenient had the verse said “welcome others;” surely that is what Paul meant! And if he didn’t mean others, he should have! In any event, we can change it. Once you get the hang of overriding Scripture, you can do it without thinking. . .
We can also note the revisions to the Psalms in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. In order to avoid masculine pronouns, the editors of the ELW took the liberty of switching from third person statements about God (“he”) to second person addresses to God (“you”). For example, whereas the twenty-third psalm actually reads, “He restores my soul,” the ELW changes this to “You restore my soul, O Lord.”
Is it unreasonable to imagine that the ELCA will eventually alter the exact words of Scripture in its references to homosexuals?"
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