Many leaders in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are showing their true colors. For years I've been documenting the anger and dislike they have for conservative, Bible-believing people, including ELCA members. Taking it to a whole new degree, the election of Donald Trump has them unhinged. They are exploding in vile, demonic-like hate. Be aware that there is vulgarity below. Here is some of what I am seeing.
- Lenny Duncan, who is a Vicar at an ELCA Church and Candidate for Ordination to the office of Word and Sacrament in the ELCA, recently wrote a blog that included this picture on the right. In Mr. Duncan's blog he writes, "More than half of America has spoken, and it was what I have come to expect. They have sided with hatred." "If you are a leader in the church, or in a movement of liberation, our fight has just begun. If you are complicit in this travesty, may God have mercy on your soul." (see here) ELCA pastor Rev. Kwame L Pitts wrote this: ELCA Rev. John P Willmann posted: ELCA Pastor Joelle Colville-Hanson, who is the Director for Evangelical Mission at the Northeastern Iowa Synod, has been very angry and vocal about the election. See her comment below and you can see more from her at her twitter account here. ELCA pastor Alex Darling-Raabe had this to say to someone on FB who said they voted for Mr. Trump: In a different thread on an ELCA Clergy page Alex Darling-Raabe writes: Francisco Herrera, a Ph. D student at the ELCA's LSTC and their "Diversity Blog Manager" posts this hate-filled diatribe: Then there is this from ELCA pastor Robert Franek, who if you see what he is tweeting is is a liberal fanatic (over 160 tweets and retweets in a 24 hour period this week):
Next is a comment by Sherianne Molzahn Caldwell. See her bio on the Northwest Washington Synod website here, (page 3): Ian McConnell, a candidate for ordination in the ELCA says:
The most popular pastor in the ELCA says:
Listen to what they are saying...many of the comments rail on people who voted for Donald Trump. I doubt they would be doing the same if Hillary Clinton or socialist Bernie Sanders won the election. Even if you do not like Donald Trump, the behavior of these ELCA leaders is ugly, evil and disgusting. They are poor representatives of Jesus Christ.
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Once again the ELCA shows its Jew-hate. In August, the ELCA passed two vile anti-Israel, anti-Semitic resolutions. (see here) This time, the ELCA’s hatred for the Jewish nation comes in the form of a completely biased joint letter from the ELCA and other denominations to the major candidates for President of the United States of America. The letter contains lies, fallacies, distortion of the truth and inaccurate situational realities. Here are a number of them: - Calling the situation an Israeli military “occupation” of “East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza…” which is completely false. Israel is not an “occupier.” (see video at the bottom of this blog) - Complaining of “Ongoing settlement expansion…” as if Israel has no right to build in land that they won when they were attacked by Arab countries. - Saying “The blockade of Gaza has led to immense human suffering.” And here the ELCA and other churches are fabricating the “immense human suffering” due to the blockade when the reality is that Israel’s blockade is to prevent weapons and materials, used to harm Israel, to be brought into Gaza. Of course the denominations make no mention of the terrorist leaders of Gaza who are the actual source of “immense human suffering” or that the Palestinians are constantly smuggling weapons and committing violence and terrorism against the Jews. - Then the letter signers say “This status quo is clearly contrary to global security interests, including those of the U.S., and a source of violent extremism throughout the region.” Labeling Israel’s situation as “a source of violent extremism throughout the region” shows their bias because they lay the blame at Israel's feet, as well as justify the Muslim hatred for Jews. Hatred for the Jewish people was in existence, in the Muslim communities which make up most of the region, long before Israel came into being and won additional land in a defensive victory. - They go on, “the daily indignities and stresses of the occupation foster human suffering and have led to emigration from the small but vital Palestinian Christian community.” False again. The Muslim extreme-ism is the cause of the dwindling Palestinian Christian community in Gaza and the West Bank. (see here) - Finally the church leaders say this in their letter, “To ease tensions, we urge you to support people-to-people exchanges and the end of practices under the occupation that result in major human rights abuses, such as home demolitions, systematic land seizures, travel restrictions, the blockade of Gaza, and indefinite administrative detention, including detention of persons under eighteen.” Seriously? The actual situation: the homes being demolished are those of terrorists and those of squatters. The travel restrictions mentioned are a protective measure and would not be implemented if not for the Palestinians constant attacks on Israeli men, women and children. (read letter here) Again, you should notice that this letter only addresses the signer’s grievances against Israel, many of them fabricated. They make no list of grievances perpetrated by the Palestinians. That is par for the course and an obvious sign of the ELCA’s and other participating church’s anti-Semitism.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has long been an enemy of the Jewish State. (see here) Earlier this week, at the ELCA’s Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the United States government to end all aid to Israel until a list of ELCA demands are met. (Note that they did NOT call for the stoppage of U.S. aid to “Palestine” which takes foreign aid money {see here}, intended for humanitarian causes, and uses them for weapons, military terror tunnels, etc., in their quest to kill Jewish men, women and children.)
The ELCA Twitter page announced:
Here is the list of demands the ELCA has for Israel, whereby they say aid from the United States to Israel may be reinstated:
“…To urge this church’s members, congregations, synods agencies and presiding bishop to call on their U.S. Representatives, Senators and the Administration to take action requiring that, to continue receiving U.S. financial and military aid, Israel must comply with internationally recognized human rights standards as specified in existing U.S. law, stop settlement building and the expansion of existing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, end its occupation of Palestinian territory, and enable an independent Palestinian state;" The ELCA also wants: "To encourage this church’s members, congregations, synods, and agencies to call on the U.S. President to recognize the State of Palestine and not prevent the application of the State of Palestine for full membership in the United Nations.” (see here, page 100) Then yesterday the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted in favor (over 90%) of another resolution aimed at hurting Israel called “Justice for the Holy Land through Responsible Investment.” This resolution will be used by the ELCA to divest from Israel and select companies that do business with Israel. Their "recommendation" is astounding: “Recommendation for Assembly Action” “To reaffirm the actions of the 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2013 Churchwide Assemblies regarding responsible investment in Israel-Palestine; To direct the ELCA’s Corporate Social Responsibility review team to develop a human rights social criteria investment screen based on the social teachings of this church and, in the case of Israel and Palestine, specifically based on the concerns raised in the ELCA Middle East Strategy; To encourage ELCA members, congregations, synods, agencies and institutions to increase positive investment in Palestine and other under-resourced areas where human rights abuses materially impact the well-being of all people; and To encourage ELCA members, congregations, synods, agencies and institutions to engage in shareholder advocacy in support of human rights, exercising the right of a shareholder to submit resolutions at a corporation’s annual meeting.” (see here, page 105) When the ELCA says “Investment screen” what they mean is “divestment” from Israel. The BDS haters (the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israel) are applauding this move. The ELCA already has a boycott policy, as detailed by ELCA’s leader Elizabeth Eaton, who said, “We also engage in selective purchasing. So we not only try to trade with the Palestinian Authority, but we do not purchase products made in the illegal Israeli settlements.” (see here) The ELCA is a stooge of Hamas and Jew-hating parties. The ELCA makes declarations aimed at hurting Israel for the “imaginary” speck but is complicit in their silence of the huge log of evil and atrocities perpetrated by the “Palestinians.” That is anti-Semitic. In a time where anti-Semitism is even occurring at the Olympic games (see here) we have a supposed-Christian denomination seeking to harm Jews on trumped up charges. Israel is surround by countries with horrific human rights violations and by “Palestinians” who kill and celebrate the killing of Israeli children. And the ELCA demonizes Israel and wants land won by Israel, in defensive wars, to be given to those who will do everything possible to destroy the Jewish state? The ELCA has taken a stand with Satan. It is time for Bible-believing Christians to get out of this demonically-inspired denomination.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America continues to wade into politics, spending ELCA member money to advocate for their liberal agenda. And why not, when you are universalists, believing all people are saved and will go to heaven, there is no need to evangelize or tell people about Christ and that one must be born again. So they spend their time and your money on whatever tickles their fancy. This last week we heard from the ELCA advocacy arm, calling for action regarding their view of "equal access" at the ballot box. Here is a tweet they sent out:
The liberal mindset tells them that making voters show their identification to vote is "voter suppression." It really is a ridiculous view considering people need an ID to do some of the most basic things in life, as the Washington Examiner outlines here, such as purchasing alcohol and cigarettes, opening a bank account, applying for food stamps, welfare, Medicaid-Social Security, unemployment, buying or renting a house, applying for a mortgage, driving/buying or renting a car, flying on an airplane, getting married, purchasing a gun, adopting a pet, renting a hotel room, applying for a hunting or fishing license, buying a cell phone, visiting a casino, picking up a prescription, holding a rally or protest, donating blood, buying an "M" rated video game or purchasing certain cold medicines. Requiring an ID to vote is common sense and has nothing to do with trying to keep any segment of the U.S. population that is legal from voting. Below are a couple screenshots from the ELCA, using alarmist language and deceitful rhetoric, calling on ELCA members to "Urge Congress to Restore Voting Rights Now!" The vast majority of the leaders in the ELCA are liberal, left-wing democrats who use your offering dollars to push their political and social agenda. They are strong proponents of abortion but are against capital punishment for the worst violent offenders. They want more restrictive gun laws but can not make the connection between terrorist actions and Islam. They push for LGBT causes, including making unrepentant practitioners leaders in the church, but they are against laws that protect the first amendment rights of Bible-believing business persons to not participate in the celebration of sinful actions. They are against the state of Israel, a haven of freedom, and they side with the "Palestinian" people who celebrate the murder of Jewish children, naming streets after the perpetrators of evil. They sound the alarm of "climate change," "white privilege" and embrace the "BlackLivesMatter" movement (see here). These are liberals, no doubt. Is this what you want out of your Biblical teachers? (we won't even get into the multitude of ways they are in opposition to Scripture). Recently Pew Research Center came out with findings showing the 43% of ELCA members lean toward or identify with the Republican Party. (see here) If you want a clue to what the ELCA leadership thinks of people who are conservative and/or Republican, take a look at what Josh Evans, who describes himself on Twitter as a "Seminarian at @LSTChicago. Gay, sarcastic, introverted, justice-seeking Lutheran" (go to Josh's twitter comment here) says: Many Evangelical Lutheran Church in America members have figured out the liberal, anti-Biblical ways of their church leadership and the numbers make it apparent. The once 5 million member denomination is now 3.7 million and growing smaller every month. I've highlighted the financial troubles of the ELCA over the last six years and here are two more statements that underscore the financial crisis the ELCA is facing: “Over the past 18 years, annual offerings have dropped by more than 50 percent—from $3.6 million in 1997 to $1.7 million in 2014” - Women of the ELCA (WELCA) reports on their finances (see here - page 4). H. Julian Gordy, bishop of the ELCA's Southeastern Synod reveals this about his synod: "The percent of giving from congregations to mission support has declined for at least the past three decades. Over the past seven years, we have addressed the decline with severe cuts in our synodical programming budget and in support of committees and task forces. We have significantly cut our support of our synod's agencies and institutions, and we have cut salaries and staff positions in the synod office." (see here) Last weekend the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s South Central Synod of Wisconsin held its synod assembly. On the docket to be voted on were three anti-Israel/anti-Semitic resolutions. One resolution asked for an end to U.S. financial aid to Israel until Israel stops building homes, etc. on land that is rightfully Israel’s land. Another asking the ELCA churchwide, the whole denomination, to also call on the U.S. government to stop financial aid to Israel. The last resolution asked the denomination to screen and disinvest from companies that do business in Israel “such as Caterpillar, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Motorola Solutions, and G4S, until such time as those companies no longer profit from the occupation or cease operations in the illegal settlements.” (see the bottom of this article for more details) All three of these anti-Israel resolutions passed. Conservatives. Bible believers. People with common sense. Why are you funding this wickedness? The ELCA elites, in past German-like fashion, make proclamations and rules against the Jewish people that are based on falsehoods while not saying one word about the violence against Israelis, the intolerance for Israel and the Jew-hatred dominating the Palestinian situation. This is madness. Have you ever seen the video of a guy in California, waving the Israeli flag, and the anger directed at him, but when the same guy is waving an ISIS flag, he gets indifference, support and acceptance? That is what the ELCA is doing, as is the world in general. (below is the video – please check it out) Some more information on the anti-Israel resolutions the ELCA synod passed - South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 2016 Assembly, Resolution #2 U.S. Aid to State of Israel as a Tool for Peace - “RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly ask the bishop of this synod to urge the members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation who serve citizens living in our synod to make U.S. financial and military aid for the State of Israel conditional on the halting of settlement building and the halting of the expansion of existing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and to follow the directives of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which require that a country receiving U.S. financial aid and military arms not engage in human-rights violations of another people; and be it further RESOLVED that South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly, seeking a just peace for Israel and Palestine, encourage this synod’s congregations and members to pray for Israelis and Palestinians, to learn about the current situation in the Holy Land, to read the 'Kairos Palestine' document, and to advocate the aforementioned conditions on U.S. aid to Israel to their Congressional representatives.” South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 2016 Assembly, Resolution #3 Memorial to the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Regarding U.S. Aid to the State of Israel - “RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly memorialize the 2016 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to ask the United States Congress to follow the directives of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which require that a country receiving U.S. financial aid and military arms not engage in human-rights violations of another people and to urge congressional action requiring that, to continue receiving U.S. financial and military aid, Israel must stop settlement building and the expansion of existing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.” South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 2016 Assembly, Resolution #4 Justice for the Holy Land through Responsible Investment - “RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly request that the Congregational and Synodical Mission Unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America direct the Corporate Social Responsibility Team to develop guidelines that will screen out investments in companies profiting from, or complicit in, human rights violations arising from the occupation, , and provide a report with possible recommendations to the November 2016 meeting of the ELCA Church Council, and forward the guidelines to the separately incorporated ministries, agencies, and institutions of the ELCA for implementation as appropriate; and be it further RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly encourage its members and congregations to learn about their own investments and to intentionally invest in ways that are consistent with their faith and goals, including examining divestment from companies profiting from, or complicit in, human rights violations arising from the occupation, such as Caterpillar, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Motorola Solutions, and G4S, until such time as those companies no longer profit from the occupation or cease operations in the illegal settlements.” (see here) Whether you like Donald Trump or not, the statements and planned actions of Timothy Marcus Smith, Bishop of North Carolina Synod, ELCA are disgraceful. He is rallying people and going to a planned speaking engagement to protest against Donald Trump. It will be at Lenoir-Rhyne University, an ELCA school that has invited Mr. Trump to speak.
Here is a part of what the bishop said last Friday: "My position: This candidate, in my opinion not only as a private citizen but as a bishop in this Church, is a farce, an embarrassment, and a danger to nearly everything I hold dear. That he this late in the game is still leading one of our major political parties with his rhetoric fueled by fear and anger is diametrically opposed to any reckoning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I can imagine. Even leading 'Evangelicals' have said as much. My plan: Assuming he indeed shows up, I plan to be there, clerical collar and bishop's cross on, to protest NOT the fact that he's there but his platform that would deny refugees access, that would invoke violence at every turn, and that would stir up bigotry and hatred. I could go on, but you get the point. I would be deeply honored to be the one escorted out or even punched out as the heckler that Trump so condescendingly points out at each rally. But I won't try to drive out hate with more hate and anger. I will stand there, pray, sing, march, chant, wave signs, whatever I need to do and with whatever consequence to say, 'This is not who we are, America. This is not who we are, North Carolina. This is not who we are, Church.' And I hope the reporters and the cameras are there, and I hope they might care what I/we have to say in the name of Jesus." (see here or the screenshots below) ELCA bishop Timothy Marcus Smith has asked for others to join him and from the looks of the comments he is getting on Facebook, there will be a bunch of ELCA pastors and members doing just that. The bishop's Facebook post has garnered nearly 900 "likes." The bishop's statement is another example of the typical rhetoric of the ELCA and liberals --to brand anyone who disagrees with them on certain policies a "hater" or "racist." They have done so to Bible-believing Lutherans for at least the last 6 years. And is trying to silence someone and disrupt someone's speech really a Godly action? The ELCA is controlled by radical liberals who support their political causes while twisting Scripture to make it sound like they are on Christ's side. Name me one ELCA bishop that has gone to Washington D.C. to March for Life? Or how about an ELCA bishop protesting politicians who advocate killing of unborn children? That is a cause worth standing up for! But there are none. --- Update: Bishop Smith is now saying "After consultation with many, many people, I am for sure not going into the auditorium..." but he and those with him will be getting "as close to PE Monroe (the auditorium where Trump will speak) as the police and Secret Service will let us get." (see here) The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) is on a mission. The mission? Bring the refugees who are in Europe, originally from the Middle East and North Africa, to the United States. How many? As many as they possibly can.
The ELCA dismisses the danger of doing this, despite the fact that at least one refugee participated in the recent terrorist attack in Paris. They say God would want us to take in the refugees. Yet they would never recommend sending troops into Syria to help the thousands upon thousands of people still there--being enslaved, raped and slaughtered. I guess God (of their making) doesn't care as much for those who are in Syria, living under constant danger, oppression and persecution. They talk as if Christians are obligated to relocate the refugees to America. But helping the poor can come in many forms. Moving refugees to America is not the only option. The Good Samaritan did not bring the poor, injured man to his home. He paid for his care and housing elsewhere. And it was good. They say we need to bring the refugees here, but they don’t tell you that these refugees are living safely in Europe and are in no danger. The ELCA says the refugees will be thoroughly vetted, but we all know that that is nearly impossible. And many national security experts have agreed. The ELCA bishop even says that most of the refugees will be women and children, but 70% of the refugees are healthy young men who are capable of fighting for their homeland. Very few are women and children. Let’s think about this for a minute. Besides the danger that some refugees will no doubt have an allegiance to radical Islam and a desire to kill as many Americans as they can, what about the Muslim refugees who are not terrorists but want Muslim law to rule the land in which they reside? (You know, cutting off the hand of thieves, women must be covered and killing homosexuals.) What about the way most Muslims view and treat women, like possessions, pieces of property with no rights? What about the Muslim view that Islam is superior to all other religions and that Muslims must hold power over others of differing religions for the sake of their god? What about the hatred of Jews, honor killings, female genital mutilation, molestation of young girls and boys that is rampant in the countries from where the refugees come? The ELCA wants to bring this to our country? Maybe the United States, who already takes in 20% of the world’s immigrants (stat from this article) can help the refugees by giving food, clothing and financial help as they make a new life in the European country in which they now reside, safe and sound. That sounds like a loving and WISE response to the refugee situation. Here are quotes from the ELCA leadership pressing for the settlement of the refugees in the United States:
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is wading into the political realm and once again placing their own fanciful and dubious dreams above the safety and security of the Jewish people. Last week the ELCA sent out an advocacy action alert asking readers to “(t)ell your elected officials: Support a negotiated deal with Iran.”
Many in the United States and Israel are saying the current deal with Iran is bad, but here we have the ELCA calling for a negotiated nuclear deal with them. Let's look at and respond to some of the statements from the ELCA's action alert:
That is not true. I bad deal is worse than no deal for the Israelis (who Iran constantly threatens to destroy), the Palestinians and all of Iran's neighbors. An armed conflict is better than allowing the evil regime to obtain nuclear warheads and make good on their threat to wipe out the Jewish state.
Wrong again. A deal that allows Iran to get nuclear weapons or a deal that can not guaranty that Iran abides by the rules, makes for a terrifying world. Iran is the number one supporter and purveyor of terrorism. They call the United States “the great Satan.” They call for our destruction. They are developing missiles that can reach America. A bad deal is worse than no deal.
That is a big assumption. Can you say “North Korea?” And thinking that Iran will comply with the rules is naive at best. They have a long history of breaking the rules with the United Nations regarding their quest for nuclear power (weapons).
Seriously? Get on with the Iran deal so we can focus on the main problem of the Israeli-Palestinian issue? That issue is so important to the ELCA that they have to insert it into the conversation about stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons? To be frank, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is not an honest broker when it comes to Israel. (see here and here) The ELCA view of a deal between Israel and Palestinians has the Palestinians getting most all of their demands and Israel getting a “promise” of peace.
Again the ELCA is wrong. The threat of new sanctions will increase the likelihood of a “good” deal with Iran, as will the need of congressional approval for a deal. The ELCA and President Obama need to step back and let the nation at most risk of being attacked by a nuclear Iran (Israel) have the ultimate say on whether a deal should be made. Because sadly, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the president do not have Israel's best interest or survival in mind. Just one week ago a delegation from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which included ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton, held a meeting with a Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee member. The ELCA delegation sat with the Palestine Liberation Organization representative listening to the outright fabrications the PLO is famous for creating about Israel. The PLO issued a press release afterward summarizing the meeting. Here is a segment from the press release; please note the sinister lies many of the statements contain -
(The PLO Executive Committee member) “briefed the ELCA delegation on the latest political developments, including current Palestinian initiatives and political options for the future; Israel’s ongoing violations of international law and human rights, including the escalation in Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise, the expansion of the apartheid wall and checkpoints, the annexation and political, geographical and cultural transformation of Jerusalem, the targeting of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and its worshipers and Israel’s efforts to incite a holy war in the region, Israel’s most recent horrific war in Gaza, the superimposition of ‘Greater Israel’ on historical Palestine, and Israeli policies of ethnic cleansing, particularly in Jerusalem, Area C and the Negev; the substantial diminishment of Christians from Palestine due to Israeli policies of military occupation; Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues; and the domestic situation and rift in Palestine, as well as issues of mutual interest and cooperation.” (read here) So far there has been no press release from the ELCA about this meeting. The statement below is written by an ELCA pastor who posted this on an ELCA facebook page -
“After last night I am close to despair. There are so many now who will be out of the scope of concern in policy and practice. More time will be wasted trying to take new health insurance from those newly covered. Keystone will probably be approved to the detriment of the land, creatures and people from whom it will be taken. National parks and sanctuaries will be in danger. Safety nets will be cut to pay back the money poured into this election. Any new Supreme Court justices will be anti Roe v Wade and pro Citizen's United. Global climate change is now in the hands of people don't believe in science and creationism will be supported in science classrooms.... These are the platforms that our newly elected politicians won on. I am so disappointed that we are the self elevating, it's all about me, to Hell with the poor nation owned by money. Here is Iowa we now have Steve King and Joni Ernst in Washington. As John Steward said, last night money won. Ideas lost. As advocates for the least among us we will need to be vigilant and even more counter cultural. Kyrie eleison.” 60 ELCA people “liked” this post. Anybody else have problems with this ELCA pastor's lament? The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recently was interviewed on a Pro-Hezbollah TV station (see article here) and during the interview she outline the different actions the ELCA has taken to hurt the Israeli democracy and the Jewish people:
It should be noted that the term "illegal settlements" is a false notion but it is useful for those anti-Israeli actors who are trying to garner sympathy as they try to remove Israel from Israeli land. (read more about that in an excellent article here) Here is the Presiding Bishop's television interview: Critical comments from readers printed in The Lutheran to the ELCA/publishers of the magazine:
"Not buying it I am all for elevating people out of poverty (July, page 16). But I do not share your cheerleading enthusiasm that paints economic inequality as demonic injustice. Nor do I share your animosity toward the so-called '1 percent.' I thought the Bible was a staunch critic of envy. Oh, I forgot this is all Democratic Party talking-points. Carry on. The Rev. John R. Thompson Treasure Island, Fla." (read here) "Enough already Marty’s article distracts from, rather than enriches, our worship of God. Why would it bother anyone to think of God in masculine terms? Is God ever referred to in the Bible as anything but 'he'? We cannot make God over to fit our human terms because God is God. Traditional hymns in Evangelical Lutheran Worship have already been reworded to avoid masculine pronouns for God. Now this. Enough. Hildegard P. Lamparter Lititz, Pa." (read here) “Politicized gospel The recent visit by ELCA bishops to Congress (May, page 4) reminds all yet again of church leaders’ devotion to a politicized, self-absorbed gospel. Peter advises Christ’s followers to 'always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.' Confident believers answer by boldly confessing Christ crucified and raised from the dead. But our bishops’ hope centers on convincing lawmakers to spend other people’s money on the ELCA’s lofty causes. Cheap grace indeed. Cliff Hadley Huron, S.D." (read here) “Law and gospel Once again Marty shows that neither he nor this denomination is in any way, shape or form Lutheran (May, page 3). Instead of discussing 'The Ten Words' as the law, which serves as a curb, a guide and principally a mirror, he denigrates obedience to them (which sinners can never fully achieve). Funny how Jesus told those whom he healed to 'go and sin no more.' God does command us to do things we cannot do. That’s why God fulfilled the law himself for us (the gospel). Drew Kornreich Los Alamos, N.M." (read here) ELCA Lobbies U.S. Gov't to Pay the Palestinian National Authority's Bill to ELCA's Federation4/8/2014 Thirty-two ELCA bishops went to Washington D.C. to lobby the U.S. Congress. What was on their agenda? They are attempting to get U.S. taxpayers to pay the Palestinian National Authority's bills to Augusta Victoria Hospital which is owned and operated by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a member of the Lutheran World Federation and helps fund the organization. So in essence, the ELCA wants the United States to pay them for the Palestinian Authority's bills. The Palestinian Authority owes over 18 million Euros ($25,000,000 U.S.) to the East Jerusalem hospital. The ELCA press release reports -
“Bishops will request that members of Congress urge the U.S. Agency for International Development to designate a portion of its bilateral support to the Palestinian National Authority to paying its debt to Augusta Victoria Hospital. The hospital is a program of The Lutheran World Federation, a global communion of 142 churches representing more than 70 million Christians in 79 countries. The ELCA is the communion's only member church from the United States.” For other policies for which the ELCA was advocating, read here. Check out what these ELCA Synods are bolstering:
The Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is proudly promoting in their synod newsletter:
The Rocky Mountain Synod's newsletter from a few months ago promoted:
Three ELCA synods in Illinois and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois promote Lutheran Advocacy—Illinois, a justice ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Among the issues they advocate for are:
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Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Dan Skogen
Former ELCA seminary student and former ELCA member who is fed up with the ELCA's consistent mockery of God's Word. If you have been helped and blessed by Exposing the ELCA's ministry, please help us continue to proclaim the truth of God's Word to ELCA members who need to hear it.
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Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Ephesians 5:11
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