ELCA Members and Christians Everywhere Respond to the ELCA
Below you will find letters from concerned Christians responding to the policies and theological actions of the ELCA. Your opinions and responses to the ELCA are welcome. Submit your comments on the Contact page. Some of the submissions will be published on this site.
Excerpts from an Email to ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson from Jaynan Clark, President, WordAlone Ministries
. . .So “enough is enough” and the time to stand up according to the true Spirit of God as revealed in His Word is now. Your Heavenly Father has not given you a spirit of timidity. It is His temporal adversary who demands this type of silent, even cooperative, obedience. . .
Faithful Christians Must Depart the ELCA
. . . Jude urged the true believers to “contend earnestly for the faith” and many in the ELCA did that prior to the recent vote. Now, however, the leadership has decided to reject Scripture and follow their own understanding. The duty of the true believer now is to separate himself from the apostate church. . .
Why Leave the ELCA part II
. . .The ELCA is highjacking the Lutheran Church and leading it to ruin. Those that have tried to save the ELCA have been shoved to the side of the road while it is full speed ahead with a liberal, left wing social agenda with no regard to the saving of the souls of its members. We must shun this false doctrine. We must leave the ELCA behind and pray that all true believers follow and form a new synod to teach the true Gospel. . .
An Open Letter to the ELCA
. . . The ELCA has made its choice, along with the Episcopal and other mainline denominational churches, taking a stand against the Word of God. In doing so, they have become apostate. Come out from them, separate from them, and join with Luther and other reformers who have made a stand at risk of life and limb on the Word of God, trusting in God alone to be their Savior and
protector. . .
protector. . .
Letter to Bishop Hanson
. . ."Where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel."-Luther.
Sadly we are laying the brick work for Satan's chapel as we attempt to overshadow God's law with ELCA social policy separating the church from its real work; by that nature we are not a church of laws but a church of sin. Pretending the law doesn't matter, or attempting to rewrite scripture to our liking is no better than the non biblical canons that allowed the church of old to become so corrupt. And the use of benevolences to advance a political agenda is no better than the sale of indulgences Luther fought so hard to free us from. . .
Sadly we are laying the brick work for Satan's chapel as we attempt to overshadow God's law with ELCA social policy separating the church from its real work; by that nature we are not a church of laws but a church of sin. Pretending the law doesn't matter, or attempting to rewrite scripture to our liking is no better than the non biblical canons that allowed the church of old to become so corrupt. And the use of benevolences to advance a political agenda is no better than the sale of indulgences Luther fought so hard to free us from. . .
Letter to the Church Council
. . . Even though Jesus didn’t discuss “homosexuality” by name in the Bible, He was clear about leaving a life a sin. I see Him setting people free from sin. Although we live under a New Covenant, Jesus never said to disregard Old Testament teaching. He often quoted and taught from Scriptures- which IS the Old Testament! By “loving” people, He never equated following Him with continuing in sin. He tells us to “pick up our cross. . .”
. . . Even though Jesus didn’t discuss “homosexuality” by name in the Bible, He was clear about leaving a life a sin. I see Him setting people free from sin. Although we live under a New Covenant, Jesus never said to disregard Old Testament teaching. He often quoted and taught from Scriptures- which IS the Old Testament! By “loving” people, He never equated following Him with continuing in sin. He tells us to “pick up our cross. . .”
The Bible is the Issue
. . . The issue at hand is not our determination regarding the issue of human sexuality.
The central part of this conversation does not directly involve the issue of homosexuality. The central component is our understanding of Scripture. . .
. . . The issue at hand is not our determination regarding the issue of human sexuality.
The central part of this conversation does not directly involve the issue of homosexuality. The central component is our understanding of Scripture. . .
God's Word Never Changes
. . .There are those who say that my position on this issue--the position historically taken by God, the Bible, and the Church--is unloving. But, let me ask you to imagine a scenario for a second. If you see a woman saunter out into the middle of a busy highway, heedless of the cars that speed by and threaten her life, what is the more loving act: Affirming her right to be in the road or reminding her of the consequences of such behavior and urging her, even helping her, to safety? . . .
. . .There are those who say that my position on this issue--the position historically taken by God, the Bible, and the Church--is unloving. But, let me ask you to imagine a scenario for a second. If you see a woman saunter out into the middle of a busy highway, heedless of the cars that speed by and threaten her life, what is the more loving act: Affirming her right to be in the road or reminding her of the consequences of such behavior and urging her, even helping her, to safety? . . .
Lutherans… Choose whom you will serve
. . . Of course, the issue of homosexuality, is really just the tip of the iceberg. Under the surface of the water lies the true foundation of what is sinking all churches, all denominations, across the nations. We find in the murky water, the denial of creation, destruction of marriage and family by divorce and sexual immorality, the blending of false religions with Christianity, lack of knowledge of scripture and its authority, denial of Christ’s deity, inclusion instead of separation, and then… a weak and compromised Gospel . . .
. . . Of course, the issue of homosexuality, is really just the tip of the iceberg. Under the surface of the water lies the true foundation of what is sinking all churches, all denominations, across the nations. We find in the murky water, the denial of creation, destruction of marriage and family by divorce and sexual immorality, the blending of false religions with Christianity, lack of knowledge of scripture and its authority, denial of Christ’s deity, inclusion instead of separation, and then… a weak and compromised Gospel . . .
What Would Isaiah Say?
. . . If we believe that our Savior can heal the sick, and make the blind see, and raise the dead, we can certainly have faith in His power to heal sexual brokenness. What would Isaiah say to a Church that is trying to stray from its vows to uphold his Word? Well, maybe he said it in Isaiah 55: 6-7: “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found! Call ye upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord and He will have mercy, and to our God and He will abundantly pardon!”
Agree to Disagree?
. . . Bound conscience is a destructive heresy, instigating a deep division among the faithful. This divisive teaching will only result in the moral and spiritual destruction of those who accept it. To properly uphold our Christian faith is to obey and live according to our Lord’s direction and the morals that He has instilled in us, not by our personal opinion or by some earthly authority. . .