Exposed Blog

Naming God in the ELCA

8/19/2018

Some ELCA pastors go out of their way to avoid using male pronouns and words for God. Some decide they will address God using female pronouns and words:

ELCA Bishop Guy Erwin tweets this:

In an article in the ELCA's Living Lutheran magazine titled, "God or mother? Both"
we read, “The metaphor of God the Father is not enough for me now. I now see God as the Mother.” (see here and see the end of this article for a response from Rev. Tom Brock)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America seminary, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, posted an article that says this, “So we decided to appeal directly to the Holy Spirit and the power of God and wait to see what She did.” (see here)

A God who is known by her handiwork… her creative genius… her wisdom and skill that gave birth to a complex and... https://t.co/PHxElKU2c0
— First Lutheran, Lynn (@flclynnma) May 26, 2016

The above tweet by First Lutheran in Lynn, Massachusetts, posts a quote from their pastor Pr. Jon Niketh's sermon (at the 7 minute mark):

“A God who is known by her handiwork… her creative genius… her wisdom and skill that gave birth to a complex and beautiful universe..." (see here)

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Luther Seminary: Taking a Stand for the LGBTQ+ Agenda as it Sells Off Buildings

8/9/2018

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(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

When I graduated from Luther in 1979 it was somewhat liberal, today it is extremely so. In past posts I have written of Luther’s chapel services with de-sexed God language, “breathing meditation”, and homosexual and transgender preachers.

Luther President Robin Steinke has sent a letter asking for funds in which she states: “We’re leading into a new vision of an inclusive, counter-cultural, Christ-centered community. This semester, a representative group of students, faculty, and staff—including international community members, students of color, individuals who identify as LGBTQ+…progressives and conservatives—collaborated on an intentional welcome statement that gets to the heart of who we are…”. Then she drops the bombshell “…we are planning to put the lower campus…on the market this summer.”

Thus Luther Seminary is in financial trouble and much of the campus has to be sold. The verse “You reap what you sow” comes to mind. A woman who watches our TV show and has been a contributor to Luther Seminary asked my opinion about giving to Luther. Even though I graduated from there, I told her that I cannot give Luther a penny because of the false teaching there.

A prayer that I regularly pray is: “Lord may these erring denominations turn around, but if they are going to keep leading people astray, may they shrink and die and may the people in them be moved into more Biblical denominations.” I believe God is answering my prayer.

In Jesus our Savior,

Pastor Tom Brock
pastorsstudy.org

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Unitarian Universalists and the ELCA's 1517 Media

8/6/2018

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Jill Braithwaite was recently hired as Vice President and Publisher at 1517 Media (see here). 1517 Media is the new name for what was formerly known as Augsburg Fortress. It is the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). (see here)

What is interesting and disturbing about this ELCA hire is that Jill Braithwaite is a graduate of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (see here and see her thesis here). It is a seminary where many Unitarian Universalist pastors-to-be go to study. (See here) It also has a good number of faculty and staff who are Unitarian Universalists. (See here)

Add to that the fact that Jill Braithwaite has preached at least a couple times at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis (see here and below), and as of 2014, she was a member at the Universalist church and served on the church's board of trustees and welcome team.

Unitarian Universalism is not Christian, as the they study, follow and teach from many and various religions. On the Unitarian Universalists website on pastor writes, "I do not believe Jesus is the sole revelation of the Divine, and I do not know, but seriously doubt, if he was raised from the dead..." (see here and see this page for additional comments about Jesus). It is obvious that most do not see Jesus as Lord and Savior, as the Son of God, as Messiah.

Instead of going into more details, here are a few additional links if you would like to know more about Unitarian Universalists. See how they describe what they believe here, what they are based on here and another article about their beliefs here.

What is going on in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that makes it acceptable to hire someone with a Unitarian Universalist background? Are the teachings of the Unitarian Universalist church compatible with that of the ELCA?

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ELCA Lutheran Obsession with Advocating for the LGBT Movement....Five Articles in One Month Promoting Transgenderism and Homosexuality

8/2/2018

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(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

If you go to the Advocacy Facebook page of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America you will see how obsessed the ELCA has become with the LGBTQIA+ movement. Within one month five different LGBT Lutheran leaders have been highlighted in articles like the below of a transgender clergy candidate. Of course, not one article features someone who upholds the traditional, Biblical viewpoint on these issues. In 2009 when the ELCA voted to ordain practicing homosexuals it was agreed that all views on homosexuality would be respected in the ELCA, but they are not. No view but the liberal one is mentioned anymore. One by One Ministry, a conservative group which helps people out of homosexuality and of which I am a part, inquired about buying an ad in Living Lutheran but was refused.

The rest of the ELCA Advocacy Facebook page is devoted to article after article on liberal politics. Sadly, preaching Christ for the salvation of the lost is conspicuously absent.

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Tom Brock

https://www.facebook.com/elcaadvocacy/photos/a.10150091631749513.272721.132358089512/10156416380554513/?type=3

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Radical Pro-Transgenderism by Some ELCA Lutheran Bishops and Seminaries

7/28/2018

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(The following article was written a number of weeks ago by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

Some months ago I wrote about my alma mater, Luther Theological Seminary, a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which brought in a transgender pastor to preach at chapel. She is a woman who presents herself as a man and who has rejected her God-given biological sex, thus, sadly, rejecting God’s will for her life. In her sermon she said (I cannot in full conscience call her “him”) that Joseph’s coat of many colors can also be translated “princess dress” and then she led in the Lord’s Prayer “Our Mother in heaven.”

Attached is a new article from a transgender clergy candidate, a man who presents himself as a woman. Among his demands is the full inclusion of transgender people in the leadership of the ELCA. No need to demand this, the ELCA is already there and now ordains transgender pastors. This was done without a vote of the national church on the issue, but liberal bishops are promoting and allowing it anyway. To quote the ELCA’s head bishop Elizabeth Eaton “Everybody isn’t male or everybody isn’t female. There’s a whole spectrum to that. I think that’s something that’s new for a lot of our people to think about, but it’s the truth…”

No, it is not the truth. Our response to transgenderism? The Old Testament forbids transvestitism (Deuteronomy 22:5) and in the New Testament Jesus said “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female?” (Matthew 19:4). We are not free to tell God He made a mistake by trying to change our God-given biological sex. We should not put people in leadership who are openly rejecting God’s plan for their lives. But it appears it is now in vogue in the ELCA to believe one has become “enlightened” if one embraces this rebellion against God.

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Tom Brock

PS And please say a prayer as this week the ELCA is bringing in a transgender 12-year-old “girl” and his activist mother to speak to 30,000 ELCA teenagers at the ELCA youth gathering.

https://wetalkwelisten.wordpress.com/2018/06/25/build-a-bigger-table-nicole-m-garcia-m-div-m-a-lpc/

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Time For A Mass Exodus From the ELCA

7/22/2018

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What will cause the naive, the scared, the delusional or those in denial to finally leave the ELCA and stand up for God and His Word, which the ELCA has been demonically trying to destroy? What is the final straw that will break the camel's back?

I believe, for many, it will be the ELCA's words and decisions at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering that will cause Bible-believing ELCA members, churches and pastors to finally leave. (Please read about the speakers and what happened at the youth gathering here, here, here, here, here, here and here)

Content ranged from foul-hearted keynote speakers placed in front of the teenagers, to extremely liberal messages delivered, to transgenderism lifted up, to far-left social causes presented, and pro-LGBT mantras being communicated.

The Director and President of Lutheran CORE, Pr. Dennis D. Nelson, wrote this following the ELCA Youth Gathering, "The ELCA is guilty of a massive breach of trust. The ELCA cannot be trusted. We realize that those are very strong statements, but they are confirmed by the presentation given by one of the keynote speakers at the recent ELCA Youth Gathering." (see page one of his article here)

Generations Radio presented a program called "The ELCA Lutheran Church Dies" that was centered on the actions of the ELCA at the 2018 Youth Gathering. (listen here)

And Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis, the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter, shared an article from Exposing the ELCA about the ELCA Youth Gathering with his hundreds of thousands of followers on Facebook:

I have heard of people leaving their ELCA churches because of what happened at the ELCA Youth Gathering. So will this be a wake-up call for a great exodus of churches and members from the ELCA? Will the evil and false teachings displayed and given to the most vulnerable ELCA membership, the youth, be enough for places such as Lutheran Church of Hope and its satellite ELCA locations in the Des Moines, Iowa area, Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and similar churches throughout the United States to finally stand up for God's Word, for Truth, and break ties to this faith-destroying denomination?

I pray so. But shame on them if they remain.

Here are some additional examples of what was said and the happenings at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering, to go along with the many articles Exposing the ELCA has already written. These come from the ELCA, ELCA pastors and those attending (again, please read the linked articles above to see the craziness of it all):

Tonight’s brave affirmation of transgender and queer people was made possible by God’s liberating grace—and the Lutheran LGBTQ+ leaders over the last 40+ years. Thanks be to God, @ReconcilingWrks & @ExtraLuthMin #ELCAYG2018
— Michael Wilker (@RevWilker) July 1, 2018

Grace means I’ll be seated at the heavenly banquet between Harvey Weinstein and some racist cop. #elcayg2018
— ELCA Youth Gathering (@elcagathering) June 30, 2018

Tonight, 30,000 Christians that have been worshipping together, gave standing ovations for an 11yo transgender girl and a bisexual woman who has dedicated her life to fighting food insecurity. If that isn’t a great way to end Pride Month then I don’t know what is! □ #ELCAYG2018
— Bails (@BaileyCarroll16) July 1, 2018

The ELCA magazine, Living Lutheran reports, “Last week at the ELCA Youth Gathering, many leaders spoke boldly about family separation and detention. In the AMMPARO/Lutheran Disaster Response space at the Gathering’s interactive center, youth were invited to sign advocacy cards, which will be sent to their representatives.” (See here)

Below are some more notable Youth Gathering social media posts. Notice, the gay affirming rainbow colors were prevalent at the ELCA youth event.

You can be part of the Women of the ELCA exhibit at the ELCA Youth Gathering June 27-July 1. Give now. Find out how at https://t.co/Cybxf989JZ. pic.twitter.com/zS36P9cs11
— Women of the ELCA (@WomenoftheELCA) May 30, 2018

And here is an example of the type of pastors the ELCA is ordaining. Rev. Chesnut is talking about ELCA Pastor Tuhina Verma Rasche, his co-author of a vile "devotional," who was a keynote speaker at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering.

And she didn’t say #FuckThisShit on the stage like all those cowards who railed to others about her assumed she would.

No shit, dumbasses — it’s called context. And knowing it.
— Jason Chesnut-no-t-in-the-middle (@crazypastor) June 28, 2018

And here the ELCA Youth Gathering is lifting up Ramadan, a celebration of the "first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad." This, of course, is not an event that Christians should be celebration or lifting-up.

Ramadan Mubarak to our Muslim siblings. #Ramadan2018 #RamadanMubarak
— ELCA Youth Gathering (@elcagathering) May 15, 2018

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"Pissed Off" Former Bishop Speaks At the ELCA Youth Gathering

7/16/2018

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(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

ELCA former bishop to teens: “I’m pissed off” about school shootings, “I grieve” unclean water, “I am furious” about separation of children at the border, but says nothing about separation of children in the womb

Former bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Reverend Stephen Bouman, told 31,000 Lutheran teenagers at the ELCA’s youth assembly last week that he is angry about school shootings, the unclean environment, blaming Muslims, and separating children at the border. But in his speech he said nothing about the tragedy of separating children in the womb. Why? The ELCA is so radically pro-choice that it pays for abortion for any reason in the ELCA healthcare plan, which is funded by offering dollars. That’s right, your ELCA offering dollars at work, killing unborn children. I believe people who are pro-choice should sit out the discussion about separating children from their mothers.

If you have any doubt that the ELCA wants its teenagers to be liberal democrats, endorse things like “Black Lives Matter”, etc., watch the below video. The ELCA claims to be a “big tent” which welcomes everyone, including conservatives. No sign of that in this message.

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Tom Brock

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11-Year-Old Transgender “Girl” Speaks to 31,000 ELCA Lutheran Youth

7/9/2018

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(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America last week had 31,000 teenagers gather for its teen assembly. One of the speakers was an ELCA pastor’s wife who told the teens that her child, who is biologically a boy, “deeply knows herself to be a girl”. The mother said “she wasn’t a boy, we just didn’t know that yet.” Her congregation held a renaming ceremony at her son’s tenth anniversary of baptism, and they renamed him “Rebekah”. This “girl” is now an “out and proud” transgender person and an activist for transgender and non-binary people…all at age 11.

Then Rebekah came out on the stage to speak to the teens:

“Transgender is being who God made me to be…God does not make mistakes…Its difficult to be in a world that is trying to make you… be someone else. My mission is to make things better for transgender kids, to speak hope. I may only be 11 years old, but I talk to legislators to make better laws for kids like me…Transgender kids are just like other kids…By being who God has called me to be, hearts and minds are changed, I can change the world…I hope that the Church is a place where everyone can bravely be themselves in all their uniqueness…Paint a giant rainbow flag out front (of your church)."

This is tragic beyond belief. No, ELCA, God does not create little boys to be little girls. Studies show that if one leaves children with gender dysphoria alone, most of them grow out of it. But instead of that, the ELCA and this pastor’s wife are affirming this child in the wrong sex, and are publicly celebrating and advocating for it. What if in a few years the child changes his mind and wants to identify with his biological sex? It happens often, but I doubt it will in this case since his parents and denomination are praising him for being an “activist.” One can only think of Jesus’ words in Mark 9:42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” I believe the ELCA has a millstone around its neck.

Not only were the speeches tragic, but it was tragic how often the speeches were interrupted by loud cheering by the teenagers. It appears the ELCA has succeeded in getting teenagers to applaud the LGBT agenda. You can watch it all in the video below.

May God have mercy.

In Jesus our Savior,

Pastor Tom Brock

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ELCA Pastor Preaches the “Beauty of Queerness” and Universalism to 31,000 Lutheran Teenagers

7/3/2018

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(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

Reverend Nadia Bolz-Weber is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the liberal branch of Lutheranism in the United States. She is a universalist and believes that everyone will be saved and no one goes to Hell. She spoke last week to 31,000 Lutheran teenagers at the ELCA Youth Assembly. In the below video at minute 17:50 she teaches that Harvey Weinstein, and everyone, will be in heaven. The low point in her sermon was when she had 31,000 teenagers follow her lead and loudly proclaim “I renounce the lie that queerness is anything other than beauty” (minute 22:05). She also tells the teenagers that it doesn’t matter if they believe in a literal Devil.

But according to Jesus, there is a Hell and a Devil and only those who trust in Christ will be saved (John 14:6). According to the Old and New Testaments, homosexual behavior is not beautiful but sinful. Jesus said stern things about those who lead children astray (Mark 9:42) and I believe God is angry with this denomination as it indoctrinates teenagers with evil teaching. There is a reason the ELCA continues to decline in members. There is a reason the ELCA has to merge its shrinking seminaries (Gettysburg and Philadelphia seminaries) or sell off large portions thereof (Luther Seminary). The reason the ELCA is shrinking is given in Revelation 2:5: "Repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." The ELCA's lamp stand is going out because it refuses to return to the teaching of Scripture.

If you are still an ELCA member, I pray you will find a more faithful Christian denomination.

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Tom Brock

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John chapter 14: God the Father: 23 times, God the Mother: 0, God the Parent: 0

7/1/2018

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(The following article was written a few weeks ago by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

Today in my morning devotions I read the beautiful chapter John 14, famous for "In my Father's house are many mansions." I noticed God is called "Father" 23 times. Jesus not once here nor anywhere calls God "Mother" or "Parent". Contrast Jesus' words with the liturgist who opened chapel at Luther Seminary, a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with the words "We open our service in the name of the Parent..." A transgender pastor at Luther chapel told the congregation to pray the Lord's Prayer "the way you are comfortable with" and then led "Our Mother in heaven." Another Luther Seminary chapel service had a male quartet sing the 23rd Psalm which was changed to read "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want, She makes me lie down in green pastures, She leads me beside still waters, She restoreth my soul..." And all the Psalms of the official hymnal of the ELCA have been de-sexed to get rid of masculine pronouns for God.

Does it not strike as arrogant that the ELCA thinks it has the right to change the Bible's language for God? Do they know better than Jesus Christ? Can they improve upon His words?

It is a beautiful teaching, especially for those who had an unloving, earthly father, that we have a loving, Heavenly Father. Jesus Himself gave us this teaching, and, no, we are not free to change it, nor should we want to.

In Christ,

Pastor Tom Brock

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Appalling Speakers at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering

6/27/2018

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The 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering takes place this week, beginning Wednesday, June 27.

The ELCA has assembled the most appalling speakers to preach to more than 30,000 teenagers. Over the last three months Exposing the ELCA has warned you of the disturbing, foul-mouthed and extreme speakers and organizations who will be promoting their thoughts and ideologies into the hearts and minds of all those listening. One, ELCA Rev. Tuhina Verma Rasche, is a keynote speaker who co-authoring the (please excuse me) "Fuck This Shit" devotional. (read here). Another is ELCA Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, who I have written about extensively because of her horrific theology, unabashed cursing, and anti-Biblical social beliefs. (See here) Next, presenting at the gathering is a transgender boy with his trans-activist mother. (See here) And finally, several highly troubling organizations will be hosting and leading something the Gathering calls "Interactive Learning." (See here)

I just learned this weekend that in addition to being keynote speakers, Rev. Tuhina Verma Rasche and Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber will be teaching the teenagers in "Live Bible Studies." The ELCA website describes the Bible studies this way:

"Part of our Community Life programming for the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering are daily bible studies featuring some of our guest speakers on our main stage!" (see here)

Below I have compiled additional information about some of the ELCA leaders who are placed in a position of authority and influence over the ELCA teenagers at the Youth Gathering.

Keynote speaker Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber is a "Christo-centric universalist," does not view homosexual sex as sin, has a drag queen perform at church functions, presided over a transgender renaming ceremony, views the Wiccan goddess as an aspect of God, views some of Scripture as just the writer's opinion, has called some of Scripture "wretched," doesn't believe every line of the Apostles' Creed and doesn't believe in substitutionary atonement. (See here) Below are some tweets by Rev. Bolz-Weber. You can also see many of the disturbing thoughts and actions of this leader, and her vile language, by viewing some more of her social media postings here.

Happy Pride! pic.twitter.com/wPXy6BV8ut
— Nadia Bolz-Weber (@Sarcasticluther) June 17, 2018

For #ColoradoGivesDay I supported @PPRockyMountain @RMGDRI @deloresproject @lighthousewrite (women's health, animals, poverty, arts) #Denver
— Nadia Bolz-Weber (@Sarcasticluther) December 8, 2015

Love my church. #HFASS at #Denver #pride pic.twitter.com/UPtJob7gU0
— Nadia Bolz-Weber (@Sarcasticluther) June 19, 2016

Nadia is pictured below with a transgender ELCA pastor.

Congratulation, Pastor Asher! @AsherOCallaghan @rmselca #hfass #elca pic.twitter.com/XDbyiLx7Bh
— Nadia Bolz-Weber (@Sarcasticluther) July 3, 2015

Some additional reseach, since my first blog about ELCA Pastor Tuhina Verma Rasche, (see here) has uncovered more disturbing information. Here is a quote from her "devotional" -

“I’m angry because in the midst of conversations about justice, they are just that: conversations. Actual justice, the world turned upside down, has yet to appear in the fullness of her glory. And God damn it, I want to live into the fullness of who God created me to be, which is a threat to misogynist white supremacists…My anger and desire to see justice lived in the world hasn’t dissipated from last year’s #FuckThisShit devotional.” (See here)

Cali isn’t as liberal as y’all think. It’s also high on the drug of whiteness. I mean, #BBQBecky & #PermitPatty.
— Tuhina Verma Rasche (@tvrasche) June 24, 2018

I have found my attire for any & every synod assembly in the ELCA. pic.twitter.com/XrVlJBsHds
— Tuhina Verma Rasche (@tvrasche) April 18, 2018

Trans siblings, you are beloved. You are wonderfully made into the fullness and wholeness of who God created you to be. You are not a burden. You are not a distraction. You are holy. You are loved.
— Tuhina Verma Rasche (@tvrasche) March 24, 2018

WT actual F? https://t.co/Dq8fJmN1YF
— Tuhina Verma Rasche (@tvrasche) April 8, 2018

Scripture was written by people. Broken & beautiful people. Sometimes they got it so very right. And other times, I don't even know if I can say "Thanks be to God" after a reading.#Slatespeak https://t.co/qhghS8aBkr
— Tuhina Verma Rasche (@tvrasche) April 20, 2018

My personal response? I don't do white nonsense. Call it out & walk away. I'm not there to wipe snot or pick up the pieces. #Slatespeak https://t.co/j8CnxZYV1S
— Tuhina Verma Rasche (@tvrasche) April 20, 2018

God. damn. it. Seriously, God damn this. https://t.co/nA6OMwvuTa
— Tuhina Verma Rasche (@tvrasche) June 18, 2018

Shame on the ELCA leadership for picking such vile speaking, theological troubling and extreme liberal spewing people to influence the unsuspecting youth.

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Pastor Tom Brock's TV Show Talks About the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering

6/21/2018

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(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

Here is our recent show about heresies in the Church, including info about the upcoming ELCA Lutheran Teen Gathering and its radical speakers

If you or someone you know is part of the United Church of Christ, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA, United Methodist Church, Catholic Church, or Disciples of Christ, you may want to watch this. Especially if you know someone who is going to the ELCA Lutheran Teen Assembly coming up on June 27th, have them watch this dealing with the radical speakers they are bringing in to speak to 30,000 Lutheran teens.

In Christ,
Pastor Tom Brock

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Radical Groups to Teach Kids at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering

6/18/2018

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We have exposed the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering’s extremely disturbing speakers (see here and here). Today I’d like to tell you about some of the activities, or as they have termed it, “Interactive Learning,” the ELCA has assembled to “educate” those attending the gathering, which takes place June 27 – July 1.

The ELCA describes "Interactive Learning" as "A 'Holy Playground' of sorts, that invites Gathering participants to encounter God through a variety of learning styles and sensory experiences. All 30,000 participants have a dedicated day in the three day program rotation to experience the extensive offerings inside the over 700,000 square feet Interactive Learning space.” (see here)

The “Interactive Learning” takes place in dozens of stations/booths/activity areas and you should be concerned over who the ELCA has decided will speak to and instruct your children, as well as the content that will be communicated.

One option the ELCA offers attendees is hosted by the ELCA church of the extremely troubling, ELCA youth gathering keynote speaker, Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber. The description provided is ridiculous:

“What I wish I’d known: Lessons on spirituality and sexuality
Take a break in a relaxing space and ask anonymous questions
about sexuality. Participate in learning activities on consent, healthy
relationships, birth-control methods, anatomy, boundaries, sexuality
and spirituality. We are not teaching a particular values system
about sexuality. Rather, this is answering questions with medically
accurate information and helping youth determine how they form
their values regarding sexuality.”

This group answering students questions is described in the ELCA materials:

“HFASS Denver - House for All Sinners and Saints (HFASS)
is a group of folks figuring out how to be a liturgical, Christo-
centric, social justice-oriented, queer inclusive, incarnational,
contemplative, irreverent, ancient-future church with a progressive
but deeply rooted theological imagination. We are here to explore
healthy and life-giving connections between spirituality and
sexuality and answer teens' questions about sexuality.” (page 20)

Another “Interactive Learning” activity is hosted by an LGBT advocacy group, Reconciling Works. The 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering Guide Book tells us about it:

“God adores you!
Come and be part of sharing the news that God adores you just the
way you are! Join in the affirmation and celebration of the diversity of
people. Learn how to extend welcome and inclusion to LGBTQIA+
people in your congregation!

ReconcilingWorks - An independent Lutheran nonprofit that
works for the full welcome, inclusion and celebration of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQIA+) people in the
Lutheran church. It is our vision that the church is a place where
LGBTQ people and their families can worship and thrive, bringing
all their God-given gifts to mission and ministry for the world.” (page 27)

The radical group #decolonizeLutheranism is interacting with the youth at their "Interactive Learning" activity:

“Bracelets of fortune: Identity and intersectionality in Scripture
and beyond.” Here the youth will learn the following:

“Scripture talks about how personal characteristics precious to us (e.g.
gender, age, race, dis/ability) are often despised by others. What’s
more, some of these characteristics overlap, making us even more
beautiful and vulnerable. Explore the lives of Bible characters and find
how these crisscrossing identities impact us and those around us.

Here is the description of the group leading this session:

“#decolonizeLutheranism - We are a group of Lutherans across
the spectrum of race and ethnicities, ages, gender expressions,
sexualities and abilities who have been moved by the Holy Spirit to
make our communities more welcoming of the diversity in them –
be those communities individual congregations or neighborhoods,
cities and nations.” (page 27)

Other “Interactive Learning” experiences for the students include “Refugee integration obstacle course” and “People on the move: A migrant and refugee experience.”

And finally, why not indoctrinate the youth against the Jewish-state? At the falsely titled booth/experience “Peace with justice in the Holy Land” the 30,000 young people will learn:

“What does life under military occupation look like? What is peace
with justice? Hear from Palestinian youth from the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, learn about the
conflict in Israel and Palestine, and learn how you can help make a
change happen.”

It is put on by the ELCA, as a part of their “Peace Not Walls” campaign. (page 26)

Wild. Sad. Concerning. These young people are impressionable. Pray for God to move in the hearts of all who attend that they may discern truth from lies and stand up against falsehoods so that they may boldly follow the Lord Jesus in the face of false teaching and deception.

Here is a link to the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering Guide Book where you can read all the details referenced above.

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Latest Living Lutheran magazine: Prayer can include coloring mandalas…and how to be a gay-friendly church

6/11/2018

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(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

The most recent edition of Living Lutheran, the national magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has an article about “Seeking the Spirit Within”. It states “Prayer can include coloring mandalas, using beads, meditating over a piece of Scripture, walking a labyrinth or repeating a name or phrase.” A mandala is a ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe, which is used for the purpose of meditation and trance induction. So why is the ELCA promoting this? Repeating a name or phrase over and over is also part of Buddhist meditation (think “Om”), but where does Jesus ever teach us to say a word over and over in order to meditate?

This is called syncretism, taking non-Christian practices and beliefs and mixing them together with Christianity. It is what got the ancient Jews in trouble when they tried to mix Baal worship with the worship of Jehovah. The ELCA needs to remember the words of the First Commandment regarding syncretism: Thou shalt have no other gods.

June is gay pride month and Living Lutheran devotes a whole article to ways your church can be gay-friendly. Don’t talk in Sunday school materials about mom and dad since we need to “remember your same-gendered-married couples.” Get a gender-neutral bathroom in your church. Celebrate gender identity and transition (changing one's sex) in your fellow Christians. Don’t say Christian “brothers and sisters” since this excludes non-binary and transgender people.

It appears the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has swallowed the GLBT agenda whole. Living Lutheran no longer allows the conservative view on homosexuality to be even heard.

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Tom Brock

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Pro-transgender advice from ELCA Lutheran magazine

6/7/2018

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(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

Pro-transgender advice from ELCA Lutheran magazine: Say "siblings in Christ, instead of brothers and sisters in Christ; parents and guardians, instead of mom and dad; and all genders, instead of both genders"

These pro-transgender articles from Living Lutheran keep coming, without a hint that there is another side to the issue, namely, that rejecting one's appointed sex is a rejection of God's plan for one's life. No one is ever allowed to say that in this official magazine of the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The church I attended as a teenager in Omaha used to support the camp referred to below. My old pastors would weep to see what the ELCA has become.

In Christ,

Pastor Tom Brock

(See article here)

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Latest Living Lutheran magazine: Prayer can include coloring mandalas…and how to be a gay-friendly church

Pro-transgender advice from ELCA Lutheran magazine

Dan Skogen

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