|
The following letter and article are written by John Myers, who spent most of his adult life as an ELCA member. John has graciously allowed us to share his writings here, which were also sent to a number of ELCA leaders. John cares deeply for people in the ELCA and hopes this will provide an avenue for open dialog with those in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Introduction Letter to leadership - ELCA I am a lifelong Lutheran, who has left ELCA. I was baptized, confirmed and taught. I am certain I am not alone in saying I was misled by leadership, that the present Lutheran church would be unrecognized by my parents and grandparents, that the foundational leadership would be sickened by what has become of the principles of the church, that Luther himself would not want to have his name attached to it, and that its saints of the past like Bonhoeffer would not include ELCA in his confessing church and would want nothing to do with it. The key issue in this departure, in my opinion, is the abandonment of Luther's Principle of Solo Scriptura and the failure to apply scripture as being the inerrant Word. I embrace Christianity as it was practiced in the early church of Acts. This simply means worship, edification with scripture, proclaiming Him and His gospel. All the idols of this world - money, power, politics, false virtue signaling, fall away as unimportant when one is focused on God and His world instead of this world. Bonhoeffer called it Cheap Grace, that we claim we are following Him but are far from Him, that we say we have accepted Christ and then do things that are not of Him. This is what I see in modern Lutheranism. Do not misunderstand the intent I have for this letter. It is a love letter, not a hate letter. This is a call for repentance. Repentance is not something modern Lutheranism embraces. Modern Lutheranism points to people as victims, and directs people to love to solve victim-hood. Nothing about our sin and Gods coming judgment, and the need for us to repent, to embrace and apply Gods verbatim Word in our world. God is a jealous God, who will not stand for the idols we place in front of ourselves in this world. We are to love God with everything we have, and because we are human we are sinners, all of us, and we all must repent of those sins or there is no hope for us. No matter how you twist His Word, the things you embrace are sin. They are not to be glorified. The madness must stop. We are mutilating our children for profit without parents involved and paying for it with taxpayer dollars. Those medical facilities that children should be trusting with medical guidance are instead, by any normal definition, wickedly using them and abusing them. Anyone can easily understand God intends the nuclear family for us and any other lifestyle does not glorify Him. He demands we value life, and we do not glorify Him by taking innocent life in the womb while calling it healthcare. These are not hard concepts, yet we mock Him. Do not be part of the crowd outside Lot's house. Judgment will come, it always does. Repent. Honor Him and His Word. So I ask that you seriously consider my words. I seek to open a dialog in which we can have discussion. I really would like to understand how you can support current Lutheran positions on these issues, how these positions will make a better world, and finally exactly how God is glorified by what you are doing. I believe in this life that we are to glorify God and to serve God. I write this letter in this and I ask that you accept it as such. My contact information follows: John Myers Evermore Farm 150 Rockland Road Westminster, Md 21158 john@evermorefarm.com This Watchman Speaks The Prophet Ezekiel was a watchman for the lost sheep. In Ezekiel, Chapter 3, V17-18 the prophet states he is called to warn. I am not Ezekiel, I am just a man but I also feel called to warn. All truth starts with Gods Truth, the Bible. If you believe only scripture that fits your worldview, you do not actually believe any of it. Ephesians 5:11 says not only are we not to have anything to do (no fellowship) with the evils of this world, but we are to expose them - especially when found in the church. Matthew 18:17 tells us to speak to a sinning brother of the evil he practices. If he refuses to hear it and continues in his way, we are to treat him as if he is no longer our brother. Martin Luther founded the protestant reformation on the principle of "solo scriptura". Luther insisted that the Bible is the "Inerrant Word of God". This means every word is true and is what God meant for us to live our lives in faith. I remind on this because today Luther's church is mocking God. It's pastors are false teachers, they are wolves dressed as shepherds (Matt 7:15) carrying out satan's plan. Lutheran seminaries teach false doctrine. Why do I say this? God's plan for marriage is plain. In Mark 10:6–8, our Lord details it. One man and one woman. Further, it is a picture of so much more - the church itself. It is foundational. ELCA endorses, affirms, embraces, and ordains homosexual marriage. ELCA teaches that God approves, that bishops and pastors - the appointed leadership - proclaim these unions as God ordained. This is false teaching. Homosexuality is a sin. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:9 that it is sin and an abomination. This is but one of many instructions consistently saying the same. It is not something to hold up as God ordained behavior no matter what the world around us would have us to believe. It is evil to teach there is no need to repent for this behavior. We are not to hate those who engage in this, we are taught to view it as sin like others that all of us have carried since the eviction from Eden. There is no scriptural basis for any other position. Many would retort that Jesus had no direct teaching forbidding homosexuality, as an excuse - but this is satan speaking.......Is Jesus not God? Jesus told us He was there at the beginning. John 1:1 tells us He is the Word and the Word is eternal. The Word He gave us includes the OT, and He came to fulfill it, not to negate it. It is impossible to embrace the Word and also embrace sinless homosexuality. We must embrace repentance from this sin, not embrace pride in it. God made only man and woman. Transvestism is called out in Deuteronomy 22:5 as an abomination. It is a sin. ELCA is affirming, embracing, or celebrating this behavior. Women who present themselves as men, and men who present themselves as women are living a lie. They need our sympathy and help with their condition, not enabling and normalizing this behavior. Spiritually, it is sin and we must call for repentance. Those afflicted are mutilating themselves with abominable surgeries and living in misery. At least one ELCA church is currently hosting VBS in Baltimore with a 'drag queen' promoting gender fluidity and questioning for young children. It is simply child abuse to present this and normalize this behavior, and ELCA is not only complicit but is promoting it. There is no scriptural basis for this. It is evil. You have become satan's agent in denial of God's word to those in your care. During Covid, you closed sanctuaries from worship, a denial of compassion to those in genuine fear. Yes, we are to render to Ceasar that which is his and respect our leaders-but, not deny God. Acts 5:29 instructs us to obey God rather than men. In Hebrews 10:25 God tells us not to forsake regular assembly for corporate worship. In this, you chose men over God. You are not worshipping God, rather you worship idols of this world as in Isaiah 57 - the idols of abortion (v5), sexual immorality (v8), perverted leadership (v11), all the while mocking God. God will not be mocked (v13). Lutheran church leadership is lifting up false idols for worship. You propose to judge God, twisting scripture to fit this world. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, stop.
0 Comments
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
The below church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The biblical language of referring to God as “He” and “Father” is being challenged in many ELCA congregations which now also refer to God as “Mother”. This is because many “progressive” pastors think male language for God is oppressive and patriarchal. But Jesus taught us to pray to “Our Father who art in heaven”, never once to “Our Mother”. But these pastors seem to think they are better experts in language for God than Jesus Christ. And this is not just some radical individual church, the head Bishop of the whole ELCA has also prayed publicly to God as “Mother.” The person who sent me the below is concerned for her loved ones who attend this church. I would be too. If you are still a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, time to leave and join a denomination which unashamedly worships God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We cannot improve upon the teaching of Jesus Christ and people are arrogant who think they can do so. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock 
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
At its recent convention, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America passed a resolution to take a second look at its 2009 decision to allow both conservative and liberal views on homosexuality. Some feel this needs to be amended because the LGBT community does not feel “welcomed“ in some ELCA congregations. Conservatives, on the other hand, have not felt welcomed in the ELCA for years. Here are a few examples: As ELCA seminaries become more radical and shrink in numbers, some seminaries have had to sell off buildings. Two ELCA seminaries in Pennsylvania had to merge. When it was discovered that the new president of the newly merged seminary held a conservative viewpoint on homosexuality years ago (she has now become more liberal), people became upset and she had to resign. Who replaced her? The ELCA’s first homosexual bishop with a “husband” is now the president of the ELCA’s United Seminary in Pennsylvania. Another example is the ELCA’s national magazine Living Lutheran, which regularly highlights the liberal view on transgenderism and homosexuality but will not allow a conservative viewpoint in its pages. The ELCA‘s head bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, in recent years has done an annual “gay pride video“ celebrating homosexuality and transgenderism. Such examples show the “tolerance“ of the ELCA is a tolerance of the left. If you are a conservative, you are being pushed to the margin. I remember many years ago when I was still in the ELCA, we were asked at a church convention to get to the microphone and answer the question “Who is the ELCA pushing out of our church?“ Liberal pastors immediately said “Our LGBT brothers and sisters” (that was back when you could say “brothers and sisters“, which is now too binary, Elizabeth Eaton talks about “our LGBT siblings“). I got to the microphone and said “No, the people being pushed out of this denomination are Bible-believing Christians who desire to follow the Word of God.” That was true back then. It is tragically much more true today. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock
This is the final day of our Fall Fundraiser. Exposing the ELCA needs your support in order to faithfully fight the battle for truth. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has almost unlimited resources, power and people to spew their false teachings. The Devil is the father of lies and He introduced lies into his representation of the words of God. They ELCA does the same.
People in our nation and around the world need to know they can not trust the ELCA. The ELCA purports to be Christian but they are not. They are teaching and leading people away from the truth of God's Word and it is having eternal consequences.
Below we are going to explain the work we are doing to help save people from the clutches of the ELCA, but first, would you give to the work God is doing through Exposing the ELCA? The goal is $15,000 for this fall and we are woefully short of that. If you have the means, could you make a gift of $10,000 to this ministry? $7500? A few large donations are needed and will go a long way combined with smaller gifts to Exposing the ELCA so we can fight for the souls of people, against this multibillion dollar denomination. You can donate by credit card or Paypal using the link below or the "Donate" button - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/exposingtheelca Checks can be sent to: Exposing the ELCA 1390 Forest LN Marion, IA 52302 What does Exposing the ELCA do? - Our 3 websites and 6 social media accounts: We publicize the false, political, and non Biblical beliefs, teachings, words, actions, and omissions of the ELCA, its leaders, its seminaries, its colleges, is publications, its synods, its churches, and its entities. - Other media outlets: Our reports are utilized in the writing of other media. We also connect with media outlets to inform them of the ELCA related information. This has resulted in hundreds of articles, radio and national television reports. Because of this millions of people have heard about the heretical information of the ELCA. On https://www.exposingtheelca.com/support.html is a list of media quoting myself or this ministry) - Research and monitor: A lot of time is required to investigate, write, and research the ELCA. This ministry has also inspired others to report disturbing findings of the ELCA. - Help people: Exposing the ELCA receives many communications from people concerned about the ELCA, from people wanting to know how to help their congregation leave the ELCA, to those that feel alone in their thoughts about the troubling things they hear and see going on in their church. Exposing the ELCA is a watchman on the wall (Ezekiel 3:17-19) warning people of the dangers of the ELCA. We could use some faithful givers to help this ministry continue the work of God. Thank you! Dan Skogen Three new articles added to our website:
Day 4
The ELCA cares nothing for sharing the Good News of Christ's death and resurrection, the forgiveness of sins for those that believe. With the prevailing belief in universalism in the ELCA, the Good News is not important. Instead they turn to transgender talks in the church, pushing conservative voices out of the denomination, women's marches, gun marches, refugee marches, declaring your pronouns, anti-Israel advocating, abortion love, free sex, pushing leftist beliefs, collecting money, race baiting, making a name for themselves, indoctrinating members and the youth, LGBT everything, destroying faith in God's Word, encouraging and binding people in their sin.
I began this ministry, Exposing the ELCA, in 2009, as a mission of love for those being lied to, whose faith was being destroyed, for those being encouraged to sin and the ELCA’s blessing of sin.
Over the past 13 years Exposing the ELCA has reached many people with over 3.2 million pages viewed, have been quoted on national media, and have heard stories from many who have been helped and blessed by this ministry. I wouldn’t doubt if you know those who after reading some of Exposing the ELCA’s information, left the ELCA and are now part of your church family. The teachings and actions of the ELCA grow colder and bolder in wickedness every year and the need for this ministry is greater than ever. Exposing the ELCA is the primary source in the nation documenting the ELCA's deception, showing people their heresy and disregard and twisting of God's Word. The ELCA would love to see this ministry silenced. They are watching this fundraiser in hopes that it fails. We have a long way to go to meet our goal of $15,000. Is there someone who would give a gift of $10,000? We need your support both large and small, monthly gifts and one-time gifts. Thank you for supporting this ministry! Checks can be sent to: Exposing the ELCA 1390 Forest LN Marion, IA 52302
Here are three newly added ELCA exposing articles:
God has used this to open the eyes of faithful Christians in the ELCA and many are not willing to stay and participate in this evil.
Before we look at some more recent examples of what the ELCA is doing and saying, would you give to the ministry of Exposing the ELCA so we can continue to provide evidence of the ELCA's departure from Truth, God's Word and the Good News of Jesus? Checks can be sent to: Exposing the ELCA 1390 Forest LN Marion, IA 52302 Below are articles detailing what the ELCA has been doing, teaching and advocating for over the last few years: More Universalism from the ELCA
One person stood by Exposing the ELCA yesterday with a gift to continue to pull people from the fire of hell that awaits those who listen to so many of these false teachers.
We are a long way from the meager goal of $15,000 this ministry needs to continue this good work that God called us to do.
I am praying for God's will to be done. Pray with us if you will.
Checks can be sent to:
Exposing the ELCA 1390 Forest LN Marion, IA 52302 Three ELCA exposing articles: 
Exposing the ELCA's calling is to shine light on the ELCA's departure from God and Scripture. Why? Because leading people away from God's Word has devastating and eternal consequences for people. In order to do that we are having a 5-day Fall Fundraiser.
Would you help us continue this vital work? Exposing the ELCA provides daily highlights of the actions and false teachings of the $2 -billion dollar, 3 million member and 10,000+ liberal pastor-woke army of the ELCA. This is an effort to help people know the truth and not be directed down the path of spiritual destruction. With God on our side, we are winning the battle. God's Word tells us to "contend earnestly for the faith." (Jude 1:3) Exposing the ELCA reports on how the ELCA has departed from the Christian faith and we have seen hundreds of thousands leave the ELCA because of it. If you are a Lutheran you likely know someone who has left the ELCA and there is a good likelihood God used the work of Exposing the ELCA to help facilitate that move. After twelve years of predominantly voluntary ministry work at Exposing the ELCA, we must now ask those who believe in this ministry to help provide for the costs and labor to keep this running. We are aiming to raise $15,000 this fall, and we are having a special push to get there in the next 5 days. Can you help with a large or small, one-time or monthly gift to this important work that has life-saving results? We are also calling on thousands of churches that have benefited from the work of Exposing the ELCA to help. The LCMC, LCMS, and NALC are three of the many denominations or associations that have made huge gains in membership and offerings because of this ministry. ExposingtheELCA.com has garnered over 3.2 million page views since it began, inspired hundreds of news reports about the ELCA, and witnessed over 1 million people leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. And yet there is so much more for us to do. So many more need the resources we provide.
Three ELCA exposing articles:
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
The liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has just concluded its national assembly. At the assembly, smoke was dispersed to cleanse from evil spirits and negative energy according to the Native American ceremony called smudging. No, ELCA, evil spirits are not driven out by smoke but only by the name of Jesus Christ. If you tap on the second link below, you can watch pagan smudging going on during an ELCA worship service. Also, the ELCA took up the issue of "bound conscience". Back in 2009 when the ELCA voted to ordain practicing homosexuals, conservatives were assured that their "bound conscience" against homosexual behavior would be allowed in the ELCA. But now, some want that reconsidered so that LGBT people will feel more welcomed in the ELCA. The ELCA already has two practicing homosexual bishops and a while ago elected the world's first transgender bishop. But that is not welcoming enough, some say, and they want the "bound conscience" language to be reconsidered. Kevin Strickland, an ELCA homosexual bishop with a "husband", took to the microphone to share his angst that someone refused to receive holy communion from him because the person objected to the bishop's homosexual behavior. The bishop said that he is tired of having his "personhood" challenged. He wants the church to "reconsider the church's current concept of bound conscience" because the ELCA should be a place where all are welcomed and loved, not condemned. I personally have struggled with homosexual temptation most of my life but for the sake or Christ and my soul, I abstain from this behavior (see "My struggle with same sex attraction" at pastorsstudy.org). I would say to the ELCA's homosexual bishops that no one is challenging their personhood. People are challenging homosexual behavior which the Bible condemns and in which the bishops engage. It is out of love that we tell people to turn from sin since sin dishonors God and hurts us. Indeed, it is very unloving to condone a sin which can eternally separate people from the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-11). So now the ELCA has reached the point where it will examine whether to even allow the traditional, biblical view of homosexuality in its ranks. Indeed, the ELCA's national magazine already bans the conservative viewpoint in its pages. Given the ECLA's syncretism with pagan practices and its affirmation of homosexuality and transgenderism, it is long past time for Bible-believing Christians to leave this denomination. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (To see Bishop Strickland's convention remarks, tap on second link below). Smudging at the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly https://www.facebook.com/100075432623373/videos/839357237232129/ Last week the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America held it's Churchwide Assembly. The assembly brought ELCA leadership from across the nation together. A social media post that includes a picture shows one unofficial gathering that took place (see below) and it includes a comment saying "@ELCA how many rostered ministers you think we can get in a gay bar? #elcacwa #cwa2022". The picture posted below shows ELCA Synod bishop Kevin Strickland, ELCA seminary president (United Lutheran Seminary) R. Guy Erwin, along with apparently many other ELCA ministers. The person in the front row with red hair and in blue is unknown.  (or see here) The person who wrote the social media post was apparently under 18 years old in April of 2021 according to an ELCA biological information for nominees form this person filled out. (The ELCA form is posted on an ELCA run website but I am not posting a link because it contains personal information). The ELCA official Twitter account shows its approval by retweeting the post/picture and saying "Having an awesome time in #Columbus for #ELCAcwa!" (See below) 
The 2022 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Churchwide Assembly is happening this week.
The unbiblical native American practice of "smudging" was one of the events taking place in the large gathering that included all of the ELCA leadership. "Smudging is a Native American ritual that links smoke with spirituality... This is a common ceremonial ritual among indigenous people, held closely within these cultures to purify, spiritually cleanse, rid physical spaces of negative energy, and bless." "Smudging is the bridge between mortal life and higher realms, bringing in good spirits and eliminating any negative, stagnant ones. This ceremony lifts away any sadness, impurities, anxieties, and remediates poor health, leaving nothing but peace and harmony for both individuals and the environment after the cleansing." (Read here) In the comment section of this post by the East Central Synod of Wisconsin are additional pictures and another video. (See here) ELCA Lutherans to incorporate Native American worship and praying "to the four directions"8/6/2022 (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
The increasingly heretical Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will meet in assembly August 8-12 in Columbus, Ohio. The ELCA will denounce "the doctrine of discovery" (Christopher Columbus). Head Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will open the assembly acknowledging their meeting is taking place on the ancestral homelands of the Shawnee, Miami, and Kaskaskia peoples. The worship service will "include a prayer to the four directions, which will incorporate a gathering of waters from the four directions within the territory of the ELCA, and a time of repentance as called for in the Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery." (see here) Years ago when I was still a pastor in the ELCA, I went to one of our conventions where we turned to the north, south, east, and west in order to pattern our prayers after Native American spirituality. I got to the microphone and said "I am German, my ancestors worshiped Thor and Odin. Are we going to incorporate Thor worship at our next convention?" When I returned home, I told that story to my congregation and a Native American woman with tears in her eyes said "They're trying to take us back to what Jesus saved me from." This is called syncretism, when people mix various gods and religions together. It is what got the ancient Jews in trouble when they tried to mix Baal worship with the worship of Jehovah. Please take a moment to pray for the ELCA and its upcoming assembly. Pray that the ELCA will remember the First Commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods. In Christ, Pastor Tom Brock "Goodness and Mercy can be the names of God's righteous lesbian angels, mercilessly (and consensually) flirting with you your whole life. If you like that sort of thing. Ruthless and sacred pursuit from lesbian angels." A pastor in synod leadership in the ELCA, Lura Groen, wrote that on her Facebook page. (see below) Anything seems to go in the ELCA, from polyamory, to goddess worship, to sexual thoughts about angels and so much more. The ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a denomination that has twisted the Bible for years. Satan is the biggest perpetrator of twisting the words of God and it looks like Satan is active and in many ways controlling this denomination.  2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly happens in a couple weeks. On the docket:
"Proposals (known as memorials) from the ELCA's 65 synods that address social justice issues and matters relating to the structure of the ELCA, including greenhouse gas reduction; gun violence; LGBTQIA+ welcome; pastoral counseling as a result of changes to Roe v. Wade; the land back movement; ELCA governance restructure; specialized ministries and on leave from call status; and review and revision of the ELCA social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust, adopted by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly." ttps://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/8163
Below is a small sample of gay pride messages from and actions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
From an ELCA seminary, United Lutheran: 
Here the ELCA headquarters and the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA tell us they "celebrate LGBTQIA+ siblings":
And:
This is from Patricia Davenport, the bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (SEPA), ELCA:
The ELCA's NC Synod and their bishop posted the following:
(Source here)
Stacie R. Fidlar, bishop-elect of ELCA Northern Illinois Synod:
See here.
The ELCA's Virginia Synod is prideful: 
The Bishop of the ELCA's Northwest Washington Synod, Shelley Bryan Wee, posted this and wrote "Jesus...celebrates all people!":
See here.
Posted June 21 by the ELCA bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod:
Newberry College is an school of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
South Dakota Synod Bishop Constanze Hagmaier is below and the link takes you to a statement that ends with a pray that in part says, “‘How long, O Lord,’ must we continue to raise our voices in the church in order that our queer identities may be seen and celebrated as a part of your very good creation? I pray to you that your church may open its doors and extend extravagant invitations to all LGBTQIA+2S siblings, pastors, deacons, and ministers, yet I continue to lament the pain this church has caused to anyone who has come out, anyone who has questioned their identity, or to anyone who has boldly lived out loud their queer identity only to be turned away."
From Paul Erickson, bishop of the ELCA's Greater Milwaukee Synod:
Also see here.
Two from the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA:
This is from the ELCA's Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (SEPA): 
The ELCA is a partner of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and has a page on their website on LIRS: From the East Central Synod of Wisconsin - ELCA they pray "Lord God, in great diversity you created human beings in your image. We give you thanks for those whose gender identity bears witness to the creativity, love, and diversity of all you have made." See more below: 
Also see here.
Then there is this from an Iowa City, ELCA church: 
See more from them here.
|
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.
Give online by clicking the "donate" button below: Categories
All
Archives
October 2022
 Exposing the ELCA is on Facebook 
Follow Exposing the ELCA on Twitter
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Ephesians 5:11
|
RSS Feed