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This is for those who are struggling with the ELCA’s actions and rejection of God’s word, for those that are taking a stand for truth in the face of opposition, for those who are afraid and feel alone, for those who have placed allegiance to God above friends, family and denomination, and this is for the people of Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, who are facing a lawsuit by those who support the ELCA. You Never Let Go by Matt Redman Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Your perfect love is casting out fear And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life I won't turn back I know you are near And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear? (Chorus) Oh no, You never let go Through the calm and through the storm Oh no, You never let go In every high and every low Oh no, You never let go Lord, You never let go of me And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on A glorious light beyond all compare And there will be an end to these troubles But until that day comes We'll live to know You here on the earth (Chorus) Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on And there will be an end to these troubles But until that day comes Still I will praise You, still I will praise You (Chorus 2x's) © 2006 Sparrow
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_The ELCA leadership is notorious for questioning scripture. They love to introduce doubt into lay persons’ and seminary students’ minds. Doubt about the truth of scripture. They did this when the ELCA website openly questioned the virgin birth. (read here) Similarly, they encourage questioning key areas of orthodoxy in regard to sin, salvation, creation, hell, factual events in scripture and the inerrancy of scripture, to name a few. (just look around this website) Consider the following as further shocking evidence of one key ELCA leader’s thoughts in regard to hell. (also notice the tone of universalism in what he says)
Bishop Peter Rogness of the Saint Paul Area Synod had this to say: “I’ve never been much concerned about hell, I guess.” “I think the ministries that emphasize the reality of hell are also prone to a heavy dose of self-righteousness. . .” “While the Bible has several intriguing (and varying) references to hell, clearly the God we meet in Jesus Christ is a God who meets us in love and grace and forgiveness and acceptance . . .” Please go back and read your Bible a little more diligently, Bishop Rogness. Jesus spoke about hell more than anyone else in scripture. If hell is an important enough topic for our Lord and Savior to warn people about, maybe you should too. Bishop Rogness also said, “I think we have to conclude that whether there is a hell or not is ultimately not going to make or break our faith.” (see here) This is a perfect example of the ELCA leadership’s view of scripture. If there is something in scripture that the "intellectual" elites do not like, they question it or discard it. Bishop Rogness, the book of Revelation has a lot to say about the realities of hell. Revelation also says, “And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” - Revelation 22:19
As the saying goes, “Show me your friends, and I’ll tell you who you are.” Who are the bedfellows of the ELCA? In a past blog, Exposing the ELCA revealed the close ties and similar ideologies the ELCA has with the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. (read here)
Now we find that the ELCA is also very close with an organization called the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). Here is some information about the ISNA:
So with that information about the ISNA and the Muslim Brotherhood, let's look at the relationship the ELCA has with the ISNA:
And,
The ELCA leadership is working with and partnering with the ISNA, an organization that is said to have very close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. If this doesn't make ELCA members question what kind of denomination they are members of, I don't know what will. This summer “Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Mark S. Hanson will deliver the keynote address” to a conference held by a homosexual advocacy organization, Lutherans Concerned / North America. (see here)
Lutherans Concerned / North America works for the “acceptance and full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities within the Lutheran communion and its ecumenical and global partners” (see here). Some of Lutherans Concerned / North America's “Declaration of Principles” are: “encourage and nurture all who are coming out” “acts assertively in the face of oppression” “seeks the guidance of the Holy Spirit to integrate and express our spiritual and sexual selves” (see here) “This is the first time a presiding bishop of any denomination has delivered the keynote address at our assembly.” (see here) One would think, with the financial struggles the ELCA is having, that they would at least try to be wise with the gifts and tithes to God that they receive from people. However, much like the United States government, they love to spend on their agenda.
For example, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America wants you to come to “Ecumenical Advocacy Days.” (March 23-26) At this gathering you "will explore economy, livelihoods, and our national priorities . . . hear from theologians and policy experts, equip ourselves to speak confidently on key policy issues, and take our message to our elected officials in Congress." But wait, is "(m)oney tight? We understand, and to help more people attend EAD, the ELCA is providing scholarships." (read here) "ELCA scholarships for Ecumenical Advocacy Days cover the conference registration fee, hotel costs, and travel expenses to Washington D.C. (either flight or mileage reimbursement)." (read here) Isn’t that nice? Your tithe is going to train people to be lobbyists and political activists, and you can be sure the training will be centered around the ELCA’s political priorities. That’s not all. You know the money you sent to ELCA World Hunger? It is being used to send lobbyists to the Iowa State capital. Called "Lutheran Day on the Hill," "passionate advocates" will be going to lobby state legislators. "This opportunity is offered at no cost to attendees." Lunch is provided and you also get a t-shirt. "This event has been made possible through a grant from ELCA World Hunger. We are proud to be a partner in Lutheran Day on the Hill with the three Iowa Synods of the ELCA." (read here) And lastly, another example of how our denomination is quick to spend God’s money on their ideology. "Lutheran School of Theology Chicago Offers LC/NA Course Free For CEU's." This ELCA seminary is offering free Continuing Education Units for a course called "Transformation + Action = Oxygen." The course "is designed to empower, equip, inspire, and activate participants to have life-giving, well-timed, appropriately-framed conversations with their congregants regarding the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities." (read here) This course comes from Lutherans Concerned / North America, whose purpose is "to unite gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their supporters within the Lutheran churches." (read here) And it’s free at this ELCA seminary! I came across “this gem” by way of facebook. Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), an ELCA school, posted a video titled “S**t Seminarians Say” (the curse words were edited by Exposing the ELCA) on their facebook page. (see PLTS’s page here)
Let me be clear, this is on the seminary’s official facebook page, not a PLTS student’s page. If you watch the video your treated to an individual use the “F” word. The exact phrase is "I ****in' love kale." (see video here) The video was an attempt at humor, and I am sure many will find it humorous. I just don’t know why one of our ELCA seminaries, whose job it is to instruct the future leaders of our denomination, would post a video that contains this kind of language. The video is the work of theradicalspirit.org. The website claims to be “an online journal of Unitarian Univeralist hope.” And for those of you that may think I am nitpicking here, please consider the following Scripture: Ephesians 5:4 - Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Matthew 15:10-11 - And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Colossians 3:8 - But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. James 3:10 - From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. In February there will be an election for bishop of the ELCA’s Minneapolis Area Synod. One of the 18 pastors nominated for the position is Rev. Mary Albing. If she were to be elected, it would be a huge slap in the face to God, Scripture, orthodox Lutherans and Christians everywhere.
Why do I say that? “(Rev.) Albing became eligible to serve as a rostered leader in the synod by virtue of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly vote allowing gay or lesbian pastors to be in same-gendered, life-long, monogamous relationships.” (see here) An article from Minnesota Public Radio states, “Mary Albing is a ‘very out’ lesbian pastor at Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer in Minneapolis, Minnesota—and has been an influential voice for change in the church.” (see here) So will the ELCA elect a practicing homosexual to be the next bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod? It would not surprise me. We’ll just have to wait and see. ------- Rev. Albing also has troubling views of the authority of Scripture, theology, science and the church's role. Speaking about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s vote on homosexuality, the Minnesota Public Radio article reports “(S)he says those who opposed the vote on biblical grounds let their ‘biases color their theology.’” "Lutheran theology has traditionally not only used the Bible, but our experience and reason to help us make theological and ethical decisions. Common sense and hard and soft sciences all tell us that gay people are just created the way they are and that our business as the church is to help them as they try to have lasting and meaningful relationships and live out their vocations in the world," says Rev. Albing. (read here) This is being promoted in the Saint Paul Area Synod newsletter -
“. . .Lutherans Concerned/Twin Cities (LC/TC) holds its seventh annual Reconciling in Christ (RIC) festival worship as part of the national celebration of welcoming churches, recognizing faith communities that bear a public witness to God’s love for persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities.” (see here) I wonder if the ELCA posts Lutheran CORE gatherings in their publications. ------ From this month’s The Lutheran: “Heard a report from ELCA Secretary David Swartling that included the ELCA's current number of congregations (9,995) and baptized membership (4.2 million).” (see here) The total given for baptized membership is, in all likelihood, high because many churches do not update their membership rolls very often. ------ For those wondering how much money the ELCA spent on the sexuality studies, a statement from 2002 says the ELCA “approved $1.15 million to fund the six-year project.” (see here) From what I have read, it seems that the $1.15 million does not include the salary for ELCA staff who worked on the project. ------ The ELCA official website claims this about their “Peace Not Walls” blog: “The Peace Not Walls blog is meant to show the breadth of views and opinions surrounding the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.” (see here) That's Hogwash! I have not seen a blog from this website that represents the prevailing Israeli viewpoint. What this blog does do is promote the ELCA leadership’s anti-Israel world view. Just look at the above statement calling the land “occupied.” It is an anti-Israeli narrative and very bias. Do not be fooled by the ELCA claims. Exposing the ELCA asked it’s readers:
Should the ELCA continue to use member tithes and gifts to fund their advocacy department and to promote their political positions? 40 people voted “Yes” (15.38%) 220 people voted “No” (84.62%) Total Votes: 260 There is now a new poll on the homepage. It has been a busy 2011 for Exposing the ELCA. A year of ministry, writing, researching, emailing, replying, designing and informing. It has been a year of exposing darkness, encouraging conversations and correspondence. It has been a year of persecution by the enemy for standing up for Christ. Here are some of the most important happenings in Exposing the ELCA in 2011:
  
God bless you and happy new year! Dan Skogen |
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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