You may like Glenn Beck or you may not, but he hits the nail on the head in this video segment. Please check it out and forward the video on to all your friends; the ELCA is part of the problem of which he speaks. It gives me no pleasure to say, but the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has taken the side of those that are against truth and against Israel. The ELCA has chosen the path of hate. They are part of this evil that Mr. Beck so clearly points out.
The ELCA has sided against Israel continually (see here). Our denomination is actively seeking a boycott of Israeli goods and of USA companies which do business with Israel. (see here) One of the leading theologians in the Lutheran church, Carl Braaten said the ELCA is anti-Semitic. (read here) The ELCA calls Israel “occupiers.” They use all kinds of bias rhetoric against Israel. The ELCA condemns Israel at every turn, yet they say nothing about the atrocities committed against the Jews. The ELCA website even says that Christians who support Israel are following heresy and these Christians “are actually anti-Semitic.” (see here) David Housholder, former ELCA pastor and current blogger on an official ELCA website, just recently wrote questioning whether the people in Israel are really Biblical Jews. Later he says “(t)he Bible is ambiguous as to whether Israel is a physical or a spiritual nation.” (see here and here) So why is our denomination taking the opinions and talking points put out by anti-Semitic terrorists as its own? The ELCA is taking it in and regurgitating this anti-Semitic propaganda. Its wrong! Stand up to it, denounce it and reject it. In a time when hate towards Israel grows every day, we need to stand for the truth. I agree with Mr. Beck. I will stand with Israel.
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Yes, the ELCA affiliated Wartburg college in Waverly, Iowa is at it again. The 6th Annual Drag Show will be held on Saturday, March 26 Neumann Auditorium. (see here) "This year's theme is 'We Are Who We Are', celebrating everyone being themselves and enjoying life to the fullest!"
Exposing the ELCA reported on the Wartburg's drag show last year. (read here) Would Jesus participate as an observer or performer at a drag show? Never. So why are we contributing to a college that endorses such behavior? Universalism is a teaching that is widely held in the ELCA. (see here) It is very apparent to anyone who isn’t blindly loyal to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (Richfield, WI) is in the process of voting to leave the ELCA. I would like to direct you to a document they produced in which they answered this question, “Has the ELCA really changed the basic message of the Christian faith?” Here is Shepherd of the Hills Church's answer: “While the official teaching of the ELCA is sound, the actual teaching seen in our seminaries, church publications, and pronouncements by pastors and leaders is often very different. Gradually, the ELCA has de‐emphasized the basic message of sin, repentance, faith, and salvation through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, and on Easter, victory over Satan and death (2nd Timothy 1:10). In its place, we read and hear several alternative messages. One popular ELCA message is the gospel of affirmation. This teaching suggests that the good news is that God loves and affirms everyone, regardless of their faith, life style choices, etc. There never is a need for real repentance because God is never angry with us. Another misleading teaching common in ELCA sources says that Jesus hgives us the example, and the Holy Spirit gives us the power, to build the Kingdom of God on earth ‐ ‐ by fighting hunger and poverty, promoting peace, fighting racism, sexism, hetero‐sexism, and other oppressions, and building brotherhood and sisterhood on earth by honoring all sincere faiths as paths to God. The ELCA has lost focus on our five‐hundred year old Law/Gospel balance by over‐focusing on the Gospel (Saved by Grace ‐ Eph. 2:8) at the expense of the Law (The 10 Commandments). The classic view is that the Law convicts us of our sin and the Gospel is the good news that God saves us from the punishment we deserve by the sacrificial death of Christ. Grace is defined as “undeserved love.” Today grace is being redefined to say that God is always affirming us, and nothing else. This distorts a biblical understanding of love, where love includes the “tough love” that prunes our rebellious hearts into greater Christ‐likeness. We find evidence for this in the fact that most ELCA produced Sunday school curriculum, catechism materials, adult bible studies, the Lutheran magazine, ELCA website, etc., fail to plainly explain that we are sinners, doomed to death, unless we receive Christ with faith. This shows us that the working theology of the ELCA is universalism – blanket salvation for everyone, regardless of whether they know Christ.” (See here) Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church will be taking their second vote on leaving the ELCA June 2011. Exposing the ELCA asked its readers to finish this statement:
"My pastor stands with -" "the ELCA" was chosen by 40.66% of those responding (111 individuals) "Scripture" was chosen by 59.34% of those responding (162 individuals) Total individuals who responded to this poll: 273 The Bible teaches that we need to believe in Christ. John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
The teaching of universalism, in essence, says that everyone will go to heaven no matter what they do, think, believe or worship. This is not Biblical and it is very dangerous. People will go to hell because they believe in universalism and not Christ. Yet here is a Luther Seminary (ELCA) professor arguing the merits of universalism and encouraging the preaching of this heresy. “The Rob Bell Controversy: Does Anyone Go To Hell?“ by David Lose, Director, Center for Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary. (read here) For more information on the ELCA’s support and teaching of universalism/ universal salvation see here. I know most of you are concerned with the direction of the ELCA. You’re upset and scared seeing your denomination leave the authority of scripture to follow their own ways. We all should be. You are witness to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s teachings, which are putting listeners eternal destination at stake; you see the ELCA’s low view of Scripture; your heart aches for the victims of abortion which this denomination supports; you see grave evidence that shows that the ELCA has turned its back on God’s truth and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to inform your fellow congregation members about all these things and more. But please don’t stop there. The ELCA is a denomination of 4.5 million people. They are teaching and preaching a false gospel to anyone who will listen. The ELCA is leading people away from Jesus.
Because of this, I am asking all readers to please write a “letter to the editor” of your local newspaper and to one of your state’s larger newspapers to help inform people, so that they will know the truth. It is out of love that we should let people know what is going on and what is really being taught in the ELCA. God tells us “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11) Expose the ELCA so that people are not deceived. It is the loving thing to do. Let’s do this together. To God be the glory! News coming out of ELCA-affiliated California Lutheran University (CLU) in Thousand Oaks, California: “Cal Lutheran Student Senate Proposes Change to Pro-Christian Constitution.” (read here) Seems that the CLU student senate is proposing to take the phrase, "to further Christian growth" out of their constitution and replace it with the following: "to inspire the maturity of faith and reason in an environment of Lutheran tradition.” The article indicates that the student senate is doing this "in hopes of introducing more inclusive and encompassing language."
The student senate is trying to change the wording of the constitution from something that has a clear Christian emphasis to something much more ambiguous and universal. Why are student leaders at an ELCA supported university attempting to distance themselves from helping to “further Christian growth?” The CLU community should embrace the Christian foundations of the school, or at least pretend to for their Lutheran donors’ sake. The student senate is acting like they are ashamed of being a Christian school. Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:38 The more I read about ELCA colleges, (see here) the more I realize that these institutions have a greater interest in bringing the ways of the world into the schools rather than teaching Christianity and the truth of Scriptures and growing student’s Christian faith, providing a Christian learning environment. Shouldn’t ELCA funded institutions be raising up students with strong Christian faith and values? Equipping and preparing students who are able to apply their Christian faith in their future careers and relationships? Unfortunately, the opposite seems to be the case. I hope the students of CLU reject the proposed change to the constitution. We will see. |
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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