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The Bible is God’s Word. It is true, it is right, it is accurate, it is without error, it is God-breathed. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a denomination that constantly denies Scripture, throwing its truth out the window in favor of their own thoughts, beliefs and feelings.
God’s Word tells us that Christ "'himself bore our sins' in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 'by his wounds you have been healed'" (1 Peter 2:24, NIV). This idea is found throughout the Bible in such places like Isaiah 53:5, 1 Corinthians 15:3, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 9:28 and Romans 4:25. So what do we find being taught by an ELCA seminary president? “(T)he cross is not about punishment for sin either. Not for Jesus’ sin, certainly, but also not for ours.” So says David Lose, President of Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. David Lose, who previously was a professor at the ELCA’s Luther Seminary goes on to say: “That is, of course, a tradition interpretation of the cross: that because God is just, God has to punish sin, and because God is loving, God beats up on Jesus instead of us. But I have a hunch that this understanding of the cross says more about our inadequate understanding of justice than it says about God. In contrast to this theory, I’d suggest that the cross is not about punishment but is instead about identification, solidarity, and love.” (read here) This is against the witness of Scripture. And please take note who seminary president David Lose is addressing as he writes. He begins his blog with “Dear Working Preacher,” Later saying, “Dear Partner, what might we say to people this Sunday?” And, “That’s what we can tell our people, Dear Partner, and this, at last, is all promise. Thanks for sounding that message.” President Lose is instructing pastors into this teaching and telling them to preach accordingly, indoctrinating the people in their congregations. That is scary. He is teaching something against God’s Word, to ELCA pastors who will take that false-teaching to the pulpit. Is there any wonder why so many Bible-believing Christians are calling on ELCA members to leave the denomination? A couple of people challenged Lose in the comments section of this article saying, “’The cross is not about punishment.’ Really? Then what of ‘sacrifice,’ ‘scapegoat,’ ‘passover lamb,’ and ‘without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness’?” And, “…biblical writers’ clear use of the model of the sacrifice of lambs (John 1:29; Hebrews 9, etc.). Paul employs often the substitution concept, to stand in our place under the law, to take the punishment we deserve (Galatians 4:4, Romans 3:21-26), and of course the familiar “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Christ came to take our place, to take unto himself our guilt, sin, and death, to give his li(f)e as a ransom (Mark 10).” Because of those comments, Lose wrote another article where he says, “I found our exchange in the comments last week kind of fascinating. You probably don’t read the comments, so I’ll recap briefly. The exchange centered on how we understand the cross and was prompted by a statement I made that ‘the cross is not about punishment for sin.’ Several folks questioned that, referencing Anselm’s substitutionary theory of atonement and the attendant Scriptural passages associated with it…Anselm’s view – echoed later by Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, and Reformed theologians in North America – is one of the primary ways the Church, particularly in the West, has understood the cross and, indeed, is perhaps the dominant view today. And yet all that notwithstanding, I have to say I find it utterly unconvincing and, indeed, rather off-putting and out of character with the God I know in Jesus.” (read here) The most popular and beloved liberal ELCA pastor, Nadia Bolz-Weber has a similar belief saying, “And just to be clear: The cross is not about God as divine child abuser sadly sending his little boy off to be killed because we were bad and well, somebody had to pay." (read here) ELCA leaders continually walk in opposition to God’s Word. Find out more about substitutionary atonement and why it is Biblically correct here.
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Johnny Cash, Good Friday, the Resurrection and Redemption. What can be better? (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)
ReconcilingWorks, the group that advocates for homosexuality in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is pleased that the newsletter "ELCA Worship News" has announced this (quoting ReconcilingWorks' website here): "The ELCA's Executive for Worship, the Rev. Kevin Strickland, is developing liturgical resources appropriate for same-gender couples to use within the marriage service of Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). It’s anticipated that these resources will be available online later this year. ReconcilingWorks will share the link to these resources as soon as they become available." This is a tragic betrayal by the ELCA of the God-ordained institution of marriage. Pastor Tom Brock Pastorsstudy.org (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)
James Hazelwood is bishop of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He recently wrote in his blog…: “… (Earlier in life)…I took time to study the various biblical passages that had typically been used to support a case against homosexuality. What I found were a few passages in Leviticus and a passage in Romans. I did some reading and research, and I’ll admit it was not a thorough dive into all the scripture, but it was enough to give me a solid perspective.” My response: When we look at all of the relevant verses on homosexuality. When we do that we discover that every mention of homosexuality is negative. There is not one positive passage on homosexuality in the Bible. I encourage people to go to pastorsstudy.org and read my article “What Does the Bible Teach About Homosexuality?” which goes through all ten Scripture passages. The Bishop continues: “ There were a range of responses from those who held up these passages as clear evidence of God’s condemnation of homosexuality. There were also clear bodies of scholarly work that pointed out these passages were not to be understood as legislative rulings…. I concluded that while there are passages in the Bible that speak to this matter, there were also passages in those same parts of the scriptures that we choose to ignore. For instance, it’s clear that the Biblical concept of Jubilee, in which all debts were wiped clean was never practiced in ancient times, and certainly we don’t practice that today.” My response: Some of the Old Testament laws were given to the Jews only. Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial and dietary laws God gave to the Jews and we are no longer bound to keep them. We don’t need to kill lambs when we sin (the book of Hebrews), and we can eat pork (Mark 7:19). The Jubilee was not given to New Testament Christians. However, the moral law of the Old Testament stands. For instance, in addition to homosexuality, Leviticus also forbids rape, incest and beastiality (Leviticus 18). Are we free to embrace these behaviors? The Bishop writes: “In addition, our understanding of human sexuality has evolved over time.” My response: It appears the Bishop is teaching that if you hold a liberal view of homosexuality, you have “evolved.” Martin Luther called homosexual behavior “an invention of the devil.” Gratefully, Luther and virtually all Christians for 2000 years have not “evolved” on this issue. They have held to the truth of Scripture. Lastly the Bishop writes: “ … I want to emphasize this point. THESE ARE GIFTED PEOPLE AND GIFTED PASTORS. In many cases the congregations they serve are thriving. They are thriving because they are being served by gifted people, who happen to be gay.” My response: If these pastors are living a life of impenitent sin, engaging in homosexual behavior, they are not going to heaven (I Corinthians 6:9-11). Are these “gifted people” who should be preaching to others? One last thought: I have personally struggled with same sex attraction most of my life. But—for the sake of Christ and my eternal soul—I say “No” to these temptations (see “My struggle with same sex attraction” at pastorsstudy.org). It grieves me that liberal bishops and pastors are telling people to go ahead and engage in a behavior that is destructive in this life and the next. May the Lord have mercy on His Church. And may the above be another example of why people should leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA and the Disciples of Christ—all churches which have “evolved” into approving a behavior which God condemns. In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org (here is a link to the ELCA bishop's blog) Whether you like Donald Trump or not, the statements and planned actions of Timothy Marcus Smith, Bishop of North Carolina Synod, ELCA are disgraceful. He is rallying people and going to a planned speaking engagement to protest against Donald Trump. It will be at Lenoir-Rhyne University, an ELCA school that has invited Mr. Trump to speak. Here is a part of what the bishop said last Friday: "My position: This candidate, in my opinion not only as a private citizen but as a bishop in this Church, is a farce, an embarrassment, and a danger to nearly everything I hold dear. That he this late in the game is still leading one of our major political parties with his rhetoric fueled by fear and anger is diametrically opposed to any reckoning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I can imagine. Even leading 'Evangelicals' have said as much. My plan: Assuming he indeed shows up, I plan to be there, clerical collar and bishop's cross on, to protest NOT the fact that he's there but his platform that would deny refugees access, that would invoke violence at every turn, and that would stir up bigotry and hatred. I could go on, but you get the point. I would be deeply honored to be the one escorted out or even punched out as the heckler that Trump so condescendingly points out at each rally. But I won't try to drive out hate with more hate and anger. I will stand there, pray, sing, march, chant, wave signs, whatever I need to do and with whatever consequence to say, 'This is not who we are, America. This is not who we are, North Carolina. This is not who we are, Church.' And I hope the reporters and the cameras are there, and I hope they might care what I/we have to say in the name of Jesus." (see here or the screenshots below) ELCA bishop Timothy Marcus Smith has asked for others to join him and from the looks of the comments he is getting on Facebook, there will be a bunch of ELCA pastors and members doing just that. The bishop's Facebook post has garnered nearly 900 "likes." The bishop's statement is another example of the typical rhetoric of the ELCA and liberals --to brand anyone who disagrees with them on certain policies a "hater" or "racist." They have done so to Bible-believing Lutherans for at least the last 6 years. And is trying to silence someone and disrupt someone's speech really a Godly action? The ELCA is controlled by radical liberals who support their political causes while twisting Scripture to make it sound like they are on Christ's side. Name me one ELCA bishop that has gone to Washington D.C. to March for Life? Or how about an ELCA bishop protesting politicians who advocate killing of unborn children? That is a cause worth standing up for! But there are none. --- Update: Bishop Smith is now saying "After consultation with many, many people, I am for sure not going into the auditorium..." but he and those with him will be getting "as close to PE Monroe (the auditorium where Trump will speak) as the police and Secret Service will let us get." (see here)   A Facebook group for pastors in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is currently conducting a “people of color-only post experiment…” What does that mean? Francisco Herrera, who is part of the 6,000 member ELCA Clergy page explains the one week experiment this way, “White members of the page are not allowed to comment nor post…” (quotes come from a closed group FB page here and here. Or see the screenshot below for the second quote) Isn't denying all white people from posting because they are white, racist? This is a great example of the liberal, foolish antics happening constantly on the ELCA Clergy page. Toss in the anti-Biblical beliefs and rhetoric found there and you have a perfect picture of what the ELCA is about. Here is what one of the few conservative ELCA pastors left in the denomination had to say about the ELCA Clergy FB page: “I finally got fed up with all the silly and self-righteous posturing and unfollowed the ‘other’ group. Every time I checked in my relationship with the ELCA became more tenuous. That group is Exhibit A of why folks continue to leave the ELCA in droves, and they don't get it. They think we are all just a bunch of terrible racists, even though NALC and LCMC treat people in minority groups with far more respect than the ELCA.”  (The following two articles were written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)
Today ELCA Lutherans pray for manatees and sea turtles, not the lost We have noted in a number of postings how the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America--the large, liberal branch of Lutheranism in the United States--very regularly prays for saving the environment in its weekly "Prayers of the Church". I am still waiting for ONE prayer that asks God to bring lost PEOPLE to saving faith in Christ. Today, the Augsburg/Fortress ELCA prayers included prayer "For polluted oceans and rivers, we seek your healing...Restore the homes of manatees and sea turtles. Teach us to love the earth as you do." I don't know of a verse in the Bible that talks about God's love for manatees and sea turtles, but there are many verses that talk about God's love for lost human beings. What is going on? My guess is that the person(s) responsible for writing the ELCA prayers is highly interested in saving the environment but has little zeal that lost people to come to saving faith in Christ. The heresy of universalism teaches that all people will be saved, regardless of whether they believe in Jesus or not. John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 16:31 and numerous other verses teach otherwise. But universalism has invaded ELCA seminaries and is taught in the ELCA's official magazine The Lutheran. This, even though the ELCA's official founding documents teach that we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. As long as more prayers are made for the environment than for the lost, it indicates that one thing is officially professed, but something quite different is being lived out in the ELCA. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org And, Hijacking the Lutheran Reformation for “Eco-justice” In the year 2017 Lutherans will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s rediscovery of the Bible’s teaching that we are saved by grace alone through Christ alone. Some liberal church leaders don’t like to talk about saving people from Hell and such. Instead, they would rather talk about saving the planet. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has a publication called “Seeds for the Parish.” Some of us years ago referred to it as “Weeds for the Parish” because of its liberal slant. Here is an excerpt from its most recent edition: What is your congregation doing to prepare for the 2017 observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation? There are many activities and resources being prepared across the church. Included in these efforts is a group of ELCA pastors, teachers and laity that have formed the Eco-Justice Reformation 2017 Working Group. The group grew out of a conviction that the continuous reformation of the church leads its members to address the ecological crises facing humanity and the Earth. Of course, nothing is wrong with being good stewards of the environment. What is wrong is that one rarely hears about Jesus saving PEOPLE from eternal hell in ELCA publications. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)
Brenda Smith, program director for faith practices and missional development of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is quoted in the recent ELCA's magazine The Lutheran: "Congregations would be smart to embrace the cultural norms of 2016, including the needs of young people and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, the use of technology, people’s busy schedules and the fact that the church isn't the center of life anymore". That is precisely what is wrong with liberal, mainline denominations. They have ditched the Scriptures and have embraced today's cultural norms. That is why we have mainline denominations supporting abortion, homosexual behavior, universalism, syncretism, yoga, and other trends in our culture. These denominations need to hear and obey the clear admonition of the Apostle Paul: "Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock |
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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