“On Saturday, thousands of women dressed up in vagina costumes and descended upon DC to demand, among other things, free birth control and abortion. They called this the "Women's March," but I think that name is a terrible insult to women. The women closest to me in my life would rather die than put on a vagina hat and march through Washington in support of the mass slaughter of children.” – Matt Walsh (read here)
And that's not all. Check out this article about one of the organizers of the gathering, Women’s March Organizer is a vicious Jew-hater with ties to Islamic Terror (see here) The ELCA had a strong presence at the Women's March. What kind of "Christian" denomination or person would take part in this kind of event? It was a pro-abortion demonstration that also embraced such things as LGBTQ rights, BlackLivesMatter, illegal immigration rights, Palestine and Muslims. And the glue that held it all together was anger against President Trump. As I reported last week Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, was in Washington, D.C. last weekend and was scheduled to take part in some Women's March activity (see here). And of course there were many social media posts by ELCA pastors and members voicing and displaying their support for the march. Here are a few of them. Most of you know the ELCA's favorite pastor and best-selling author Nadia Bolz-Weber. These two posts by Bolz-Weber show you the state of the ELCA. — Nadia Bolz-Weber (@Sarcasticluther) January 21, 2017 From ELCA Rev. Bethany C Hull Somers:
This is a picture of a sign at Luther Place, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America church:
Here is what this ELCA seminarian shared:
ELCA Pastor Nancy Kraft marched:
ELCA pastor Priscilla Austin posted the next two social media posts:
And,
A number of ELCA congregation members from this church marched:
ELCA Rev. Carmine A. Pernini, Zion Lutheran Church, Rahway NJ marched in the march: ELCA Pastor Kathryn Irwin of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Nutley, New Jersey writes on her Facebook page, "Today I marched and rallied in Trenton, alongside a staggering number of New Jerseyans, and in concert with folks around the country and the world." (see here) Pastor Irwin also shared some pictures of the signs they made for the Women's March: For many of you, this is your denomination gladly partaking in this vile, hateful and evil demonstration.
4 Comments
ELCA Presiding Bishop to Participate in the Pro-Abortion Women’s March on Washington Activity1/19/2017
The controversial Women’s March on Washington will take place this weekend, January 21, 2017, one day after the Inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States. As with so many far-left activities, you can find the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s heavy involvement. The ELCA’s Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod publicized a schedule for the week which included a number of Women’s March events along with an announcement saying, “Don’t be surprised if you see the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop, downtown. She is expected to take part in an inauguration prayer service and Women’s March-related activity.” (see here)
So what is this Women’s March on Washington about? Let’s look at a few of the groups stated principles: “REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS We believe in Reproductive Freedom. We do not accept any federal, state or local rollbacks, cuts or restrictions on our ability to access quality reproductive healthcare services, birth control, HIV/AIDS care and prevention, or medically accurate sexuality education. This means open access to safe, legal, affordable abortion and birth control for all people, regardless of income, location or education. LGBTQIA RIGHTS We firmly declare that LGBTQIA Rights are Human Rights and that it is our obligation to uplift, expand and protect the rights of our gay, lesbian, bi, queer, trans or gender non-conforming brothers, sisters and siblings. We must have the power to control our bodies and be free from gender norms, expectations and stereotypes. IMMIGRANT RIGHTS Rooted in the promise of America’s call for huddled masses yearning to breathe free, we believe in immigrant and refugee rights regardless of status or country of origin. We believe migration is a human right and that no human being is illegal.” (see here) Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America are the only two "Premier partners" of the Women’s March on Washington. Linda Sarsour, the national co-chair of the Women's March on Washington explains that a theme of the Women’s March is “Hands off Planned Parenthood and our reproductive rights.” (see here) So check this out. The ELCA presiding bishop, an ELCA synod, at least two ELCA churches and many ELCA members are participating in Women’s March activities where one of its main themes is abortion rights. How wicked!! The highest ELCA leader is participating! And this is from a denomination that is never present at the March for Life, an annual pro-life march in Washington, D.C. Joelle Colville-Hanson, the Director of Evangelical Mission at the ELCA’s Northeastern Iowa Synod is going to the Women’s March. She tweets,
And here Pastor Colville-Hanson retweets a tweet by the President of Planned Parenthood. Earlier this week it was reported that a pro-life feminist group was kicked out of the Women’s March. A statement from the Women’s March said, “The Women’s March platform is pro-choice and that has been our stance from day one.” “We want to assure all of our partners, as well as participants, that we are pro-choice as clearly stated in our Unity Principles. We look forward to marching on behalf of individuals who share the view that women deserve the right to make their own reproductive decisions.” (read here) Cecile Richards, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America president said her organization became involved with the Women's March because the march will “send a strong message to the incoming administration that millions of people across this country are prepared to fight attacks on reproductive healthcare, abortion services and access to Planned Parenthood.” (see here) As I mentioned above, Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America are premier partners of the event. Other partners include: #VOTEPROCHOICE, FREE THE NIPPLE, GLAAD, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), American Atheists, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Southern Poverty Law Center, Students for Choice, Catholics for Choice, The Center For Reproductive Rights, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, CODEPINK, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), National Center for Lesbian Rights and National Organization for Women (NOW). (see here) Popular Christian blogger Matt Walsh writes, “The march will be explicitly pro-abortion, anti-family, anti-Christian, etc. To march along side them is to implicitly endorse the ideas that the march was organized to promote. And those ideas are almost entirely vile and reprehensible.” (see here) And there you have the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Standing up for the killing of unborn children. How any pro-life pastor can stay in the ELCA is beyond me. Once again the ELCA shows its Jew-hate. In August, the ELCA passed two vile anti-Israel, anti-Semitic resolutions. (see here) This time, the ELCA’s hatred for the Jewish nation comes in the form of a completely biased joint letter from the ELCA and other denominations to the major candidates for President of the United States of America. The letter contains lies, fallacies, distortion of the truth and inaccurate situational realities. Here are a number of them: - Calling the situation an Israeli military “occupation” of “East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza…” which is completely false. Israel is not an “occupier.” (see video at the bottom of this blog) - Complaining of “Ongoing settlement expansion…” as if Israel has no right to build in land that they won when they were attacked by Arab countries. - Saying “The blockade of Gaza has led to immense human suffering.” And here the ELCA and other churches are fabricating the “immense human suffering” due to the blockade when the reality is that Israel’s blockade is to prevent weapons and materials, used to harm Israel, to be brought into Gaza. Of course the denominations make no mention of the terrorist leaders of Gaza who are the actual source of “immense human suffering” or that the Palestinians are constantly smuggling weapons and committing violence and terrorism against the Jews. - Then the letter signers say “This status quo is clearly contrary to global security interests, including those of the U.S., and a source of violent extremism throughout the region.” Labeling Israel’s situation as “a source of violent extremism throughout the region” shows their bias because they lay the blame at Israel's feet, as well as justify the Muslim hatred for Jews. Hatred for the Jewish people was in existence, in the Muslim communities which make up most of the region, long before Israel came into being and won additional land in a defensive victory. - They go on, “the daily indignities and stresses of the occupation foster human suffering and have led to emigration from the small but vital Palestinian Christian community.” False again. The Muslim extreme-ism is the cause of the dwindling Palestinian Christian community in Gaza and the West Bank. (see here) - Finally the church leaders say this in their letter, “To ease tensions, we urge you to support people-to-people exchanges and the end of practices under the occupation that result in major human rights abuses, such as home demolitions, systematic land seizures, travel restrictions, the blockade of Gaza, and indefinite administrative detention, including detention of persons under eighteen.” Seriously? The actual situation: the homes being demolished are those of terrorists and those of squatters. The travel restrictions mentioned are a protective measure and would not be implemented if not for the Palestinians constant attacks on Israeli men, women and children. (read letter here) Again, you should notice that this letter only addresses the signer’s grievances against Israel, many of them fabricated. They make no list of grievances perpetrated by the Palestinians. That is par for the course and an obvious sign of the ELCA’s and other participating church’s anti-Semitism.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has long been an enemy of the Jewish State. (see here) Earlier this week, at the ELCA’s Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the United States government to end all aid to Israel until a list of ELCA demands are met. (Note that they did NOT call for the stoppage of U.S. aid to “Palestine” which takes foreign aid money {see here}, intended for humanitarian causes, and uses them for weapons, military terror tunnels, etc., in their quest to kill Jewish men, women and children.)
The ELCA Twitter page announced:
Here is the list of demands the ELCA has for Israel, whereby they say aid from the United States to Israel may be reinstated:
“…To urge this church’s members, congregations, synods agencies and presiding bishop to call on their U.S. Representatives, Senators and the Administration to take action requiring that, to continue receiving U.S. financial and military aid, Israel must comply with internationally recognized human rights standards as specified in existing U.S. law, stop settlement building and the expansion of existing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, end its occupation of Palestinian territory, and enable an independent Palestinian state;" The ELCA also wants: "To encourage this church’s members, congregations, synods, and agencies to call on the U.S. President to recognize the State of Palestine and not prevent the application of the State of Palestine for full membership in the United Nations.” (see here, page 100) Then yesterday the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted in favor (over 90%) of another resolution aimed at hurting Israel called “Justice for the Holy Land through Responsible Investment.” This resolution will be used by the ELCA to divest from Israel and select companies that do business with Israel. Their "recommendation" is astounding: “Recommendation for Assembly Action” “To reaffirm the actions of the 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2013 Churchwide Assemblies regarding responsible investment in Israel-Palestine; To direct the ELCA’s Corporate Social Responsibility review team to develop a human rights social criteria investment screen based on the social teachings of this church and, in the case of Israel and Palestine, specifically based on the concerns raised in the ELCA Middle East Strategy; To encourage ELCA members, congregations, synods, agencies and institutions to increase positive investment in Palestine and other under-resourced areas where human rights abuses materially impact the well-being of all people; and To encourage ELCA members, congregations, synods, agencies and institutions to engage in shareholder advocacy in support of human rights, exercising the right of a shareholder to submit resolutions at a corporation’s annual meeting.” (see here, page 105) When the ELCA says “Investment screen” what they mean is “divestment” from Israel. The BDS haters (the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israel) are applauding this move. The ELCA already has a boycott policy, as detailed by ELCA’s leader Elizabeth Eaton, who said, “We also engage in selective purchasing. So we not only try to trade with the Palestinian Authority, but we do not purchase products made in the illegal Israeli settlements.” (see here) The ELCA is a stooge of Hamas and Jew-hating parties. The ELCA makes declarations aimed at hurting Israel for the “imaginary” speck but is complicit in their silence of the huge log of evil and atrocities perpetrated by the “Palestinians.” That is anti-Semitic. In a time where anti-Semitism is even occurring at the Olympic games (see here) we have a supposed-Christian denomination seeking to harm Jews on trumped up charges. Israel is surround by countries with horrific human rights violations and by “Palestinians” who kill and celebrate the killing of Israeli children. And the ELCA demonizes Israel and wants land won by Israel, in defensive wars, to be given to those who will do everything possible to destroy the Jewish state? The ELCA has taken a stand with Satan. It is time for Bible-believing Christians to get out of this demonically-inspired denomination. (The following article was written a couple weeks ago by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)
August 8-13 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will have its national convention in New Orleans. The ELCA website lists topics for the assembly, but I cannot find a word about evangelism. Instead it states this: "God's Grace in Action Afternoon" will offer experiential learning on several topics to inspire participants to take action back home, including: Music, Justice and Peace; From the Doctrine of Discovery to BlackLivesMatter; Human Trafficking; Care of Creation; and Food Security. So, why is there not a word about bringing people to salvation through faith in Christ? I fear the Gospel has been supplanted by social causes. And of the ELCA's social causes, why is there not a word about rescuing unborn children from abortion? The tragic truth is that the ELCA pays for abortion, for any reason, in its healthcare plan which is funded by offering dollars. As one Lutheran commentator observed years ago "The ELCA has looks more and more like the left wing of the Democratic Party." Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock pastorsstudy.org
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America continues to wade into politics, spending ELCA member money to advocate for their liberal agenda. And why not, when you are universalists, believing all people are saved and will go to heaven, there is no need to evangelize or tell people about Christ and that one must be born again. So they spend their time and your money on whatever tickles their fancy. This last week we heard from the ELCA advocacy arm, calling for action regarding their view of "equal access" at the ballot box. Here is a tweet they sent out:
The liberal mindset tells them that making voters show their identification to vote is "voter suppression." It really is a ridiculous view considering people need an ID to do some of the most basic things in life, as the Washington Examiner outlines here, such as purchasing alcohol and cigarettes, opening a bank account, applying for food stamps, welfare, Medicaid-Social Security, unemployment, buying or renting a house, applying for a mortgage, driving/buying or renting a car, flying on an airplane, getting married, purchasing a gun, adopting a pet, renting a hotel room, applying for a hunting or fishing license, buying a cell phone, visiting a casino, picking up a prescription, holding a rally or protest, donating blood, buying an "M" rated video game or purchasing certain cold medicines. Requiring an ID to vote is common sense and has nothing to do with trying to keep any segment of the U.S. population that is legal from voting. Below are a couple screenshots from the ELCA, using alarmist language and deceitful rhetoric, calling on ELCA members to "Urge Congress to Restore Voting Rights Now!" The vast majority of the leaders in the ELCA are liberal, left-wing democrats who use your offering dollars to push their political and social agenda. They are strong proponents of abortion but are against capital punishment for the worst violent offenders. They want more restrictive gun laws but can not make the connection between terrorist actions and Islam. They push for LGBT causes, including making unrepentant practitioners leaders in the church, but they are against laws that protect the first amendment rights of Bible-believing business persons to not participate in the celebration of sinful actions. They are against the state of Israel, a haven of freedom, and they side with the "Palestinian" people who celebrate the murder of Jewish children, naming streets after the perpetrators of evil. They sound the alarm of "climate change," "white privilege" and embrace the "BlackLivesMatter" movement (see here). These are liberals, no doubt. Is this what you want out of your Biblical teachers? (we won't even get into the multitude of ways they are in opposition to Scripture). Recently Pew Research Center came out with findings showing the 43% of ELCA members lean toward or identify with the Republican Party. (see here) If you want a clue to what the ELCA leadership thinks of people who are conservative and/or Republican, take a look at what Josh Evans, who describes himself on Twitter as a "Seminarian at @LSTChicago. Gay, sarcastic, introverted, justice-seeking Lutheran" (go to Josh's twitter comment here) says: Many Evangelical Lutheran Church in America members have figured out the liberal, anti-Biblical ways of their church leadership and the numbers make it apparent. The once 5 million member denomination is now 3.7 million and growing smaller every month. I've highlighted the financial troubles of the ELCA over the last six years and here are two more statements that underscore the financial crisis the ELCA is facing: “Over the past 18 years, annual offerings have dropped by more than 50 percent—from $3.6 million in 1997 to $1.7 million in 2014” - Women of the ELCA (WELCA) reports on their finances (see here - page 4). H. Julian Gordy, bishop of the ELCA's Southeastern Synod reveals this about his synod: "The percent of giving from congregations to mission support has declined for at least the past three decades. Over the past seven years, we have addressed the decline with severe cuts in our synodical programming budget and in support of committees and task forces. We have significantly cut our support of our synod's agencies and institutions, and we have cut salaries and staff positions in the synod office." (see here)
Updated
Last Sunday a Muslim terrorist killed more than four dozen innocent people in Orlando, Florida and injured 54 others. Rightfully, many ELCA leaders respond to the attack with sorrow and prayers, but some of what they said should infuriate you. ELCA pastor Heidi Neumark writes the following:
Pastor Tom Brock (of pastorsstudy.org) shared his thoughts on pastor Neumark’s comments saying, “If I understand her right, this ELCA Lutheran pastor is saying that we better say homosexual behavior is OK, or you are helping murder people. The opposite is true. By telling people homosexual behavior is OK, we are helping them go to a tragic eternity (I Corinthians 6:9-11).”
ELCA pastor Ángel Marrero blames Christians and Jews in an article he wrote for the Huffington Post saying, “this isn’t simply ‘extremist Islam’, as some would like to paint it. This comes out of centuries of many religious traditions systematically demonizing and dehumanizing LGBTQ individuals. This hatred isn’t out of nowhere. It is in parts of Islam, yes, but it is within parts of Christianity and Judaism, as well. Facing such a reality, I feel I must apologize for the complicity and silence of the Church. I am sorry for the pain our sinful indifference and self-righteousness has caused, and continues to cause, throughout the world." (see here) Bishop Jim Hazelwood of the ELCA's New England Synod wrote a letter in response to the massacre going into great detail of his desire for gun control. He also writes about his concern for "our Muslim brothers and sisters." (see here) He then jumps the shark with this accusation:
Much like the liberal media many ELCA leaders are: 1. calling for stricter gun control in America and 2. can't seem to understand the connection almost all the terrorism happening in the world has with the religion of Islam. Bishop David B. Zellmer of the ELCA's South Dakota Synod said, “There is no place among us for words and actions that disparage the Islamic faith…This act of terror and actions like it are carried out by people who have taken a world religion and perverted it to their own evil purposes – not unlike others have done with Christianity in past centuries.” (see here) Bishop Robert G. Schaefer of the ELCA's Florida-Bahamas Synod writes, “There are deeper issues here. Church, it’s time to be clear about honoring and speaking up for...reasonable gun control in this country.” (see here) The ELCA's Southwest California Synod sent out an email saying, "I would also invite you to rechannel whatever anger and frustration you might be feeling into positive action. Such violence effects everyone, and motivations include terrorism, hatred of various groups, and mental health issues, all of which are often interrelated. But along with our task force, I am devoted to putting a stop to this carnage by the advocacy of stricter, common sense gun laws. If you feel called to share in this endeavor, we recommend that you get involved with a movement (such as Everytown for Gun Safety, Women Against Gun Violence, The Brady Campaign, or our own joint task force). Meanwhile, know that the SWCA Synod Gun Violence Prevention Task Force will be reconvening this week with a renewed commitment to end the kind of tragedy we saw in Orlando so that we all might live in safety and in peace." (see here) Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Elizabeth A. Eaton tweeted this:
ELCA Bishop Timothy Smith of the North Carolina Synod posted this on his Facebook page (be sure to read his comments at the end): The ELCA's Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (SEPA) shared a prayer on their Facebook page that included this: "We pray for renewed action and perseverance in reforming our American gun laws, especially the sale of automatic weapons." (see here) Dr. Samuel Torvend, Professor of Religion at the ELCA's Pacific Lutheran University writes, "The massacre of innocents in Orlando prompts us to pray for those who grieve, to resist homophobia and Islamophobia, and to work diligently for an end to the easy purchase of deadly weapons." - Quote posted on PLU's Facebook page. (see here) Bishop Patricia Lull of the ELCA's Saint Paul Area Synod comments "I invite your prayers for the family and friends of those killed or injured, for the Muslim community, which repudiates this act of hatred and violence, and for all who work to curtail gun violence. We also pray for colleagues in the Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA, who are offering pastoral care to those involved in this tragedy. (see here) My, my. The opportunists are out in full force. Last weekend the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s South Central Synod of Wisconsin held its synod assembly. On the docket to be voted on were three anti-Israel/anti-Semitic resolutions. One resolution asked for an end to U.S. financial aid to Israel until Israel stops building homes, etc. on land that is rightfully Israel’s land. Another asking the ELCA churchwide, the whole denomination, to also call on the U.S. government to stop financial aid to Israel. The last resolution asked the denomination to screen and disinvest from companies that do business in Israel “such as Caterpillar, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Motorola Solutions, and G4S, until such time as those companies no longer profit from the occupation or cease operations in the illegal settlements.” (see the bottom of this article for more details) All three of these anti-Israel resolutions passed. Conservatives. Bible believers. People with common sense. Why are you funding this wickedness? The ELCA elites, in past German-like fashion, make proclamations and rules against the Jewish people that are based on falsehoods while not saying one word about the violence against Israelis, the intolerance for Israel and the Jew-hatred dominating the Palestinian situation. This is madness. Have you ever seen the video of a guy in California, waving the Israeli flag, and the anger directed at him, but when the same guy is waving an ISIS flag, he gets indifference, support and acceptance? That is what the ELCA is doing, as is the world in general. (below is the video – please check it out) Some more information on the anti-Israel resolutions the ELCA synod passed - South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 2016 Assembly, Resolution #2 U.S. Aid to State of Israel as a Tool for Peace - “RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly ask the bishop of this synod to urge the members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation who serve citizens living in our synod to make U.S. financial and military aid for the State of Israel conditional on the halting of settlement building and the halting of the expansion of existing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and to follow the directives of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which require that a country receiving U.S. financial aid and military arms not engage in human-rights violations of another people; and be it further RESOLVED that South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly, seeking a just peace for Israel and Palestine, encourage this synod’s congregations and members to pray for Israelis and Palestinians, to learn about the current situation in the Holy Land, to read the 'Kairos Palestine' document, and to advocate the aforementioned conditions on U.S. aid to Israel to their Congressional representatives.” South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 2016 Assembly, Resolution #3 Memorial to the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Regarding U.S. Aid to the State of Israel - “RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly memorialize the 2016 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to ask the United States Congress to follow the directives of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which require that a country receiving U.S. financial aid and military arms not engage in human-rights violations of another people and to urge congressional action requiring that, to continue receiving U.S. financial and military aid, Israel must stop settlement building and the expansion of existing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.” South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 2016 Assembly, Resolution #4 Justice for the Holy Land through Responsible Investment - “RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly request that the Congregational and Synodical Mission Unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America direct the Corporate Social Responsibility Team to develop guidelines that will screen out investments in companies profiting from, or complicit in, human rights violations arising from the occupation, , and provide a report with possible recommendations to the November 2016 meeting of the ELCA Church Council, and forward the guidelines to the separately incorporated ministries, agencies, and institutions of the ELCA for implementation as appropriate; and be it further RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly encourage its members and congregations to learn about their own investments and to intentionally invest in ways that are consistent with their faith and goals, including examining divestment from companies profiting from, or complicit in, human rights violations arising from the occupation, such as Caterpillar, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Motorola Solutions, and G4S, until such time as those companies no longer profit from the occupation or cease operations in the illegal settlements.” (see here) 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 few weeks ago many Evangelical Lutheran Church in America leaders amassed at the United States and Mexico border. It was a planned attempt to garner attention. Photos were taken (mostly by ELCA people) and posted on social media by ELCA leaders and synods. Even a video surfaced of a prayer said by the wall by the ELCA's Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton where she called Jesus a refugee (a couple times) and then said,
"Bless...all that we do. That we might be a symbol of hope and hopefully of reconciliation, the tearing down of walls. We ask in Your name, Amen.” (see video below) So while standing by the border wall/fence the ELCA leader references the "tearing down of walls?" I do not believe this was just a poor choice of words by the Presiding Bishop Eaton. It was a calculated phrase, a political call to remove the wall that stops illegal immigrants free access to come into our country unchecked. How do I know this? Because the ELCA has been against the US border wall all along. (see here) What an unsafe, extreme position for a denomination to take, being against the securing of our country's borders. On a related note, the ELCA has an advocacy page name "Peace Not Walls" that refers to the protection wall built by Israel. And in 2005 the ELCA passed a resolution calling for it to be removed. (see here) Prayer for Refugees at the Mexican-U.S. Border, January 2016 The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) is on a mission. The mission? Bring the refugees who are in Europe, originally from the Middle East and North Africa, to the United States. How many? As many as they possibly can.
The ELCA dismisses the danger of doing this, despite the fact that at least one refugee participated in the recent terrorist attack in Paris. They say God would want us to take in the refugees. Yet they would never recommend sending troops into Syria to help the thousands upon thousands of people still there--being enslaved, raped and slaughtered. I guess God (of their making) doesn't care as much for those who are in Syria, living under constant danger, oppression and persecution. They talk as if Christians are obligated to relocate the refugees to America. But helping the poor can come in many forms. Moving refugees to America is not the only option. The Good Samaritan did not bring the poor, injured man to his home. He paid for his care and housing elsewhere. And it was good. They say we need to bring the refugees here, but they don’t tell you that these refugees are living safely in Europe and are in no danger. The ELCA says the refugees will be thoroughly vetted, but we all know that that is nearly impossible. And many national security experts have agreed. The ELCA bishop even says that most of the refugees will be women and children, but 70% of the refugees are healthy young men who are capable of fighting for their homeland. Very few are women and children. Let’s think about this for a minute. Besides the danger that some refugees will no doubt have an allegiance to radical Islam and a desire to kill as many Americans as they can, what about the Muslim refugees who are not terrorists but want Muslim law to rule the land in which they reside? (You know, cutting off the hand of thieves, women must be covered and killing homosexuals.) What about the way most Muslims view and treat women, like possessions, pieces of property with no rights? What about the Muslim view that Islam is superior to all other religions and that Muslims must hold power over others of differing religions for the sake of their god? What about the hatred of Jews, honor killings, female genital mutilation, molestation of young girls and boys that is rampant in the countries from where the refugees come? The ELCA wants to bring this to our country? Maybe the United States, who already takes in 20% of the world’s immigrants (stat from this article) can help the refugees by giving food, clothing and financial help as they make a new life in the European country in which they now reside, safe and sound. That sounds like a loving and WISE response to the refugee situation. Here are quotes from the ELCA leadership pressing for the settlement of the refugees in the United States:
The ELCA's Journal of Lutheran Ethics October 2015 issue was devoted to the topic of "#BlackLivesMatter."
An article by Rozella Haydée White, the Program Director for Young Adult Ministry for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, perpetuates the falsehood that Michael Brown was murdered. She writes, “For many young people of color, the murder of Michael Brown[1] on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri tore the veil that covered the ugliest reality – lives of people of color, particularly young black people of color, are not seen as lives at all." (see here) The definition of murder is "The unlawful killing of another human being without justification or excuse." (see here) Michael Brown was killed in self-defense by Officer Wilson. The justice system of the United States confirms this. Saying that lives of people of color are "not seen as lives at all" is another outright lie. Then the ELCA Program Director for Young Adult Ministry writes, “The church has also been complicit in the ongoing separation and oppression of people of color. From global mission that was undergirded by the concept of conversion…” So helping people know the One True God is called "oppression?" Leading people to faith in Christ is what we are all called to do. The ELCA is turning this "calling" into an evil act. Another article in the October issue of Journal of Lutheran Ethics was written by Rev. Wolfgang D. Herz-Lane, bishop of the Maryland-Delaware Synod of the ELCA. He seems to be making a similar claim to the first article, that Ferguson, Missouri Police Officer Wilson committed a crime in the shooting of Michael Brown when he writes, "Unlike other cities such as Ferguson, New York, and Cleveland where law enforcement officers were not held accountable in the deaths of unarmed civilians, the family of Freddie Gray will get its day in court as six police officers have been charged in the case." (read here) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is wading into the political realm and once again placing their own fanciful and dubious dreams above the safety and security of the Jewish people. Last week the ELCA sent out an advocacy action alert asking readers to “(t)ell your elected officials: Support a negotiated deal with Iran.”
Many in the United States and Israel are saying the current deal with Iran is bad, but here we have the ELCA calling for a negotiated nuclear deal with them. Let's look at and respond to some of the statements from the ELCA's action alert:
That is not true. I bad deal is worse than no deal for the Israelis (who Iran constantly threatens to destroy), the Palestinians and all of Iran's neighbors. An armed conflict is better than allowing the evil regime to obtain nuclear warheads and make good on their threat to wipe out the Jewish state.
Wrong again. A deal that allows Iran to get nuclear weapons or a deal that can not guaranty that Iran abides by the rules, makes for a terrifying world. Iran is the number one supporter and purveyor of terrorism. They call the United States “the great Satan.” They call for our destruction. They are developing missiles that can reach America. A bad deal is worse than no deal.
That is a big assumption. Can you say “North Korea?” And thinking that Iran will comply with the rules is naive at best. They have a long history of breaking the rules with the United Nations regarding their quest for nuclear power (weapons).
Seriously? Get on with the Iran deal so we can focus on the main problem of the Israeli-Palestinian issue? That issue is so important to the ELCA that they have to insert it into the conversation about stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons? To be frank, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is not an honest broker when it comes to Israel. (see here and here) The ELCA view of a deal between Israel and Palestinians has the Palestinians getting most all of their demands and Israel getting a “promise” of peace.
Again the ELCA is wrong. The threat of new sanctions will increase the likelihood of a “good” deal with Iran, as will the need of congressional approval for a deal. The ELCA and President Obama need to step back and let the nation at most risk of being attacked by a nuclear Iran (Israel) have the ultimate say on whether a deal should be made. Because sadly, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the president do not have Israel's best interest or survival in mind. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recently joined highly controversial political activist Rev. Al Sharpton for his march in Washington. The ELCA advocacy group even bragged about it saying,
“Lutheran response to police violence issues Last month, Lutherans helped take action on police violence by encouraging the Senate to pass the Death in Custody Reporting Act. The successfully passed act will require law enforcement agencies to report all deaths of people held in police custody to the Department of Justice, serving to improve transparency and local accountability. ELCA Advocacy also supported Lutherans in the Justice for All March in D.C. on Dec. 13. The march, organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton, protested police violence against men of color. Our office organized dozens of Lutherans, including passionate lay people, young seminarians, and ELCA pastors from D.C. and New York. Lutheran attendees held a small vigil at Luther Place Memorial Church before joining the march on the Capitol.” (read here) This is how members' hard-earned dollars, given to the ELCA, are spent. |
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
May 2024
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Ephesians 5:11
|