|
ELCA Bishop Michael Rinehart is a social justice warrior and loves the internet. He is the bishop of the ELCA's Gulf Coast Synod.
Let's learn more about Bishop Rinehart by checking out some of his social media posts. As you can see, he loves marching for his favorite liberal social justice causes. 
And here is Bishop Rinehart with controversial ELCA pastor Lenny Duncan:
9 Comments
(The following article was written last year by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) In 2009, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to ordain practicing homosexuals, thus violating Scripture and causing the largest church split in American history. Countless people have left this denomination, along with their offerings, and the denomination continues to decline.
God Himself and His Word are opposed to what the ELCA is doing. The ELCA churchwide assembly even voted down a delegate-by 97%- who tried to affirm that Jesus is the only way of salvation (John 14:6).
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man shows that also he shall reap” (Galatians 6:7). In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock https://www.livinglutheran.org/2019/08/perspective-scraped-floors-open-doors/
(The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
Here are excerpts from the below video of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: "To my LGBTQIA+ siblings...you are who you were created you to be...Our creator is not one gender but God is at the same time full of gender and also beyond gender...The Church told lies about who and what was acceptable in God's sight. We as the Church have killed and wounded our LGBTQIA+ siblings by...declaring bodies sinful that God has called good...I am deeply sorry...Church...we must repent...". The video ends with the prayer "May we follow the Spirit's lead and work for justice and equity for our LGBTQIA+...siblings".
Very disturbing is the claim by some in the Church today that the Holy Spirit is leading the Church to affirm homosexuality and transgenderism. This is close to blaspheming the Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible's teaching on homosexuality (see my article "What does the Bible teach about homosexuality?" at pastorsstudy.org). Sadly, this pro-LGBT teaching has also invaded the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Methodist Church and the Disciples of Christ. In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock 
Ken Ham, founder and CEO of Creation in Genesis, the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter, is a well known defender of God's Word and Christian speaker.
Ken Ham has spoken about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's departure from Biblical Truth in the past and this week he addressed it further on Facebook and Twitter when sharing an article titled "Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Distributes Handbook on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity." 
=================================== 
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recently shared a LGBT+ organization's article with the comment "Each of us is a beloved child of God, perfectly and wonderfully made, just as we are. Thanks to ReconcilingWorks for this Lutheran introduction to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression."
Rev. Tom Brock had this to say about the ELCA Facebook post: "A man used to be 'he' and a woman 'she'. Not anymore in the 'enlightened, woke' world of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. If there is any doubt that this denomination has gone radically liberal, look at the below article from the official Facebook page of the ELCA. And, again, if you are still a member of the ELCA, time to take your money, time and talents elsewhere and join a Biblical denomination." (See here)
(The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
Listen to the one and a half minute video below to hear how excited the leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is to affirm homosexuality and transgenderism. The Bible declares these behaviors to be sinful, but you won't hear that from the ELCA. I have struggled with same sex attraction most of my life, but I abstain for the sake of Christ and my soul (I Corinthians 6:9-11). You can read my struggle at pastorsstudy.org and also see there my article "What does the Bible say about homosexuality?" I don't appreciate that the ELCA never acknowledges people who have same sex attraction but are celibate for the sake of the Kingdom. The ELCA is all about celebrating those who practice homosexuality and their "loving, committed relationships." Once again, if you are still a member of the ELCA, it is long time past to get out. In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock PS I just put this comment on the ELCA's facebook page, where almost all the comments love what Bishop Eaton says: Bishop Eaton's video is tragic. I personally have struggled with same sex attraction most of my life but for the sake of Christ and my soul, I abstain (see my story at pastorsstudy.org). The Bible teaches that those who continue in impenitent homosexual behavior will not inherit the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-11). It is not loving to tell people that sin is no longer sin. The ELCA leadership and publications regularly highlight clergy and others who live in homosexual behavior ("loving, committed relationships") but you will find no word in Living Lutheran magazine about people with same sex attraction who are celibate for the Kingdom. 
(The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) I have same-sex attraction, and I don't appreciate yet another promotion of homosexuality by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America If you go to my website, pastorsstudy.org, you will see the story of my personal struggle with same-sex attraction. Because the Bible teaches that homosexual behavior is sin (I Corinthians 6:9-11), I abstain from this behavior. But below is yet another example of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America promoting homosexuality.  Emmy Kreger is a lesbian pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who is "married" to a woman. She has been featured before in the ELCA's national magazine, Living Lutheran, and is featured again this month (May 2020). In this article she refers to herself as "queer" and "married to a woman." She states "We dwell in a world that--from the moment of "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!--binds us up in boxes that shut out some of the best among us." She talks about a man "who sent me a long diatribe about my sinfulness" and referred to I Corinthians 6:9-11 "as if I hadn't known those verses would be used to condemn me since I was old enough to read my third-grade Good News Bible." Sadly, Pastor Kreger and the ELCA have found a way around I Corinthians 6:9-11 and similar verses. The argument normally goes like this: "The Bible does not condemn loving, committed same sex behavior, only promiscuous, exploitive homosexual behavior". That doesn't work because the Bible never says "Its okay if you love each other". Romans 1 says homosexuality is "against nature" and never adds that it becomes natural if you are in love (see my article "What does the Bible say about homosexuality?" for all the verses). Kreger's article talks about "out" parents of her church and "exiles from megachurches and family churches who wander through our church doors", presumably LGBT people, who discover "We might be OK here." What I think that means is "You will never hear a sermon against homosexuality here, you can be safe in your sin here, in fact, I, the preacher, am an out lesbian." I remember years ago when an old Lutheran pastor bemoaned that a liberal Lutheran bishop was promoting homosexuality, saying "We are nicing people right into Hell." If I Corinthians 6 is correct and people who live impenitently in homosexual behavior will not inherit the Kingdom of God, then we must humbly, lovingly urge people to turn from this behavior. But instead the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA, the Disciples of Christ and the ELCA Lutherans have all found a way of circumventing Scripture--and of "nicing" people into Hell. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock PS If you or someone you love struggles with homosexuality, there is help at restoredhopenetwork.org 
With a rainbow flag and the hashtags #QueerEye and #Pride the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America took to their official Facebook and Twitter accounts to promote an a LGBTQ+ based television show "Queer Eye" which features an ELCA pastor on an upcoming episode. An ELCA bishop and an ELCA transgender pastor also make appearances on the episode.
In an subsequent post, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America expresses gratitude:
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries and ReconcilingWorks are LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. It is obvious to see that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is in complete support and celebration of homosexuality, despite Scripture's admonitions to turn from it. The ELCA's encouragement is harmful to individuals and they are quashing the work of the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sinful ways. Bible-believing ELCA pastors have little choice but to get on the front lines and publicly call the denomination to repent, or they need to lead their congregations away from the danger they are surrounded by in being in the ELCA. 
(The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)  10 years ago the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to ordain practicing homosexuals as pastors. This caused the largest church split in American history and the ELCA lost many members and donations. One ELCA seminary building was sold to Muslims, two other seminaries merged, and my alma mater Luther Seminary has had to sell off some of its buildings. Nevertheless, some ELCA bishops celebrate the move to have non-celibate homosexual and transgender pastors. Here is a statement from Bishop Jim Arends of the La Crosse Area Synod: "This is the 10th anniversary of the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ clergy and deacons. As we celebrate the work of the gay pastors in our synod we seek to grow in understanding and inclusion. The Synod Council voted this spring to provide training in the issues and realities of the LGBTQIA+ community. As opportunities are offered in the months to come, please take advantage of them." (See here, a little over half way down the page) So it appears it is not enough that liberals in the church got the ELCA to approve homosexual relationships in 2009, now in 2020 they want to train Lutheran church members to be on board with the LGBTQIA+ movement. Your ELCA offering dollars at work. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock 
ELCA pastor Lura N. Groen has been highlighted on Exposing the ELCA many times. She is one of the most radical and heretical ELCA pastors I have come across. (See here and below for a number of things she has been saying. Some of it is blasphemous and vile.)
With that said, Pastor Lura N. Groen has been endorsed and placed into postions of influence and leadership by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Below are some writings and social media content from Rev. Groen. Sorry for the shocking and odious content. How can the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America leadership allow someone, who speaks and believes as this pastor does, to rise in their leadership ranks? How can they allow Rev. Groen and many ELCA pastors like her, to mock the One True God? The ELCA is culpable and responsible for this. They allow it and give it a platform in their midst. The true God of Scripture is not the God the ELCA serves. The Holy Spirit does not dwell in it. 
Continuing from Rev. Lura N. Groen's article posted above "I Hope You Have Only Good Sex" (see the complete article here), she writes, "This is, for me, an open expression of a deeply faith based sexual ethic. My Christian way of saying the same thing is to hope that each of you has sex in way, and only in a way, that is set free to love God, self, and neighbor. And that every time you have sex you respect the image of God in yourself and in your partner(s). That you treat yourself and every other body involved as holy, a temple, beloved by God, created beautifully, fearsomely and awesomely made."
Some of Rev. Groen's comments get even worse:
In the next post Rev. Lura Groen shared an article titled "What Promiscuity Taught Me About God's Love." The article was from QueerTheology.com.
Click to set custom HTML
This is the state of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Its leadership has given in to the world and turned its back on the Truth, on Scripture and on God Himself. They model and teach that sinful behavior should be embraced and are encouraging behaviors that are inspired by the enemy and are harmful to people.
A couple months ago Southeastern Synod ELCA bishop Kevin Strickland, a practicing gay man, presided over the ordination of queer ELCA pastor Dawn Bennett. Rev. Bennett, a devoted LGBT advocate, was surrounded by many ELCA pastors. At the service, drag queens were actively involved in the ordination service, and this was celebrated. In ELCA Bishop Strickland's opening statement, he proclaimed to those gathered,
"... let this service, let this table, be an opportunity of inclusive grace for you. For you are welcome in this space and you are welcomed by God for just the way you are and for who you are, because of whose you are." (15:56 minute mark. See below)
He continued, "So Dawn, look around. This might just be, no this is, a glimpse of what the kingdom of God is like." How can anyone justify being part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America? The church is not of Christ. For the sake of yourself and your family, view the pictures below and then either insist that your congregation exit the ELCA or make a choice to leave your congregation that has bound their members to this denomination. 
Rev. Dawn Bennett ends this video below saying "...don't take no s#@t from nobody!" (modifications to spelling in this statement were made by Exposing the ELCA.)
(The following article is from Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here. Additional information added by Exposing the ELCA after the article.)
The below is from Pastor Dawn Bennett of a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America called "The Table" in Nashville where "we celebrate and embrace your gender, presentation, expression and sexual orientation." She writes: "Listen Beloved, God loves you! As you are, who you are and where you are in your faith walk.... Did you know you are CREATED? And HOLY? And BEAUTIFUL? And WORTHY? Did you know it’s not what you do but who you are that makes you SO valuable? If you have not been told that you are a beautifully, wonderfully, expertly, and purposefully made child of “God” and that you are worthy and whole JUST AS YOU ARE (today and every day up till today), let’s talk. Really, I have latte money. ... After a few decades of lay ministry and a whole ‘lotta baggage from traditional church, I went in search of a more holistic and realistic way to experience “God”....I’m really quite approachable and fun loving, until someone says Jesus doesn’t love me…or you (LIES! LIES! LIES!). I use she/her pronouns and identify as cisgender and queer, which for me is comfortable... I am an ordained pastor to the Ministry of Word & Sacrament in the (ELCA) Lutheran Church." (see here) Her website also states: "When you’re told you’re not “saved” it’s a lie. And when you’re told you’re not good enough, you’re not clean enough, you’re not loved, this too is a lie. Beloved, you are worthy, and loved just as you are. Believe it." (see here) My response. Whatever happened to sin? Whatever happened to the word "repentance"? It is nowhere to be found in the above. Are we to tell sinners they are "worthy"? No one is worthy, we all deserve eternal Hell for our sins. Does God love sinners? Yes, hallelujah, which is all of us. But God loves us too much to leave us that way and He offers forgiveness of sins and new life to those who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ. But, again, repentance is nowhere to be found in this church's website, just "love, love, love" and "radical hospitality". Before the ELCA voted to ordain practicing homosexuals in 2009, this pastor's bishop could have disciplined her for promoting homosexuality and transgenderism. Today, her bishop is Kevin Strickland, himself a homosexual man with a "husband" and his Southeastern ELCA Synod website proudly displays a cross with a rainbow symbol. This is the world of the ELCA. If you are still an ELCA member, time to take your money, time and talents and join a more Biblical denomination. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock
The ELCA's Pennsylvania Synod is promoting "LBGTQ-friendly" books to read to your children. The Facebook post takes you to an article that lists 17 LGBTQ-friendly books. They are stories about "transgender" children, a controversial gay rights leader, supportive books about children whose parents are gay, a child at a parent's gay wedding, a book that talks about "gender fluidity for children and encourages them to explore their identities," a story about a "prince falling in love with a knight" and many same-sex love stories.
The ELCA is trying to influence you and your family. Here they are targeting children with their view on homosexuality, gender fluidity and transgenderism. Why are you a part of a wayward denomination that preaches lifestyles that go against God's will for people? 
Rev. Tom Brock addressed the situation this way -
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is poisoning the minds of its people. They continually demean God and His Word in their words and actions. This poison is distributed to listeners in the many entities and persons who operate under the ELCA banner.
Case in point, last week the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America published a story in their official magazine, Living Lutheran, praising a transgender boy who, by way of his ELCA pastor father and his mother, has become a spokesperson for transgender rights. Publishing and promoting LGBTQ+ propaganda is common with the ELCA, they even had this same transgender boy, who lives as a girl, speak at the ELCA National Youth Gathering in 2018. In the Living Lutheran article readers are told: “Seeing the damage that the faith community does to LGBTQ+ people gave me something to learn about and inspired me to help others understand that God made you who you are, and God does not make mistakes.” (read here) 
How can anyone who loves God and believe His Word stay in this bondage celebrating, Bible and faith destroying denomination? They are harming people who struggle with sinful desires and turning other people away from the Truth God handed down in Scripture.
Jesus said to go make disciples "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:20a). This challenge is to help people experience abundant life in Jesus, found in the context of a relationship with Him. The ELCA is teaching people the opposite of what Jesus commanded, telling people to not do as He has said which hinders their relationship with Him. Remaining in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America helps them perpetuate alienation from God and wickedness. And that wickedness grows worse each day.
A Facebook post by the ELCA's Metro DC Synod begins by indicating the hashtags, "#dailybible" and "#loveislove" and is followed by a LGBTQ+ flag. Then the synod shares the Bible verse "The voice said to him again, a second time, 'what god has made clean, you must not call profane" - Acts 10:15.
This pro-LGBTQ+ post, combined with the Bible verse, is deeply disturbing. It claims that God is supportive of sexual relationships that fall outside of those that are heterosexual, between one man and one woman. This post indicates that those relationships are "clean," permissible and good. This is a proof-texted use of a Bible verse about Peter's vision, as God called him to go to the Gentiles with the Gospel. God revealed to Peter a new understanding of the law as it relates to what was clean and unclean. Context matters. This is a manipulative use of Scripture to deliver an agenda and cause people to blindly follow a new thought that supports that agenda. 
Here is another post by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America synod that also uses the LGBTQ+ mantra, "love is love." It seems that the background image of the picture also supports that message.
|
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
September 2020
 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