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ELCA Church invites Muslims Inside to Pray to their god

10/21/2019

1 Comment

 
Jesus did not and would not invite worshipers of Baal into the Temple of God to worship their deity. But the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA proudly reports on one of their ELCA churches that invited Muslims to pray at their church.

A second Facebook post by the ELCA synod has the ELCA church's pastor saying they "Sometimes even pray with them." 


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1 Comment

Augustana University Investigation: Uncovering Non-Christian Aspects of the ELCA College

9/26/2018

1 Comment

 
You are playing with fire when you send your teenager to an ELCA college. That is definitely true of Augustana University, as you will see below, which is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). 

Augustana University is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 2015-2016 it had an undergraduate enrollment of 1,563. For Bible-believing followers of Jesus, the stances and activities of Augustana University should be disturbing and alarming. 

Here is what my investigation uncovered:

Drag Shows

- If you like to look at men dressed up as women, or women dressed as men, you can see it at Augustana University. 


I declare that Drag Show a success. ✅ btw here's a pic of @JoshasaurRawr being a cutie pic.twitter.com/wWp3LkmPlb

— Augustana (SD) GSA (@AugustanaGSA) March 24, 2017
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-  The Augustana Student Association gave $250 "for an 18 plus drag show" to the Gender & Sexuality Alliance. (See here, page one)

​
Sex and LGBT Related

​-  Augustana University has a student group called the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) which describes itself in this way, “The Augustana GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) is an organization committed to the representation and advocacy of the Gender/Sexual diverse.” (see here)

-  The Augustana Campus Ministry website displays "The Augustana Student Congregation Welcome Statement." It begins this way:

“Come to me,
All who believe, all who wonder,
and all who don’t know what to think;
All who are joyful, all who suffer, and all who are complacent;
All who are homosexual, or heterosexual, or bisexual,
and all who simply don’t know;
All who are male, all who are female, and all who are transgender.” (See here)
 
-  The Augustana University Campus Ministry is also a Reconciling in Christ Congregation which, in essence, means they view LGBT behaviors as normal and not sinful. (See here)


​-  A lecture by Austen Hartke, a bisexual, transgender man is happening October 29th, 2018 at Augustana University (See here)


More about Campus Ministry

- The Campus Ministry likes to delve into the politics of the day, seen here co-sponsoring a “Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Refugees, Immigrants and Sojourners” with the Muslim Students' Association (MSA), area churches, the South Dakota Synod of the ELCA, and the Muslims Community Center. (See here)



Non-Christian Religions

-  At Augustana University you will find a student group called the Muslim Students' Association (see here) 

-  Augustana University has a Interfaith Reflection Room. The university reports that the "space is designed to provide a safe place for people of all religions and non-religious traditions to pray, meditate, worship, reflect, study and practice their faith . . . the room includes sacred texts from a variety of religious traditions . . .” (See here) 

-  The Augustana Magazine printed an article highlighting the atheist group, Augustana Open Minds. (see here on page 25 and the group page here)

​-  
The university also partnered with a Unitarian Universalist church. (see here
)
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​- Augustana University newspaper, The Augustana Mirror published a 2 page article about two Augustana seniors who practice witchcraft. It is titled "Modern witches: two students find spirituality in Wicca." (See here) 

"Cultural Appropriation"

- Augustana University website, "VikingCentral," has this article, see below, titled “4 Acts of Cultural Appropriation You Should Avoid this Cinco de Mayo.” (Also see here)

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​

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-  This must be an important idea to the university since they posted seven other related articles informing students what they feel is right and what is wrong when it comes to culture and costume. See below and here) 



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Housing

-  Flexible housing is offered at Augustana University. This means “that students may select roommates or housemates regardless of gender.” This is available at select university housing. (See here)
​
Lastly, see how Augustana University was rated by students who attended the school, and what they had to say about their experiences here. 


1 Comment

ELCA's Augsburg University Holds Muslim Friday Prayers in Their University Chapel

12/23/2017

2 Comments

 
​A recent chapel service at St. Olaf’s Boe Memorial Chapel (St. Olaf is an ELCA college) featured a message by Fardosa Hasson, an Augsburg University Muslim Student Program Associate, and part of the ministry staff at the ELCA’s Augsburg University (formerly Augsburg College).
 

Having someone of a non-Christian religion giving the message at your
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chapel service or church should not happen. Religions other than the Judeo-Christian faith are false, but it gets worse.
 
At the St. Olaf service, Fardosa Hasson spoke of how Muslim students at Augsburg University asked her to help them hold Friday prayers on campus. She said,
 
“The Director of Ministry, Pastor Sonya (Hagander), says, ‘Oh it would be great if we can actually have it in the Chapel.’ And I remember the conversation, as we go on, and now that I see every Friday, on campus, we have Friday services, inside the Chapel…it is reaffirming of diversity and inclusion to actually have it in a space where we all worship that one god. And remember, our chapel is not like here, where there are so many pictures of Jesus and Mary…” (see here)
 
So Muslim prayer services, to Allah, who is NOT the God of the Bible, are happening every Friday at Hoversten Chapel at Augsburg University. This is happening, as the speaker said, at the initiative of ELCA Pastor Sonja M. Hagander, University Pastor and Director of Ministries and Associate Director at Augsburg University (see here), and obviously with the approval of Augsburg University itself.
 
Using a house of God to worship other gods is a violation of the first commandment. God’s Word in Exodus 20:2,3 tells us, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
 
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
 
Here are some similar verses - https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Do-Not-Have-Other-Gods
 
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its colleges, like Augsburg University and St. Olaf College, cannot and should not be trusted with the responsibility of teaching and guiding you or your family’s faith development.
​
2 Comments

ELCA Headquarters Boasting of Church Hosting Muslim Prayers

8/4/2017

1 Comment

 
USA Today recently featured two articles highlighting an ELCA pastor who invited Muslims to use his church to hold their prayer services. Apparently, being very proud of this the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America posted about it on social media a number of times. (see below)

ELCA pastor Fred Schenker and Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania area opened their church building up for Muslim worship starting in 2007, up until Pastor Schenker's recent retirement. Pastor Schenker said, "There was a group of Muslims, a congregation, and they were trying to find a space to pray. They had been to different churches, trying to find a space just for Friday, and they got nos. And they came to Trinity, and I said well sure. Christ tells us to love all people, and these guys want to pray? Wonderful." (see here and here is the second article)

Is it the lack of Biblical knowledge, lack of common sense, the placing of ones own values over that of Scripture or succumbing to Satan's influence that causes a pastor of a Christian church to allow people who worship a deity other than the One True God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to use their building, their worship space, to worship this false god? The same question can be asked of ELCA leadership who lift it up as praiseworthy.

Pastor Schenker goes on to say, "In our church family, loving our Muslim neighbors and inviting them to use our church facilities for Friday prayers and activities, sends a strong message that Christians and Muslims not only can tolerate one another, but they can love and respect one another."


Loving your neighbor is helping him or her know the Truth. It is not "loving your neighbor" to provide your church building, a place dedicated to the things of the One True God, so people can worship false gods. Should a church allow prostitutes to use their building to have sex with their customers? Should drug dealers be invited to sell and store their drugs in a church in the name of "love your neighbor?" What this church is doing is wicked, harmful and blasphemous.

There is but one way to heaven, through Jesus Christ, who is revealed to us in the Bible. Other religions are highways to hell. It is eternally destructive for people to worship other gods. Additionally, it is strike in the face to God to have His building used to worship "any other god."

Below are three different posts by official pages of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America about this issue:

When Muslim community members were without a worship space, Rev. Fred Schenker opened the church doors. (@USATODAY) https://t.co/H6IVSn2YsI

— ELCA (@ELCA) August 1, 2017

​As of Friday afternoon the above post by the ELCA has garnered 766 “likes” and 133 people/churches have "shared" it. You should read the comments and shares, and you will find all kinds of praise of this action from readers. Some of them include:

-  "Thank-you for doing the right thing."

-  "It's all about loving our neighbors as ourselves."

-  "Yes!!! This why I love being a Lutheran."
​

-  "My church in South Texas did the same before their mosque was built." (see here)

How can people applaud this? Where are the true ministers of God who will inform people that this is wrong? Obviously not in the ELCA. They are failing, and most of them are wolves in sheep's clothing. 

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1 Comment

The ELCA Takes Part in the Islamic Society of North America Convention

7/11/2017

2 Comments

 
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) recently held its 54th annual convention, and of course, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was well-represented. 

We will begin with the ELCA's Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. She was given the ISNA Excellence In Interfaith Award (see here) and spoke to the assembly -

@ELCABishopEaton brings greetings to #ISNA54 and recommits to walking shoulder to shoulder with our Muslim neighbors. @S2Scampaign pic.twitter.com/NglgS6ZkoN

— Kathryn Lohre (@kathryn_lohre) June 30, 2017

Then we have Kathryn Lohre. According to her Twitter account, she is the "ELCA Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, and Immediate Past President of the National Council of Churches." (see here) Below she tweets about Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, the National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances for the Islamic Society of North America.
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The ELCA's Northern Illinois Synod posted this on their Facebook page:


Additionally, Shoulder-to-Shoulder, an interfaith organization which says it is dedicated to ending anti-Muslim sentiment by strengthening the voice of freedom and peace, of which the ELCA is a part, tweeted this:

Our @ELCA partners take the stage at the @ISNAHQ interfaith banquet, to share about their recent Lutheran-Muslim work #isna54 pic.twitter.com/iJt7ULrPZ1

— Shoulder-to-Shoulder (@S2Scampaign) July 3, 2017
​Here is some information about the ISNA, with whom the ELCA works: 
  • “(T)he United States Department of Justice named ISNA . . . as an unindicted co-conspirator and one of a number of ‘entities who are and/or were members of the US Muslim Brotherhood.’”  (see here)
  • "According to the Dallas Morning News, court documents showed that the Islamic Society of North America was 'an integral part of the [Muslim] Brotherhood’s efforts to wage jihad against America through non-violent means.'” (see here)
  • “(T)he FBI has uncovered internal Muslim Brotherhood documents naming ISNA as ‘one of our organizations and the organizations of our friends.’” (see here)
  • “ISNA was created by members of the Muslim Brotherhood – a radical Egyptian movement that seeks to spread Shariah law globally – in the U.S.  Many of those founders remain in leadership positions with ISNA."  (read here)

(For more information about the ISNA, including their close association with the ELCA, see http://www.exposingtheelca.com/exposed-blog/the-elca-muslim-brotherhood and 
http://www.exposingtheelca.com/exposed-blog/elca-helping-brotherhood-change-constitution)
​
If you have been watching or reading honest and fair news outlets, you probably heard of this recent ISNA convention. It made waves when popular Muslim activist, Linda Sarsour, the keynote speaker at the gathering, "told her Muslim audience at the July 1-3 ISNA convention that they should remain constantly in a state of 'rage' against Trump. She encouraged them not to assimilate into American society…”
 
Then she said, “I hope, that when we stand up to those who oppress our communities, that Allah accepts from us that as a form of jihad.” And “That we are struggling against tyrants and rulers, not only abroad in the Middle East or on the other side of the world, but here in these United States of America."

And, 

“You have fascists and white supremacists and Islamophobes reigning in the White House." (see here. This article also includes more disturbing information about Linda Sarsour)

Did you hear that? She encouraged listeners to not assimilate into America society, talked about "jihad" and called our leaders "fascists and white supremacists and Islamophobes."

Why are you part of the ELCA, a denomination that attended this event of the ISNA and boasted on social media about it?


2 Comments

Hindus, Muslims and Lutherans worshipping "the Oneness" together

4/17/2017

4 Comments

 
​(The following article was written a few days ago by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. ​You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)
 
"Celebrating our Oneness in the Divine, an Interfaith Evening of Peace" will be held April 30th at Advent Lutheran Church in Osseo, Minnesota, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
 
The pastor at Advent Lutheran gives this invitation: " Are you growing weary of all the "us/them" rhetoric going on? Are you discouraged by all the division, lack of respect, even hatred?...There's a reason for that! Your soul (the real you) bears the image of its Creator God; the One source that flows in and through everything and everyone. When your soul encounters division rooted in fear its energy is lowered and diminished. You can feel this within you. It responds this way because it...intuitively knows that we are all one. I have the perfect antidote for you! Love yourself and do yourself a favor by attending...The following local communities will be gathering...: The Ja'afari Islamic Center, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Noble Academy,...the Hindu Temple of Minnesota, and Advent and Westwood Lutheran Churches. Each community will offer music and spoken word from their traditions celebrating our Oneness... "
 
Two thoughts:
1. The Apostle Paul teaches that heathen gods are not the same as the one true God, they are "demons" (I Corinthians 10:20). To imply that Krishna, Vishnu, Allah, are "one" with Jesus Christ is blasphemy.
2. Christians, as opposed to Hindus, are not pantheists. Pantheism teaches that everything is God and God is everything, therefore pantheists worship everything. The above smacks of pantheism in saying God flows in and through everything and everyone. No, God does not flow through the devil or through pagan gods. Christians believe in a transcendent God who is separate from His creation. Romans 1:25 condemns religions which worship "the creature rather than the Creator."
 
I had the misfortune of visiting Advent Lutheran Church a few years ago (it is near my house) and was grieved when the above pastor during a sermon put a picture of Meher Baba on the screen and quoted him. Meher Baba was an Indian spiritual master who said he was the Avatar, God in human form.
 
Please pray about the above event. My prayer is that many parishioners at Advent Lutheran will say "Pastor, what are you doing? What about the First Commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods? What harmony has Christ with Belial? What agreement has the temple of God with idols (2 Corinthians 6:15-16)?
 
Well, tomorrow we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Buddha did not rise, Mohammed did not rise. Only one religion worships a living Savior. May you have a wonderful day worshipping Him!
 
In our risen Lord Jesus,
 
Pastor Tom Brock
pastorsstudy.org


4 Comments

The Twisted Thinking of the ELCA Regarding Islam

12/1/2016

1 Comment

 
The United States has just experienced another Muslim terrorist attack at Ohio State University. The far left is in denial about the lethal call of Islam against non-followers of the religion. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, acted viciously against those who did not believe his new religion. Today, many followers of Islam act in the way of their founder and carry out what he has instructed, as written in the Quran. 
 
In the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a large majority of the leaders and pastors are liberal in their thinking and their theology. They are wretchedly warped and in denial about Scripture that they cannot understand that Islam is a false religion: that its followers worship a false god and that millions of Muslims agree with the violent directives the Islamic god gives them in the Quran.


The ELCA does not condemn Islamic ideology. They do not speak against or even confirm that it is a false religion. They deny Islam's responsibility for terrorist acts by followers of Islam. Instead, the ELCA stands with them seeing them as the victim, and views people as "Islamophobes" who warn and reject the violent teachings of this false religion. And the ELCA speaks out against imagined discrimination against Muslims. See below: 

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Then you have ELCA pastor Clint Schnekloth, author and blogger who facilitates the ELCA Clergy Facebook Group with over 5800 members, who last month was encouraging people to do this: 

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Not to be left out, there is ELCA pastor Joshua Ehrler encouraging everyone to take their youth to a Muslim prayer service. He writes:

“If you are part of a Christian youth group, it would benefit your faith and your heart for humanity to schedule a visit with a local mosque…Learning different cultures and faith traditions upholds our own and destroys the false stereotypes that only separate us as God’s people. I hope you find a Friday night to attend a Muslim prayer service with your youth group. Make the call, and thank God for the opportunity.” (see here)
 
Mixing liberal politics with a poor understanding of Scripture and religion, ELCA pastor Katrina Foster writes:
​

If a Muslim registry is created, I will register as one. I am an #ELCA pastor #MuslimAlly #StopBannonNow #stoptrump

— Rev. Katrina Foster (@foster_katrina) November 18, 2016

Rev. Kathryn Lohre, ELCA Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations and the Past President of the National Council of Churches tweeting the video of the press conference shown above. The ELCA notes that the gathering was intended to "demonstrate interfaith cooperation and solidarity, and to call on the incoming administration to protect religious liberty and defend Muslims against violence, hate speech and discrimination." (see here) 

@ELCA part of @S2Scampaign press conference in solidarity with American Muslims - watch live at noon est https://t.co/G440EExQJI

— Kathryn Lohre (@kathryn_lohre) November 18, 2016

​God tells us:

​Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16


Islam is not a religion of peace. The god of Islam is NOT the God of the Bible. Muslims are safer in America than anywhere else in the world, much safer than Christians and Jews are in Muslim countries BY FAR! Muslims are people who need to know the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

Let us pray for, and not with Muslims.
Let us look for opportunities to guide Muslims to know Jesus, not guide our youth to attend worship gatherings of a false god.
Let us introduce others to the Prince of Peace, rather than deny the call toward terror of radical Muslims.
Let us ask God to use us as we take a stand for Him in a world that desparately needs to know the One True God.
1 Comment

Not Happy With ELCA Colleges

5/25/2016

1 Comment

 
The president of Pacific Lutheran University, Thomas Krise recently penned an article in response to a parent's concern for what she saw as a lack of Christian faith opportunities and emphasis at the Lutheran university. Among President Krise's sentiments were the following,
- "It is important that we also have an interfaith program that supports students from all religious backgrounds"
- "PLU doesn’t just welcome, but actively seeks out students from every possible background — all religions, all races, all ethnic groups, all socioeconomic groups, all sexual orientations, from all over the world"
- "We must be proficient in speaking the language of Christian faith as understood with a Lutheran vocabulary, while also speaking the language of other religious traditions" (read here)


When did it become important for a Christian university "to have an interfaith program that supports students from all religious backgrounds"? I don't think Jesus would want pagan religions practiced in His institutions. 

Many people had problems with what they saw and experienced at PLU. One student wrote in the comment section of this article, 
"I came here thinking this would be a great opportunity to strengthen my faith, and since I've been here, I've never felt more far away from God."
​
Lisa commented on the PLU Facebook page, under a link to their president's article, "Christianity is about The Way, The Truth, The Life. It is about Jesus Christ! That should not be watered down nor should Christians feel like they need to adjust their belief because of sin in the world."

Matt responded to the PLU post saying, "It's a very long article about the importance of the title 'Lutheran' which doesn't mention Jesus one time. I was disgusted by the 'Christianity' taught in the religion department while I was there and it appears not much has changed." (see here)
 
Interesting thing, in the article President Krise of PLU also writes "Tending to the 'roots' requires the presence of a vital Campus Ministry." So who does the ELCA president have to implement this vital campus ministry? Two weeks ago PLU announced “The Rev. Jen Rude will join Pacific Lutheran University as university pastor on August 1, 2016. Rude comes to PLU from Chicago, where she most recently served as program director for Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries...At Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, Rude led programs committed to expanding opportunities nationally in the ELCA for LGBTQ pastors.” (see here)

Pacific Lutheran University isn't the only one taking heat. After St. Olaf College, another ELCA college, posted a link about a transgender St. Olaf alum on their Facebook page, another former student had this to say, 


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People losing their faith, being milked for money and being silenced for conservative thought. We may have the basis for a new ELCA motto here. 

1 Comment

'Angry White People,' Universalism, Hindu Prayer and MOre

11/24/2015

5 Comments

 
Could this ELCA synod be talking about conservative and/or Bible-believing Christians?  

Percentage of people of color in the #ELCA has increased not b/c we've attracted more POC but b/c the angry white people left #ntnlife #elca

— NT-NL Mission (ELCA) (@NTNLMission) October 28, 2015
They don't like you, but I would bet they will still gladly take your money. 

​-----

The belief in universalism is strong in the ELCA, as you know if you frequent this website. Here is another example - 
 
“I believe God is big enough to have many ways to be reached; although I confess Christianity, I also believe there are many other paths to God.” – The Rev. Patt Kauffman on ELCA clergy Uncensored Facebook group. The link goes to the Closed group, which only those in the group may view. (here) 
 
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An ELCA news story about the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut does not mention the Islamic faith of the terrorists. (see here) I wonder why the ELCA is so free to condemn Israel (falsely, I might add) but they can not state the facts and motivation behind the terrorists actions we are seeing worldwide. 
 
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​
​Wartburg College, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) school, shared a video of their “Weekday Interfaith Chapel” (Sept. 30, 2015) in which a Hindu prayer was offered by the guest speaker. (see video here. View the video dated Sept. 30, 3015) 

5 Comments

ELCA Celebrating Muslim Festival of Abraham's Willingness to Sacrifice His Promised Son, Ishmael

11/25/2014

1 Comment

 
The Holy Bible tells us that Abraham was willing, in obedience to God, to sacrifice his promised son Isaac. But this month Luther College, a school of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) celebrated a Muslim festival - a festival that honors Abraham for his willingness, according to Islam, to sacrifice his son Ishmael, not Isaac.

A prominent Iowa newspaper, The Waterloo Courier titles their news article, “Luther kicks off year of interfaith celebrations with Muslim festival,” and tells us that “Luther’s observance of this sacred Muslim festival (Eid al-Adha) will include a brief program, where students will share their related experiences . . . The event is sponsored by Luther’s Muslim Student Association, College Ministries, Diversity Center and Interfaith Association.” (read here)

Similarly, a young women who is part of the ELCA's Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) Jerusalem/West Bank program describes how, at a local school YAGM works with, “we celebrated Eid Al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice), a major Muslim holiday, observed in remembrance of Abraham’s faithfulness toward God, even to the point of sacrificing his son. God instead shows mercy by telling Abraham to sacrifice a sheep in place of Ishmael.” (read here)

Participating in, celebrating and promoting non-Christian religious festivals goes against God's first commandment. Don't forget, we are talking about “a college of the church,” as ELCA colleges are proud to promote (and an ELCA youth internship program.) One might wonder why a college of the church would endorse a false teaching which goes against the Bible.

Here is yet another example of the ELCA leading young people away from God and His truth.

1 Comment

ELCA Women's Study

9/26/2014

19 Comments

 
Posted on the internet by a Lutheran pastor -

I'm looking for resources on the dangers of inter-faith dialogue that can help me explain at a basic level to my parishioners why it is not bigoted or unloving to say on the basis of scripture that faith in Christ Jesus is the one and only way to salvation.
This month I teach all the women's circles in my congregation and once again I'm dismayed at the ELCA women's study. This first month is about the conversion of Paul and focuses on an analysis of the human experience of conversion, lifting up examples of other faith conversions, Jewish, Buddhist, Islam with the implication that these are all legitimate paths to God.
The author compares the influence of Paul and Augustine and their influence on the Christian church with a middle ages Muslim named al-Ghazali who "influenced Islam and helped Muslims relate to God both intellectually and emotionally."
She goes on to give another example of "a person who grew up Lutheran was taught that only Christians are "saved" joins a Jewish-Christian weekly Bible study and comes to appreciate the worth of other paths to God, while remaining a loyal Lutheran."
My first impulse is to rave and rant but I know the best course is to teach them out of error. Any suggestions? Please pray for me:-)


19 Comments

ELCA Ministry At Western Michigan University

8/9/2014

1 Comment

 
Lutheran - Episcopal Campus Ministries at Western Michigan University is an ecumenical ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA). Browsing the Campus Ministry's internet page (here) they list only two "ministries" taking place. 

  1. COEXIST, an interfaith gathering described as "a gathering of individuals who are interested in how worldviews affect their engagement in society, rather than faith, narrowly defined. Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim perspectives are all currently represented and are valued voices in the group.  The group meets for topical discussion, reading of foundational texts (both religious and non-religious) and to hear speakers from various faith traditions in the community. On the second Sunday of the month, the group joins the Kalamazoo Interfaith Forum at the Sikh Gurdwara (place of worship) in Portage to engage people from the wider Kalamazoo area in conversation and fellowship." (see here)                                                                                                                                      
  2. Partners in Pride and Faith, a LGBT-focused gathering which "meets monthly to communicate and develop strategies to support the LGBT community in tangible ways." (see here)

Another interesting aspect of this ELCA - ECUSA Campus Ministry is that one of their student staff is a Muslim. His bio states,"Since his conversion to Islam in 2006, he has had the opportunity to study Arabic, Islamic theology, Islamic Jurisprudence, and Islamic spiritual philosophy under the eminent Shaykh, Sharif Ahmed Sahibzada of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He has volunteered for several Islamic organizations as well as several charity initiatives, most notable of which being Islamic Relief's 'Day of Dignity.' He currently is the main contact for COEXIST at WMU." (read here)

I wonder what the students are learning about the Biblical Jesus, the Word of God - The Holy Bible, and salvation by grace through faith in Jesus alone? By what I read on their website, not much of anything.

1 Comment

ELCA Lutheran College Mocks Jesus, Has Drag Show and Multi-Religions Room

3/16/2014

3 Comments

 
By Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. Facebook users can follow Rev. Brock by going here or twitter users here.

Today (3/14/2014) I visited Wartburg College in Waverly Iowa, an official college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A poster was up advertising the college’s Lenten services. On the poster was a picture of Jesus taking a “selfie” photo. Another picture showed Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a dinosaur. The caption read “Hey, my name is Jesus. My interests are messing with Pharisees,... riding dinosaurs, hanging out in the Wartburg Chapel during Lent…”

Also on campus were a number of posters advertising Gayla Week and Wartburg’s upcoming Drag Show on March 22nd. The show is promoted on the official Wartburg College website (wartburg.edu) as follows:

“Have you ever seen a guy do a back flip in stiletto heels? Now you will. Wartburg’s annual cabaret/drag show has become a phenomenon…About 700 people attended the performance in 2010. The show brings in professional drag queens and kings from around the state of Iowa… Wartburg is an inclusive community…The (drag show) is meant to educate the campus in a fun way about the history of drag and its importance in the LGBT culture…The Wartburg cabaret/drag show honors how the gay rights movement in the United States first began…

The website makes clear that Wartburg College is supportive of students’ sexual orientations and gender expressions. According to the student newspaper, last year’s drag show brought in over $1600.

Lastly, I stepped into Wartburg’s “Reflection Room” which “provides a quiet place for reflection, prayer or meditation…please respect the diverse traditions that are presented in this space. Enter to listen, learn and receive”. In the room was a table presenting a Bible, a Koran, a Buddha statue, a Dali Lama book and a Mwimbieni Bwana book. I couldn’t help but get the not-so-subtle message that all religions are okay. Nowhere did I see any indication of the Bible’s teaching that Jesus is the only way of salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).

Wartburg College was founded in 1875 by George Grossman, who was sent by a Lutheran pastor to establish a teacher training school for German immigrants. The college is named after Wartburg Castle in Germany whereMartin Luther translated the Bible into German. If the founders of Wartburg could see what has become of their college, I believe they would weep.
3 Comments

Should Lutheran churches help Muslims worship Allah?

3/7/2014

3 Comments

 
(the following is from Pastor Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org)

The liberal-leaning Metro Lutheran in its March 2014 issue has a glowing, front page article about ELCA Lutheran congregations in Minnesota that let Muslims use their worship space. Here is the response I sent:

It was with sadness that I read your report of Lutheran churches offering their worship space so that Muslims can worship Allah. The rationale given by one of the pastors was "our Christian faith calls us to help our neighbors". But are we loving people by helping them stay Muslims? Jesus taught that He is the only way of salvation (John 14:6) and the Apostles taught the same (Acts 4:12). If we truly love people we will urge them to come to Christ for salvation, not help them worship Allah.

Can you imagine Martin Luther promoting the religion of Islam? Please pray for the ELCA. It's time people leave it for a more Biblical branch of Lutheranism.

Pastor Tom Brock
3 Comments

ELCA Helping the Brotherhood's Desire to Change America's Constitution?

3/12/2013

1 Comment

 
Sayyid Syeed is the interfaith liaison for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).  In 2006 he was recorded saying, “[O]ur job is to change the constitution of America.” (see here) ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson calls Dr. Sayyid Sayeed a close friend and at the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Hanson said the ELCA was committed “to walk together” with Syeed's organization, the ISNA.  And they have.  The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a close interfaith partner with the ISNA. (See documentation here).

A recent article in FrontPageMag.com speaks of the ISNA's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and exposes the reasons behind the ISNA's desire for forming interfaith partnerships, like that which they have with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. FrontPageMag.com reports that a 1991 Muslim Brotherhood memo,


lays out how the Brotherhood network must 'posses a mastery of the art of "coalitions," the art of "absorption,"  and the principles of "cooperation.”'  It explicitly talks about using the 'hands' of the 'nonbelievers' to advance its agenda.

The work of ISNA and its allies in forging interfaith partnerships is undoubtedly a fulfillment of this directive.  ISNA has used these interfaith relationships to slam its critics as 'Islamophobes.'. . .

Syeed’s preaching is echoed by Muzammil Siddiqi, a member at large of ISNA’s board of directors.  He was also the president from 1997 to 2000.  He has spoken in support of the long-term implementation of Sharia Law and said in 2001 that Muslims 'should participate in the [democratic] system to safeguard our interest and try to bring gradual change for the right cause, the cause of truth and justice.  We must not forget that Allah’s rules have to be established in all lands, and all our efforts should lead to that direction.' (see here)

In light of that information, read what Sayyid Sayeed said while speaking at the ELCA 2011 Churchwide Assembly, “(w)e have worked with your organization and leaders [and] we have seen this tireless leader of yours, who’s been here for hours and hours.  But I’ve seen him in the corridors of power speaking the truth about issues … whether it is about peace in the Middle East or anti-Muslim bigotry in America. . . we are working together in shaping the new millennium. . .It is a new millennium – your leadership is critical, your understanding is critical not only for this country but for the entire globe.  You have set certain standards of cooperation, of understanding, those are a great asset for us, and it’s with this kind of understanding that we will be moving forward. . .We pray God almighty to bless us and together deliver this mission that is ours.” (see here)

Bishop Hanson said this at the same gathering, “We share a deep commitment to our growing relationship and dialog, but not just in dialog, in our working together to build a more peaceful and just world both in this country and in places of tension throughout the world.” (see here)

Seems like the ELCA is a willing pawn, being used to help establish the goals of the Muslim Brotherhood.

1 Comment
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    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.


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