The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America leadership is at it again. Pushing and pressuring our government to spend money we don’t have on the ELCA’s leftist, radical agenda. This time, the ELCA is asking its members to help pressure our government to give the Palestinians $340 million dollars. (read here) The ELCA leadership knows that the Palestinians ruling party in Gaza is a U.S. government-recognized terrorist organization (Hamas), which the Palestinians voted into power, and that the Palestinian rulers in the West Bank are not much better.
So as the ELCA pushes for tax payers’ money to go to terrorist organizations, we find out what the Palestinian leadership spends their money on in this next story. “Fresh off reports that Hamas lavished cash and free luxury hotel rooms on terrorists released last month from Israeli prison, it appears the Palestinian Authority (PA) headed by President Mahmoud Abbas is offering them even more financial perks. Hamas gave a $2,000 golden parachute to the freed prisoners in Gaza. Now, President Abbas is more than doubling that amount – to a $5,000 grant. The U.S. gives annual aid to the Palestinian Authority – about $600 million just last year – raising the question: are American tax dollars funding handouts to convicted terrorists?” “A Palestinian Media Watch study found that the Palestinian Authority spends more than $5 million per month in salaries for 5,500 convicted terrorists and other Palestinians serving time in Israeli prisons.” (read here)
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Two ELCA synods, the Western Iowa Synod and the Southeastern Iowa Synod, have decided to co-sponsor, what has all the indications of, an anti-Israeli conference October 14-15, 2011. (see here) Interestingly enough, the conference that the ELCA “Christian” synods are co-sponsoring includes a Muslim prayer service. (read here) The conference is called “US Policy in Palestine-Israel: Engaging Faith Communities in Pursuit of a Just Peace.” When I look at the program for the conference, maybe it is just me, but I don’t think this gathering is all that interested in making sure Israel gets a “just peace.” Notice some of the topics they will cover: - Challenging US Military Aid to Israel - Divesting from Israeli Occupation - Palestinian Christians & the Kairos document (read about the Kairos document here) - Debunking Myths About Islam - Muslim Contributions to Knowledge - Peace by Piece - Organizing Within the Churches - Fair Trade – Canaan - Ethical Travel to Palestine - Inside Gaza Today - Christian Zionism - Organizing on Campuses - Youth travels in Palestine One of the scheduled workshops is titled “BDS - MN Break the Bonds.” (see here) I looked up “BDS” and found a description on the organization's website outlining who they are and what they are about. It said, “(t)he global movement for a campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights was initiated by Palestinian civil society in 2005, and is coordinated by the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), established in 2007.” (see here) A few other things I noted about this conference: - Phyllis Bennis, a keynote speaker, was a founder and remains on the steering committee of the U.S. Campaign to End Israeli Occupation. - The speakers seem to be Americans and Muslims who have the same political/Middle East view point. - It is worth taking a look at who the other conference co-sponsors are. (see here) - The conference information pages use bias language and Palestinian talking points which are decidedly intended to put the Palestinian cause and positions in the best possible light while at the same time vilifying the Israelis. (see here) If these people want to hold a conference, they certainly have every right to do so, but why are these two Evangelical Lutheran Church in America synods supporting a Muslim prayer service and an Israeli-bashing symposium? Do you as ELCA members want your denomination to be associated with this kind of thing? So in an effort to set the record straight on the quest for peace in the Middle East, please watch this six minute video. Israel Palestinian Conflict: The Truth About the Peace Process The 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is now over. No doubt reports will be coming out about the happenings. Here is the ELCA’s summery of what took place (click here) A few items which I find interesting: - An Islamic leader spoke to the assembly and received three standing ovations. - The assembly passed a resolution which calls for congregations to protest against immigration laws like those in Arizona and Alabama. (read here) - Veiled comments were spoken and a memorial was approved which is founded in anti-Semitism. - The genetics social statement was adopted. - My understanding is that the assembly did vote in regards to proposed changes for congregations who want to leave the ELCA, it may have been brought forward in conjunction with other motions which I have not yet uncovered. - Many words were spoken which professed overwhelming pride for and the greatness of the ELCA. So in honor of the self-promoting and self-love which was so evident at the 2011 Churchwide Assembly, I give to you a video made at an ELCA National Youth Gathering: Lutheran Woman Today, a publication of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, published an article in their June 2011 magazine called “Holden Together.” In the article we are told about a retreat and Bible study where ELCA pastor, Matt Larson, taught on Genesis 1, 2 and 3. The pastor did not teach the traditional historical understanding that Moses wrote these chapters, instead it was “Yahwists” and priests. The take-away message of this Bible study on creation and Adam and Eve was, “(j)ust because it’s not real doesn’t mean it’s not true.” (link to the article)
The article earlier stated, “(w)hen asked to describe the creation story, members of our group offered similar words: allegory, symbolic, myth, parable.” Here is an ELCA affiliated magazine promoting the denial of the words of the Bible and make no mistake, it is also teaching their readers that they can not trust that what the Bible says is true. In the same article about the retreat, a Methodist preacher spoke to the group, the author tells us “he excoriated America for ‘raining down fire’ on the Middle East and called for forgiveness and reconciliation in our foreign relations.” This is so typical, many leaders in the ELCA and the mainline denominations that it is full communion with, blame America, hate on Jews and deny Scripture. “I believe the World Council of Churches has distinguished itself as one of the greatest tools used by Satan to water down, confuse and dilute the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a dying world.” - Hal Lindsey Please check out this video about the World Council of Churches (which the ELCA is a member of), Christians against Israel and interpretation of scripture. See video
If you haven’t seen this, Bishop Hanson released a statement saying that he "appreciated" President Obama's controversial Israel - Palestinian speech. Read this blog for more.
----------- If you have information, articles or blogs you would like Exposing the ELCA to consider posting, you can send them by using our new “Submit Information” page. (see here) ----------- Did you know that the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (ELCA) has a Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice (CCME)? The Center’s mission statement is “A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice (CCME) at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) fosters and deepens relations between Christians and Muslims as a significant part of its larger purpose of building bridges of mutual understanding, respect and cooperation among people of all faiths.” (see here) ----------- The April issue of The Lutheran magazine (ELCA) recommends utilizing the teachings of noted pastor, Rob Bell. (see here) Bell was recently featured in Time Magazine regarding his highly controversial new book, Love Wins, promoting the idea of universalism, that everyone will go to heaven. (see here) ----------- Below is a television report on St. James Lutheran Church in Greenfield, IN, which recently voted to leave the ELCA and join the NALC. Also included is a link to a radio interview with St. James’ pastor, Larry Gember. Fox Network News in Indianapolis (watch here) Radio WIBC in Indianapolis (listen here) You may like Glenn Beck or you may not, but he hits the nail on the head in this video segment. Please check it out and forward the video on to all your friends; the ELCA is part of the problem of which he speaks. It gives me no pleasure to say, but the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has taken the side of those that are against truth and against Israel. The ELCA has chosen the path of hate. They are part of this evil that Mr. Beck so clearly points out.
The ELCA has sided against Israel continually (see here). Our denomination is actively seeking a boycott of Israeli goods and of USA companies which do business with Israel. (see here) One of the leading theologians in the Lutheran church, Carl Braaten said the ELCA is anti-Semitic. (read here) The ELCA calls Israel “occupiers.” They use all kinds of bias rhetoric against Israel. The ELCA condemns Israel at every turn, yet they say nothing about the atrocities committed against the Jews. The ELCA website even says that Christians who support Israel are following heresy and these Christians “are actually anti-Semitic.” (see here) David Housholder, former ELCA pastor and current blogger on an official ELCA website, just recently wrote questioning whether the people in Israel are really Biblical Jews. Later he says “(t)he Bible is ambiguous as to whether Israel is a physical or a spiritual nation.” (see here and here) So why is our denomination taking the opinions and talking points put out by anti-Semitic terrorists as its own? The ELCA is taking it in and regurgitating this anti-Semitic propaganda. Its wrong! Stand up to it, denounce it and reject it. In a time when hate towards Israel grows every day, we need to stand for the truth. I agree with Mr. Beck. I will stand with Israel. The ELCA’s Presiding Bishop is "dismayed" that the United States did not side with another recent United Nations Security Council’s attempt to condemn Israel. Bishop Mark S. Hanson is in agreement with the 50 plus Muslim nations who are telling the Jews where they can live and build homes and where they can not. (read here)
First off, the Israelis own East Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria (or the West Bank) and Gaza because they won it in the Six Day War (1967), a battle where Arab armies first surrounded Israel, massing on their borders. (read here and here) Now the ELCA’s Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson is telling the Israelis that they are not allowed to live or build houses on the land they own. It’s crazy! I wonder if Bishop Hanson has told any other ethnic or religious group where they can build houses and live and where they cannot? The ELCA Bishop sounds like a mouth piece for the many anti-Semitic nations of the world. Read more about the ELCA’s view, statements and position on Israel. (here) The ELCA Advocacy Network on Jan. 18, 2011 sent out an email asking ELCA members to “Tell the President - Support a UN Security Council resolution condemning settlements. Tell the President to - Join the international community in reaffirming that Israeli settlements are illegal, are a major obstacle to peace, and should be halted immediately and completely.” (I’ve decided not to link to the ELCA propaganda but it is on the ELCA Advocacy website)
The ELCA has taken the position and talking points of the Arab world in its continued demands for Israel to abide by the Arab version, vision and plan for "peace." The Muslim world has an everlasting hatred for Israel, and sadly the ELCA is acting as a mouth piece of that hatred. The ELCA leadership is anti-Semitic to the core. David Neff writes that noted theologian Carl Braaten said, “the ELCA is antinomian—it rejects the law of God. . .ELCA leaders sneer at the idea that we can look to a book as our authority—especially a book written by Jews. Antinomianism and anti-Semitism are always found together.” (read here) To read more information on the ELCA's stance on Israel - see here. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America desires to pressure Israel. They want Israel to conform to the ELCA's vision of what peace should look like. "In April 2009 the ACCSR (Advisory Committee on Corporate Responsibility) approved a guide for congregations, synods and Lutheran institutions on how to develop a Selective purchasing policy" regarding Israel. (see here)
The ELCA's "Selective Purchasing Policy Guide - Middle East Strategy and Selective Purchasing Policy" tells us, "(i)n 2007, the Churchwide Assembly elaborated on these economic measures with the following action: 'To call upon the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to underscore the call for economic initiatives by this church and its members in the “Peace, Not Walls” campaign. Such initiatives, in consultation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, could include:
This guide for congregations, synods and Lutheran institutions includes a link to a "list of products to avoid from the (Israeli) settlements." Not only is the ELCA trying to encourage an unofficial boycott of products made in parts of Israel, they are also putting pressure on American companies to stop them from selling products to Israel, as seen here, "Advisory Committee on Corporate Responsibility (ACCSR) recommended in November of 2006 (and subsequently adopted in the spring 2007) the following plan of action for the programs work: . . .
So let me get this straight, the ELCA's plan is to hurt Israelis economically and try to force them to give up their businesses, homes and land that God promised them, putting themselves in more peril, so that Arabs, including some who are Christian, can live in a female oppressive society, under Sharia Law, where Christians are persecuted for their faith? The Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), has been elected president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). He is replacing Bishop Mark Hanson, who is the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA.
The election of Bishop Munib Younan should not be celebrated. His belief in replacement theology is evident (sorry to say it is also popular with many Lutheran's in America) Here are a few quotes from the man himself, speaking of Christians who support Israel and who believe Scripture which says God's everlasting covenant stands with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob's descendants, the Jews. "We don’t consider these people [Christian Zionists] a legitimate Christian sect or denomination," Munib Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, said. "It has nothing to do with true Christian teachings and ideals," insists Bishop Younan. "It is actually a heresy." "To the Americans and the world at large, we would like to say that the Christians of Palestine stand firmly with their people for freedom and justice and deliverance from the Israeli occupation." "To the Palestinians and the Arab world, we say do not lump Christian Zionists with true Christianity which stands with the oppressed and the weak against the oppressor," says Bishop Younan. "And to Christian Zionists we say, you are not welcomed here. Don’t come to our country to dupe and mislead people with your money and poisoned ideology." (read here) Bishop Younan was also an original signer of the Palestinian "Kairos" Document. The document has a host of outlandish statements and it is easy to see the bias and anti-semitic nature of it. This is the same document the ELCA has been heavily promoting. Here is a well detailed review of the Document. (read here) The ELCA and Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson is showing its anti-Israeli bias again.
A newly released news article by the ELCA says, "The church leaders also addressed concerns regarding Israeli settlement construction and settlement expansion, humanitarian relief into Gaza, the future of Christianity and the group's commitment to Jerusalem as a shared city, both shared as a holy city for three faiths and also shared in terms of Palestinian and Israeli governments, according to Hanson." (read here) I question the positions ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson takes on all things concerning Israel. He continues to rail against Israel and call for the Israelis to give up its land and capital of Jerusalem. Why? Is it to pacify the arabs who demand it. You can be assured that the arab christians living in the Holy Land would not have a better life in that scenario. They would be ruled by Shari'ah Law and would face death for believing in Christ. Ask Christians if living under Muslim rule is better than a democratic government and then look at what is happening in Gaza, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, etc. Christians are regularly killed for their faith and live as second class citizens in those countries. (And you should see how they treat women) If Israeli land was given to the arabs there would also be a mass exodus of arab Christians from the Holy Land, for the reasons stated above. Is this what the ELCA wants? This is what has been happening to the Christian population in Bethlehem. (read here) Splitting Jerusalem will not bring peace to anyone, it would just hurt Israel. Giving land to radical orthodox Muslims wont stop them from hating the Jews. That can only happen if they reject the teachings of the Koran. The orthodox Muslims do not want Jews in any of Israel, and they will not stop their terrorism and demand for all the Jewish land. If the ELCA demands will not bring peace but will bring more persecution to the christian palestinians, why then does the ELCA still hold these positions? Why is the ELCA siding with Muslims and against the Jews? The answer lies in the ELCA's feelings about Israel, or Jews in particular. Based on the ELCA's policies, actions, non-actions, words and silence, the ELCA leadership reveals their deep seeded hatred for the Jewish people. (see here) I believe it is Anti-Semitism at work here, and the ELCA is either being deceived by Lucifer or outright working with him. An effort in the Northwest Washington Synod to rescind Resolution 4 of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which allows practicing homosexuals to be pastors in the ELCA, failed. (see resolution results here)
Also, an effort to promote the propaganda document, Kairos Palestine Statement was referred to Synod Council. (read more information about the Kairos document) The world has a long held bias against Jews. The Jews can do no right according to the nations of the world, I guess it should be no surprise that the ELCA feels the same way.
Take the recent engagement between "peace activists" and the Israelis for an example of this bias. The world comes out in force and condemns Israel for the incident. The ELCA follows suit despite the clear and obvious video tapes showing these "peace activists" clubbing and attacking Israeli military personal. Some soldiers were thrown off the third floor of a ship, landing on the first floor. The violent "peace activists" attempted to kill the Israeli soldiers. (see here) and (here) But the ELCA will not let truth get in their way of blaming the despised Jews. The ELCA sends out a press release which said, "Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, a Norwegian Lutheran theologian and general secretary of the World Council of Churches (which the ELCA is a member of), Geneva, called the events that occurred May 31 'deplorable.'" "'We condemn the assault and killing of innocent people who were attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, who have been under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007. We further condemn the flagrant violation of international law by Israel in attacking and boarding a humanitarian convoy in international waters. We pray for all those who are affected by the attack, especially the bereaved families,' Tveit's statement said." (see here) Make no mistake, when the ELCA posts this on their website and sends these kind of bias statements to news services, they become the denomination's position. But the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's position on Israel has been obvious for anyone listening. The ELCA likes to pretend they are seeking peace for both Israelis and Palestinians, funny thing is the ELCA always ends up demanding things of Israel that are not in the countries best interest, while asking nothing of the Palestinians. Look at the ELCA's record. (see here) Here is David Fischler's take on what ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson had to say about this incident. (read here) Facts are facts. The ELCA has something against God's chosen people. And I will never support that. |
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Dan Skogen
Former ELCA seminary student and former ELCA member who is fed up with the ELCA's consistent mockery of God's Word. If you have been helped and blessed by Exposing the ELCA's ministry, please help us continue to proclaim the truth of God's Word to ELCA members who need to hear it.
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Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Ephesians 5:11
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