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(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) For years, Living Lutheran, the official magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has printed articles promoting homosexuality and transgenderism, while forbidding the traditional, biblical viewpoint in its pages. As if to see how radical it can become, Living Lutheran magazine celebrates gay pride month in an interview with queer/bisexual ELCA activist pastor Elle Dowd, who calls for the overthrow of “heteronormality” and capitalism. It is the most radical Living Lutheran article to date.
Here are some highlights: The article begins: June is Pride Month, and we are excited to amplify the voices of our ELCA siblings who are proud to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community... Today we are speaking with pastor, author and activist Elle Dowd (she/they). Dowd states: I am currently...finish(ing) up my Ph.D. in queer theology, researching bisexual theology...I have a lot of religious trauma from growing up in the church...I received a lot of messages about the sinfulness of my identity (as a bisexual/quer pastor), which deeply harmed me... we can’t continue to affirm theology that is killing people. The ELCA needs to move toward a full-throated, wholehearted affirmation and even celebration of LGBTQIA+ people..What I want to know is: Are you lobbying your legislators to protect LGBTQIA+ people? Are you protesting and taking the streets when our rights are ripped away from us? ...Does your budget and your calendar reflect that we are a priority? Are we in your pulpits? In your liturgy? In your Sunday school illustrations? What kind of conversations are you having around reparations?...Does your congregation have education about the phenomenon of bisexual erasure? ...I pray for... the dismantling of white supremacy, for an end to cis-hetero patriarchy, for the fall of capitalism and empire, for #landback, for abolition, for reparations, for restoration... So ends the article Whew! The truth is that if I Corinthians 6:9-11 is true, that homosexuals will not inherit the Kingdom of God, then it is hateful to promote homosexuality, which the ELCA is doing in its national magazine. Living Lutheran is funded by ELCA offering dollars. That's right, your ELCA offering dollars at work, overthrowing “hetero-normality” and capitalism. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock PS. The article states that its author is Kelly Wilkerson who is in full-time ministry and “resides with her fiancée”, an unashamed plug for pre-marital cohabitation (Read Living Lutheran article here.)
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An article in the ELCA magazine Living Lutheran and posted on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Facebook page claims God's empowerment in the LGBTQ 'movement.' The article states:
"We call this an LGBTQ 'movement' and that image is apt. None of us are ever there at 'the beginning' of the movement, since the beginning is when God spoke the heavens and earth into being. We only enter this movement because of Christ’s redemption. Empowered by the Spirit, we move this movement along with our words and our actions, and eventually we pass it along to the next generation." (See here) The ELCA continues to push its liberal, anti-Biblical, LGBTQ views on its membership and two of the ways they do so is through their publications and social media. 
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Is the Great Spirit of Native American spirituality the same as the Christian God? That appears to be the teaching of the Christmas edition of Living Lutheran, the national magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The magazine highlights (see link below) an ELCA congregation called Lutheran Church of the Great Spirit in Milwaukee which “combines the Lutheran church and indigenous ceremonies”. The church hosts a Full Moon ceremony and practices smudging (the burning of plants to drive away evil spirits). The church prays in the direction of the Four Winds to pattern itself after Native American spirituality. I remember years ago, before I led my congregation out of the ELCA, I shared in a sermon that I had attended an ELCA convention in which we prayed toward the Four Winds to pattern our prayers after Native American worship. I got to the microphone at the convention and said “I am from German ancestry, what are we going to incorporate next, Thor and Oden worship to accommodate people like me?” After my sermon, a Native American woman of my congregation came up with tears in her eyes, saying “They’re trying to take us back to what Jesus saved me from.” The Living Lutheran article quotes the pastor of Great Spirit Lutheran to say “Indigenous peoples were living the Christian way before the Europeans came”. What would the Apostle Paul say to this? As Paul traveled the Roman Empire, he did not preach that Zeus was really the same thing as God the Father. In fact, Paul taught that the ancient pagan gods were demons, not reflections of the true God (1 Corinthians 10:20). The ancient pagans indeed were not worshiping the true God before Paul came along. This Christmas, let us worship the one true God-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-and let us turn away from all the false gods that we and our ancestors have worshipped. In Jesus our only Savior, Pastor Tom Brock (See ELCA article here.) (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Living Lutheran magazine, the official magazine of the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has once again produced a glowing pro-transgender article. If you read it below, you’ll notice the good guys are those who believe “God made me transgender” and the bad guys are those who disagree with the LGBT movement. This, even though the ELCA claims to allow both conservative and liberal views on the subject. But you will never read a conservative viewpoint on LGBT matters in Living Lutheran, it has been banned. In the article’s last paragraph, you will see that the good guys are also those who support abortion rights, Roe v. Wade, and “gender affirming care“ for youth (which often means allowing hormone blockers and sex change operations on children). Most Americans are opposed to this destructive surgery on minors, but you can read Living Lutheran’s support of “gender affirming care” for youth below. In addition, the ELCA tragically pays for hormone blockers for children in its national healthcare plan, which is funded by offering dollars. May we always believe what Jesus taught: “He who made them in the beginning made them male and female” (Matthew 19:4). Jesus didn’t add “and bisexual and homosexual and transgender and two spirit and…”. And Jesus had very serious things to say about those who harm children (Luke 17:2). Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (Read the ELCA article in Living Lutheran here) 
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
In the November, 2021, edition of Living Lutheran, the official magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, a writer talks about how she practices both Native American religion and Christianity. She partakes in smudging ceremonies, burns tobacco as worship, and makes offerings to “Mother Earth”. I remember years ago when I was still part of the ELCA, the Minneapolis Area Synod convention had a prayer time in which people turned to the north, south, east, and west, to pattern our worship after Native American prayers to the four winds. I got to the microphone and said “I am German, my ancestors worshipped Thor and Odin, are we going to incorporate Thor worship at our next convention?” I went home to my Lutheran congregation and preached how the convention is now incorporating pagan practices. A dear Native American woman of my church came up afterward with tears in her eyes and said “They are trying to take us back to what Jesus saved me from!” Some believe that the various world religions are all aspects of the same God. The Apostle Paul did not. He believed pagan Roman religions were not worshiping God, but demons (1 Corinthians 10:30). It is tragic the ELCA’s national magazine does not see that. In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock (See page 28 of article here) Claiming to celebrate women, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) featured a man who is transgender in an ELCA article for Women's History Month. (See here) It is an incredible display of disrespect and mansplaining for a man to be highlighted for Women's History Month and then for him to explain what he believes "are the most pressing issues facing all women today?" and what actions "the ELCA could take to better support and empower women within the church and in the wider community?" This is the world we live in, where those who claim Christianity encourage sin, deny science, and reject God's creation. Where society and faux Christian denominations propagate and generate the belief that men are women, usurping the dignity and blessings of women.  (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Below is a picture from the current issue of Living Lutheran, the national magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Pictured is Guy Erwin leading a worship service at the National Assembly. Erwin is the ELCA’s first homosexual bishop with a “husband“ and he is now the president of an ELCA seminary. The article mentions that the Native American practice of smudging occurred during the assembly, along with the Native American “Prayer to the Four Directions of the Earth.” Smudging is a Native American practice of burning sage in order to get rid of evil spirits and energy. In a previous post here was my comment on incorporating pagan practices into a Christian worship service: “Years ago when I was still a pastor in the ELCA, I went to one of our conventions where we turned to the north, south, east, and west in order to pattern our prayers after Native American spirituality. I got to the microphone and said "I am German, my ancestors worshiped Thor and Odin. Are we going to incorporate Thor worship at our next convention?" When I returned home, I told that story to my congregation and a Native American woman with tears in her eyes said "They're trying to take us back to what Jesus saved me from." This is called syncretism, when people mix various gods and religions together. It is what got the ancient Jews in trouble when they tried to mix Baal worship with the worship of Jehovah.” It is interesting that the ELCA’s national magazine put all of this on display for everyone to read. I hope many ELCA Lutherans will become upset over what happened, but I’m afraid the “frog in the kettle“ syndrome has dulled the senses of many in the ELCA. But I must say to the ELCA: No, ELCA, smudging and sage do not drive out evil spirits, but only the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, Pastor Tom Brock  (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
Living Lutheran, the official magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has become predictable in its promotion of all things LGBT. One article talks about the “historic” election of the ELCA’s first lesbian bishop and also the election of the ELCA’s first transgender bishop. Then there is an article by the homosexual president of an ELCA seminary (who has a “husband”) talking about how he weaves together being gay and Lutheran. He states “Late in life, I have woven these three aspects of my life- Osage, Lutheran, gay- closer together, and I am a happier, more complete person for it.” Then there is the magazine’s torturous avoiding of the word “he” for God, like this statement: “God provides us with the original Sabbath blueprint creation, when God rests on the seventh day…God also commands God’s people to honor the Sabbath day.” This de-sexing of God language is done because the biblical way of referring to God as “he” is offensive to the ELCA’s feminist sensibilities. On a very rare occasion, a conservative point of view comes out in the magazine’s Letters to the Editor. One writer from Iowa said “I have observed my own church move from conservative to ultraliberal during the past 33 years of the ELCA. I am sorry to say, if Bonhoeffer we’re alive today, he would not be a member of the ELCA.” Finally, something in the Living Lutheran magazine to which I can say “Amen.” Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock --- See August, 2021 issue of Living Lutheran here.
(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
The first article in the October 2021 edition of Living Lutheran, the official magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, says this: ”And the Spirit transforms you and me by her relentless presence in, with, and among humanity”. The Bible never calls the Holy Spirit “her” or “she”, but that does not stop the feminist ELCA from revamping the biblical language for God. Indeed, years ago, the ELCA came out with its most recent hymnal which desexed all the Psalms to get rid of masculine pronouns for God. I hope you attend a good church which unashamedly worships the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the only true God. In Jesus our Savior, Pastor Tom Brock PS The same article also talks about the “kindom” of God (whatever that is) instead of the “kingdom of God“. I’m presuming we can’t even say the word “king” anymore because that is too patriarchal and oppressive. ELCA Lutheran magazine article on ELCA’s first lesbian bishop: 'God has created you this way'8/30/2021 (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
Living Lutheran, the official magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has a glowing article about the ELCA’s first lesbian bishop who has a “wife”. The article states: “The first openly lesbian bishop in the ELCA, (Brenda) Bos said her call to ministry was directly tied to her coming out… ‘The integration of my sexuality and my spirituality has been a key piece of my evolution as a spiritual person and a religious leader,’ she said. ‘They’re almost inextricable…The process is about recognizing your full personhood…As you become a fully integrated person who has come out to themselves, you realize that God has created you this way, God delights in you,…’” (see here) No, God does not create people to engage in sex with members of their own sex (see my article “What does the Bible teach about homosexuality?” at pastorsstudy.org). I personally have struggled with same sex attraction most of my life, but for the sake of Christ and my soul (I Corinthians 6:9-11), I abstain from this behavior. If you or someone you know struggles with same sex attraction, you may wish to go to restoredhopenetwork.org and see if there is a support group near you. When I was young, all Lutheran denominations taught that homosexual behavior is sin. But at a church convention in 2009 the ELCA voted to ordain practicing homosexuals. Today the ELCA also ordains transgender and bisexual pastors. Even the ELCA’s World Hunger program will be promoting the LGBTQAI+ agenda at an upcoming webinar. And, most grievous of all, Lutheran teenagers are taught the pro-LGBT agenda at ELCA Teen Gatherings and in ELCA youth materials. Isaiah 5:20 says “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). And Jesus said it is better to have a millstone around your neck and be drowned in the sea than to cause little ones to stumble (Luke 17:2). Tragically not only the ELCA but also the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church in America, the Disciples of Christ and (soon) the United Methodist Church all ordain practicing homosexuals, thus affirming as good something that God calls evil. All these denominations are shrinking in membership and contributions, and they should. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
Living Lutheran, the national magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is ever printing articles promoting the LGBTQIA+ agenda while never allowing a conservative viewpoint to be heard. Witness the June/July 2021 issue. I’ve never seen so many pro-gay articles in one church magazine. First, in its “I’m a Lutheran” column, the magazine highlights a person from the LGBT community. Next is an article by lesbian Pastor Emmy Kegler. Then an article about a California ELCA congregation which helps LGBT people who have experienced “religious rejection” by the Church, which I assume means someone told them that homosexual behavior is sinful. Then there is a disturbing article about a summer camp that is helping youth accept their homosexuality and transgenderism. Lastly are the “Highly recommended” books for the month, a list of seven books, all of which promote the liberal view on homosexuality and, again, not one representing the traditional Christian point of view. Notice how youth are targeted with some of the book recommendations: “Made, known, loved: developing LGBTQ-inclusive youth ministry”, “Outlove: a queer Christian survival story”, “Queerfully and wonderfully made: A guide for LGBTQ+ Christian teens”, and “Welcoming and affirming: A guide to supporting and working with LGBTQ+ Christian youth”, One would think they are reading a gay pride magazine but, no, this is the official magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA voted in 2009 to ordain practicing homosexuals and to allow for homosexual “marriages”. Back then the vote was somewhat close with 66 percent voting to affirm homosexuality, but conservatives were assured their viewpoint would be allowed in the ELCA. In the ELCA's national magazine, the traditional, Biblical viewpoint is never allowed. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (See publication here) (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)
The below article is tragic. Instead of helping young people with same-sex attraction and gender confusion see the light, they are helping them get comfortable in the darkness. If you or someone you know has same-sex attraction, go to restoredhopenetwork.org and you will see a list of ministries around the country that help people with same-sex attraction deal with it in a Biblical way. But you won’t see any of these groups highlighted by the ELCA, because Living Lutheran bans this view in its magazine. I should know, I am part of a such a group called “One by One” which inquired about buying advertising space and were not allowed because, we were told, our view is not congruent with more recent decisions of the ELCA. This in spite of the fact that the 2009 ELCA decision on homosexuality assured conservatives that their viewpoint would also be allowed in the denomination. But it is not allowed in the ELCA’s national magazine. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (See article here.)
On May 8, 2021, the Sierra Pacific Synod of the ELCA elected transgender pastor Megan Rohrer bishop of their synod.
Thrilled with the news, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America issued a press release with posts on their website, Facebook page and their magazine Living Lutheran announcing the historic action of the ELCA's "first openly transgender bishop..." (See below) The news has been picked up by many national news outlets including this one from NPR. The ELCA mocks God. They mock God's Word. They lead others astray and they twist the Truth. The ELCA:
I can no longer have any respect for anyone who remains in the ELCA. That includes churches that remain too, from the very smallest to the biggest (the ELCA's Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines and Nazareth Lutheran in Cedar Falls, to name a few). Shame on you for staying in a denomination that is not faithful to Scripture but is leading people into sin and away from Jesus. Your participation is your shame and you have no excuse. You can not justify being part of this evil, faith-destroying denomination. (See the new release the ELCA published where they brag "Rohrer is the first transgender bishop in the ELCA" here) 
Living Lutheran magazine continues to promote LGBTQAI+ agenda, won't allow conservative view1/31/2021 (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Living Lutheran, the national magazine of the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has an article highlighting Mikah Meyer, a runner who has run 210 miles to promote the LGBTQAI+ agenda. The conclusion of his five week run across Minnesota was “chosen to coincide with National Coming Out Day.” This is Living Lutheran’s second article on Meyer, who earlier visited every national park in America to promote LGBTQAI+ inclusion. Living Lutheran magazine often highlights homosexual and transgender persons in the ELCA. In 2009 when the ELCA voted to ordain practicing homosexual pastors, conservatives were assured that the more traditional view of homosexuality would also be allowed in the ELCA. However, Living Lutheran does not allow the conservative view. I am part of a Christian ministry called OnebyOne which helps people out of homosexuality. We inquired about putting a paid advertisement in Living Lutheran about our ministry but were denied because our viewpoint does not line up with “more recent decisions” of the ELCA. So much for tolerance and diversity of opinion--much less Biblical Christianity--in the official magazine of Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (See article here)  (The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.) Living Lutheran, the national magazine of the liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has an article giving advice on how to observe lent. It starts with this "Deep breaths.… Remember to breathe deeply. While doing so, perhaps you can meditate on a mantra such as "I breathe in peace. I exhale worry.” A mantra is the Hindu practice of repeating a phrase over and over to achieve magical and spiritual results. The article also recommends reading a “centering poem” each day and “Light a candle. Sit by its glow. Watch the flame and smell the scent. Repeat as often as needed, whether aloud or silently: “Jesus is the light of our world.” This incorporating of non-Christian religious practices reflects what the ELCA did at its last national assembly in affirming that we do not know what God thinks of non-Christian religions. One delegate tried to amend that saying, yes, we do know since Jesus said He is the only way of salvation (John 14:6). The delegate was voted down by 97 percent. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Tom Brock (See article on page 9 here)  |
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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