ELCA Bishop Teaches Universalism to Youth

10/9/2013

Jim Hazelwood, Bishop of the New England Synod of the ELCA went to a youth camp this summer and taught the heresy of universalism to the 450 youth in attendance. The bishop held what he called, “Text and Talk with the Bish” where he invited the youth to text him any questions and then stood before them for 15 minutes and answered many of the texts he received.

Bishop Hazelwood blogged about his heretical teaching, sharing that one student texted, “Do you think god sends nonbelievers to hell?”

Bishop Hazelwood gave this answer to the youth, “No, I don't think God sends nonbelievers to hell, because God is not in that business. Plus it's not about what we believe, it's about the fact that God believes in us." (read here)

What kind of answer is, “God believes in us”? And it doesn't matter what we believe? Bishop, you are teaching the non-Biblical belief of universalism, the belief that all people will be saved.

People of the ELCA, do you see the damage this teaching will do to the 450 youth listening and the countless number of people who hear this belief that is constantly spouted within the ELCA?

Bishop Hazelwood's statement is downright false, deceiving, dangerous and against Christian teaching. God tells us in John 1:12, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

4 Comments

Dan C

10/8/2013 11:14:15 pm

To the Bishop: Silly or serious, as you say? Maybe you should have considered Mark 9:42 and Luke 17:1-2 before answering.

Chuck Braun

10/11/2013 03:01:57 am

It would be better if this bishop were thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck, according to Jesus. If this is what the bishop believes, he is no Christian, and should take a position as a clergyman in the Unitarian Universalist church. But I guess a nice paycheck, a fancy robe, a mitre and a crozier are too hard to give up.

Even though this nation has been mostly Christian since its inception, the Founding Fathers were basically not Christians themselves. John Adams was a Unitarian, who denied the Trinity and the deity and the works of Jesus as the Christ. Benjamin Franklin basically thought Christians were fools, and Jefferson was a deist who also held Christianity in disdain. And George Washington, though of the Episcopal Church, never received Holy Communion. And Washington was a member of the Freemasons, whose members must believe in a god or gods. That group at its core reaches that man is his own savior, saving himself by his good works, I seriously doubt whether or not Washington was saved.

So basically, the belief that faith in any god or gods will result in salvation is very old, and part and parcel of the belief systems of many of our Founding Fathers. It boils down to "It doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you're sincere."

This is the problem with mainline Protestantism, and now even some of the Evangelical churches are starting to deny the exclusivity of trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. But these false shepherds continue to deceive the churches which they lead.

Sadly, it is true, those who deny Christ as Savior will suffer eternal punishment. But the punishment will be more severe for Christians who departed from the true faith than for those who never knew His Name. And this bishop is storing up wrath...

Consider the Episcopal Church. They have gone on record as having apologized to Hindus for proclaiming the Gospel in India hundreds of years ago. Their presiding bishop says personal salvation is a heresy, they have joint prayer services with non-Christians, and will even allow people of other faiths to receive Holy Communion. Some ELCA churches have merged with Episcopal congregations, and I predict that within two decades that there will be an Episcopal Lutheran Church in America.

Someday, these false shepherds will have to give an account to Jesus on the Day of Judgment as to how they treated Christ and the least of his brothers and sisters. Having trampled His Gospel and exchanged it for a lie, passing that lie on to children, a very grim eternal destiny awaits these apostate church leaders. When those who pledged to uphold God's Word at their ordinations are now despising it and exchanging it for myths, they stand in need of repentance. God will not be mocked!

lois gronberg link

10/13/2013 10:37:46 am

Typical ELCA

Richard

12/4/2013 07:04:55 am

TEC is the worse and I hate it because I know a good bit of Bible believing, Gospel spreading Episcopalians that are hurt by their leaders actions. I even emailed their queen bishop about her "personal salvation" heresy once. I cannot believe a Christ believing church would apologize for spreading the Gospel. May God help them. Sad, just sad. Thank God I found the LCMS.

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ELCA Bishop Teaches Universalism to Youth

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Dan Skogen

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