Widely Used ELCA Resource Calls Savior 'Christ our Mother'

2/17/2013

A lenten blessing from the ELCA worship planning resource Sundays and Seasons includes this gem (monstrosity):

“God our Father bless you and shield you.
Christ our Mother shelter you and carry you.
God the Holy Spirit guide your journey
+ both now and forever.
Amen.”

Seriously? “Christ our Mother?” The publishing company for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Augsburg Fortess) is suggesting ELCA churches use this blessing? The track record for this denomination shows that this is not an anomaly. The ELCA Director for Justice for Women, from the Office of the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA showed pictures of a female Jesus to a conference in 2011 (see here) Additionally, the ELCA has embraced calling God “mother” and eliminating the use of male pronouns for God as well as Christ's favorite name for God “Father.” (see here and here)

As far as Sunday and Seasons goes check out what else they have said in their liturgical resources here and here.

Members of the ELCA, do you really want to be taught, led and discipled by this denomination?

15 Comments

Didaskalos link

2/17/2013 10:46:01 pm

No objective observer can deny that the ELCA has succeeded in becoming a darling of the world and a wholly owned secular subsidiary of the Democratic Party, pledging fealty to both of its earthly masters in pompous, generic godspeak platitudes that are entirely unmoored from Scripture.

Robert Benne writes (in "Ethiopian Lutherans Break with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America") of the ELCA's longstanding plan to abandon orthodox Christianity:

". . .In 2009 the ELCA took unilateral action to cross a bright red line drawn by the EECMY and by many of its own members. It did not consult with other churches nor show any concern for the effects of its actions on its own members. “This church,” as the ELCA is fond of calling itself, proceeded headlong without any compelling biblical or theological rationale for such dramatic changes in practices. Indeed, it admitted it had neither those compelling reasons nor a consensus on these matters. It essentially had no teachings on these issues even though it legitimated practices that soon resulted in a de facto change in teaching. Blessing of unions has now become marriage, as it has in the larger culture. Shockingly, “this church” (the ELCA) has broken from “the Church’s” ancient consensus on the meaning of marriage. No wonder the Ethiopians, pressed hard by Muslims on these sexuality issues, reacted with such vigor.

[ . . . ]

"In 1999 the ELCA decided that it would avoid “cultural imperialism” by no longer sending missionaries to those who had never heard the Gospel (pioneer missionary work). Instead, it would concentrate on “accompaniment,” which meant helping churches that had already been established. Though nothing is wrong with “accompaniment” in itself, the new strategy seemed to deny the Great Commission. It orphaned a number of Lutheran missionary organizations that only recently have found a home among LCMC congregations or in the new North American Lutheran Church. The new ELCA strategy seemed to turn its back on generations of missionaries who had spent their lives in pioneer missionary work. It also has led to the likelihood that its seminaries would be more prone to encourage dialogue with other religions than to evangelize among them. This creeping tendency toward “religious pluralism” also aligns the ELCA with liberal Protestant propensities.

"Meanwhile, other irritants mounted up. The ELCA never advocated for any “pro-life” policies even though its social statement on the matter provided a theological rationale for such witness. Rather, its advocacy always seemed to legitimate the policy preferences of the Democratic Party. The language of worship—even the language of the Bible—was altered by the feminist language police to snip away masculine language pertaining to God. The bureaucracy in Chicago relentlessly pushed the LGBT agenda every chance it got. The ELCA’s quota system guaranteed that its bureaucracy and every legislative assembly would be tipped in the revisionist direction."

MARCY ANDERSEN

2/18/2013 01:17:06 am

THIS SUNDAY AT MY CHURCH THE BLESSING INCLUDED THE WORDING CHRIST OUR MOTHER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I HEARD IT WRONG, BUT A FEW OTHER MEMBERS NOTICED IT TOO. I CANNOT THINK OF CHRIST AS MY MOTHER. HE IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR, AND I FIND USING THIS TERM DEEPLY DISTURBING. THE ELCA SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO STOP ITS UNENDING REWRITING OF THE BIBLE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF MY LUTHERAN ROOTS, BEING THE THIRD GENERATION TO WORSHIP AT MY CHURCH. WE ARE A CONGREGATION IN AN INNER CITY AREA THAT PROVIDES HELP WHERE OTHERS DO NOT. AS MUCH AS I SEE THE WORK GOD CALLS US TO DO BEING DONE IN THIS BUILDING, I AM WITNESSING THE TEARING DOWN OF THE WORD OF THE GOD THAT CALLS US TO DO IT. I THINK THIS IS TRAP MANY ELCA MEMBERS FIND THEMSELVES IN. I KNOW MY HEART IS TELLING ME TO LEAVE, BUT I THINK OF THOSE WE ARE HELPING. ANY THOUGHTS?

Dan Haglin

2/19/2013 08:27:53 am

LEAVE! My family did. We and five other families started a new LCMC church three years ago. We now have 265 members, are building a 2.5 million dollar church, and the excitement and faithfulness of our people are phenomenal.

Mike Meyer

2/20/2013 05:09:28 am

Leave and do it quickly. Do not let your feelings for the good work your doing in your community through your local congregation cloud your judgment on this matter. The ELCA has abandoned the Bible and the clear teaching of Scripture. They are re-writing both to their liking. We are called to serve man, not bow down to man and seek his approval. Once the central doctrines of the Christian faith are re-written to the point that Christ ceases to be who He is, then it's time to get out. This is not a Christian denomination and it's certainly not Lutheran. I do not like having to refer to myself as a Confessional Lutheran, because of the ELCA. It should just be Lutheran. But because of the false teachings of this church body and the new ones I hear about do not surprise me in the least, I have to change what I call myself, so as not to be confused with, well whatever ELCA members are.

Samuel

3/5/2013 11:15:45 am

Mary GET OUT! As folks stay they will become desensitized and others will truly think that because you stay that you approve. No, get out! Staying is deadly... your eternity and that of countless others is at stake. Bless you in your faith journey. Connect with an LCMC church... you will find thousands of Lutheran like yourself... you will find true brothers and sisters in Christ.

Chuck Braun

2/18/2013 06:52:46 am

Marcy,

I can feel your pain, as my wife and I left our ELCA church of 30 years. If at all possible, find another non-ELCA Lutheran church in your area. If you can accept close Communion, find an LCMS church to join as we did. Or, AFLC, LCMC or NALC. You may join a new church, and still go to your old ELCA church once or twice a month and participate in the good things they are doing. LCMS churches also donate to Lutheran World Relief, and their own ministries involving inner-city humanitarian aid.

As much as you have the memories of your parents and grandparents invested in your present church, realize that it is God's great blessing that your grandparents are now with with the Lord, or if they are still alive they are oblivious to what their church is preaching.

If you choose to change churches, keep in touch with your old church's people lovingly, but be a member of a church where you can be nourished in the true Word and Sacrament. If you choose to stay with your ELCA congregation, mark your offering as "non-synod" and befriend all those there who are on your side. Your faith is grounded in Jesus Christ, and whenever two or more believers are gathered in His name, He is still present in your old church and whatever truth of God's Word they still hold to, as well as the Sacraments, are still valid.

I will submit a prayer request in your name this coming Wednesday evening at worship. If you'd like to hear some good sermons, check the website of my new church, St. Peter Lutheran in Arlington Heights, IL, fulllifeinchrist.org. We have an ELCA church a block away, and we participate with them in PADS to help the local homeless, we donate goods to LWF, and perhaps the Lord will win some more of their people over to us through our efforts.

The Grace, mercy and peace of the Risen Christ to you!

Kathy Suarez

2/18/2013 01:28:35 pm

Marcy -- I, too, feel your pain. I left my beloved Lutheran Church many years ago, and I still think about it every day, and agonize over the divisions in Christianity. Yes, it is very painful... I don't know what to say except try to stay strong. In my case, even though I struggle greatly with negativity, I think a person can grow from this anguish.

Jonathan Cates link

2/20/2013 12:48:07 am

Find a home with NALC, LCMS, or WELS. I did.

2/20/2013 02:41:12 am

I think the writing's on the wall: Four of us respondents have left ELCA. Get all those on your side to leave with you if they are willing. The heresy is only to get worse. Why have to dread or fear going to church, crossing your fingers during the sermons? Go somewhere where you can worship the Lord in Spirit and truth joyfully...

Madeline

2/21/2013 02:49:50 pm

Our first child was born in September of 2009. As we anticipated the covenant we would make as his parents on his baptism day, we were devastated to realize the church (ELCA) would not support us as we rejected the works of the devil; and promised to place in his hands the Holy scriptures, teach him the 10 Commandments, etc. We were blessed to find a pastor who could minister the sacrament at that time, but have struggled to find a church home since. It has been discouraging to visit with family and friends who continue to belong to the ELCA because they don't think the larger church's decisions impact their congregations, or they "love their quilting group", or it's the church where they were baptized, confirmed and married. With all due respect, to stay in order to continue a lineage with generations that came before fails to recognize there are generations that follow. My husband and I know we are the first teachers of the faith to our children, but it's my prayer that older and middle-aged adults would recognize that by not standing firm within, or cutting ties from, the ELCA leave young families in the lurch as we seek communities of faith where our children will be safe.

Paul

3/4/2013 11:13:53 am

I know I will be bringing this issue up in our church council meeting next week! I am surprised at how reticent older members are to deal with this week's "elephant in the room". "Christ ou Mother" is a me in the name of a figment. I don't need a preacher pronouncing a "blessing" over me in the name of a figment. he might as well have said Winnie the Pooh. Oh, it's on now!

3/5/2013 11:04:33 am

"Christ our Mother" seems to be more Catholic than Christian... Catholicism is really a Maryology... Though those attending the Catholic church do not admit it. "Christ our Mother" is not the Christ that died for our sins. NO, it is Mary! *Ever go to a Catholic cathedral count the candles at the Jesus station... then count the massive number of candles at the Mary station. There is the shocking truth. They pray to Mary to take our prayers to Jesus. Sorry, that is not what our Lord Jesus taught us.

Joyce Sabel

3/10/2013 07:32:16 am

Our church installed a new pastor in January and right off the bat in the first newsletter article he suggested for us to think of what we believe is true as an "image" of God and suggested He may be She and I was turned off by this article. I try to go to church not for the pastor but for the community feeling of worshiping God together. Unfortunately since he has asked us to not follow along during his Gospel dramatization when he tells us to close your books and set them down, I leave mine open and see that certain sentences are omitted and much is paraphrased. If a Christian drama was being performed I would agree that such liberties may be OK as long as the truth of the Word was upheld. But now during Lent when he has been giving the Blessing at the end of the service with the words, God our Father, Christ our Mother, much as the one above I have really started to think about going to a different church. I want to remain Lutheran, maybe just not ELCA. Just as it rubs me the wrong way that some people think our Christianity is a crutch and are atheists, it rubs me the wrong way when "new things" are introduced as "being OK' even though the Bible the Truth does not suggest this relationship. I believe that God is the Father, Jesus Christ is our Lord and son of the Father and I believe in the Holy Spirit. This is not leaning towards Catholicism as I sometimes attend the Mass with my husband whom is Catholic and have never heard of Christ being referred to as "Mother", but they do have a unique adoration of Mary the Holy Mother of our Lord.

Bruce Peterson

4/1/2013 05:11:07 pm

Why doesn't this web site allow me to forward articles by email to others?

Dan Skogen link

4/2/2013 04:30:22 am

I'm not sure exactly what is happening Bruce. If you want you could use the "copy" tool and then "paste" the article into an email.

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Widely Used ELCA Resource Calls Savior 'Christ our Mother'

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Dan Skogen

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