ELCA Youth Gathering Hears Troubling, Wrong Message

The ELCA 2012 National Youth Gathering is going on as we speak.  Over 30,000 youth are estimated to be in attendance.  After reading some disturbing reports by a number of orthodox Lutheran pastors about opening night keynote speaker Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber’s message (read about her here) I went to the ELCA’s website to view it myself. 

Here are some quotes from Rev. Bolz-Weber’s address and some comments:

Rev. Bolz-Weber starts out mocking the “fundamentalist” church that she grew up in, at one point saying, “They thought they were the only Christians.”

She told the youth that as a teenager she hated Christianity.  “I hated it. I hated the smallness.  I hated that fact that we had to reject everyone that was not just like us.  I hated the narrow-mindedness.  That was the only form of Christianity I knew existed and I knew I didn’t like it.”

The main subject of Rev. Bolz-Weber’s address was herself.

Of course there were the obligatory mentions of “gay” persons and even “transgender kids.”

Throughout the message there was a lot of bragging about being “Lutheran.”  Bolz-Weber said, “Here is what you need to know about this thing you have, this Lutheran liturgy and this Lutheran theology, and this whole tradition.  It is a feast, and it is a feast to be shared, and I’m here to tell you, people are hungry.  People are hungry.  And you have a feast entrusted to you, and they are ready for it.”  And “That’s what it looks like to be a Lutheran!”

I have to ask, do we Lutherans worship Martin Luther or Christ?  We are to lift up Christ and not our church.

Near the end of her speech she said, “. . . some of your parents and some of your pastors were really upset that I was your speaker tonight.  They felt like I was somebody who should not be allowed to talk to tens of thousands of teenagers.  And you know what I have to say to that?  They are absolutely right . . . I should not be allowed to be here talking to you.  But you know what?  That’s the God we’re dealing with, people.”

Rev. Bolz-Weber referenced Jesus, saying, "Who from the cross did not even lift a finger to condemn the enemy, but instead said, 'I would rather die than be in the sin-accounting business.'"

Fact is, orthodox theology is clear that Jesus is all about the sin-accounting business.  His death on the cross was exactly that.  Jesus dying to account for our sins.  “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:8-9.  Additionally, we know with confidence, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16

The very heart of the gospel was not spoken to the youth listening.  Our young people need to know that if they do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, their sins are not forgiven, and if they do not receive Jesus their eternal salvation at risk.

I don’t remember hearing anything in Rev. Bolz-Weber’s address about repentance, turning from sin or forgiveness. But she did tell the youth, “I swear like a truck driver.”

The kids at the ELCA National Youth Gathering 2012 got a big dose of the “gospel of affirmation” in the Rev. Bolz-Weber’s keynote address.  It is a false gospel.  

Dennis E. Marks explains “gospel of affirmation” as: “instead of changing people, God simply affirms people how He finds them.” (read here) Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (Richfield, WI) explains it this way, “This teaching suggests that the good news is that God loves and affirms everyone, regardless of their faith, life style choices, etc. There never is a need for real repentance because God is never angry with us.” (read here)

Based on the video of Bolz-Weber’s address (see here click Wednesday) and on her husband’s blog (see here), the youth ate it up.