Jonah and the ELCA

12/21/2009

Sometimes I have to laugh. The ELCA teaches that Jonah and the Whale is a myth intended for teaching a moral lesson. Really? The book of Jonah reads as if it is an actual historic event. It has details that would be un-necessary if it was a made up story. The city Jonah went to is Nineveh, which is an actual city in the world at that time. And to top it off, Jesus himself said it was an historic event! In Matthew 12:39-41, Jesus speaks, ". . .A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here."
How can the ELCA say Jonah and the whale is a made up story if Jesus said it happened (just like he will rise again in three days)? Oh Yeah . . . they don't believe Jesus really said what is in the Bible, PLUS they don't really believe the Bible. Yeah, that's the kind of church I want to belong too. How about you?

2 Comments

Dale W.

1/8/2010 06:55:55 am

Hi Dan:

Though I am not Lutheran, I can appreciate your position. I went through a similar time in a small denominational group I was once a part of.

My first question is, why remain a member of the ELCA if you no longer agree with their doctrinal drift? There are other Lutheran groups that surely remain more orthodox, are there not?

Second, if I understand correctly, you are a Pastor within the ELCA? How can you remain within the ranks of ELCA ministry, and yet dissent as you do? As I understand it, Lutheran polity is connectional in nature, a sort of modified for of episcopacy or perhaps prebyterian in nature? In any case, I know from experience that challenging the power that be can bring those powers down on you. How do you survive it?

I wish you the best in pursuing Truth against the enemies of the Gospel, wherever it may take you...

Dale W.

Dan link

1/8/2010 07:17:29 am

Hi Dale,

Thanks for your comments. To answer your questions -

1) The reason I am still a member of the ELCA is because we have a congregational vote coming up on how our church will respond to the ELCA's recent actions. And I want to have a voice and vote in the matter. If they decide remain within the ELCA I will be looking elsewhere.

2) I am not a pastor within the ELCA (or anywhere else). I was an ELCA seminary student though. That is how I got first hand knowledge about the teachings there.

Thanks for the well wishes. I'd love to hear more of your story if you would like to share. May God bless you.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Jonah and the ELCA

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Dan Skogen

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