Last month transgender ELCA pastor Megan Rohrer wrote an article that was posted on the ELCA website, Living Lutheran. It was also promoted by the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA on Facebook. The article contained some troubling statements that go against Scriptural Truth.
Statement number one:
In universalistic fashion the author stated (and was quoted by the Southeastern Synod Facebook page) "You don’t have to be Lutheran to believe that all children are worthy of food, but it is beautifully Lutheran to see all people as children of God." (see here)
Note the line, “it is beautifully Lutheran to see all people as children of God.”
Boy that sounds nice. . . but the fact of the matter is it's utterly and completely false. That belief has its basis in universalism, an un-Biblical teaching, prevalent within the ELCA, that all people are saved and going to heaven. (read more about the ELCA and universalism here) God's Word tells us who the children of God are and who are not.
- This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. - 1 John 3:10
- Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - John 1:12
- Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” - John 8:42-47
As you can see Scripture clearly tell us that some people are not children of God. But that is hard for liberal ELCA leaders to accept because it goes against their universal non-Biblical salvation theology.
Statement number 2:
Remembering that the author thinks all people are children of God, he/she writes: “I hope these words will remind you that the God who named and claimed you, loves you more than there are grains of sand in the world and despite all the flaps and folds you may see when you look in the mirror, God declares that you are good.” Yet Jesus tells us in Mark 10:18 “No one is good—except God alone."
The Bible also says:
- “There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” - Romans 3:11-18
- If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! - Matthew 7:11
No one but God is good.
People need to receive and believe in Christ to become “children of God.” (John 1:12)
When was the last time you heard that in the ELCA?
Statement number one:
In universalistic fashion the author stated (and was quoted by the Southeastern Synod Facebook page) "You don’t have to be Lutheran to believe that all children are worthy of food, but it is beautifully Lutheran to see all people as children of God." (see here)
Note the line, “it is beautifully Lutheran to see all people as children of God.”
Boy that sounds nice. . . but the fact of the matter is it's utterly and completely false. That belief has its basis in universalism, an un-Biblical teaching, prevalent within the ELCA, that all people are saved and going to heaven. (read more about the ELCA and universalism here) God's Word tells us who the children of God are and who are not.
- This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. - 1 John 3:10
- Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - John 1:12
- Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” - John 8:42-47
As you can see Scripture clearly tell us that some people are not children of God. But that is hard for liberal ELCA leaders to accept because it goes against their universal non-Biblical salvation theology.
Statement number 2:
Remembering that the author thinks all people are children of God, he/she writes: “I hope these words will remind you that the God who named and claimed you, loves you more than there are grains of sand in the world and despite all the flaps and folds you may see when you look in the mirror, God declares that you are good.” Yet Jesus tells us in Mark 10:18 “No one is good—except God alone."
The Bible also says:
- “There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” - Romans 3:11-18
- If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! - Matthew 7:11
No one but God is good.
People need to receive and believe in Christ to become “children of God.” (John 1:12)
When was the last time you heard that in the ELCA?
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