ELCA Exposed News on The Bible
Brief History of Scriptural Authority Crisis in the ELCA:The Formation of Lutheran CORE and the North American Lutheran Church (by The Rev. Mark C. Chavez) . . .Disagreement on sexual issues is just one of many symptoms of a much deeper division and crisis in the ELCA. The division is centered on the crisis of the authority of God’s Word over all matters of faith and life, particularly the authority of Scripture – the Bible. . .(see related timeline Crisis of Authority of God’s Word)
A Tale of Two Bibles (by Fred Schamber)
. . .I have encountered ELCA theologians and Pastors who approach the Bible in a similar fashion. The essence of that approach is that the Bible is a human document that, though it contains a kernel of authentic religious truth, is so badly corrupted by the biases of those who wrote and “redacted” the texts that its “true” message can be discerned only by those perceptive individuals who know how to recognize the editorial additions and tease out its real meanings. Thus, it is entirely appropriate for modern Christians to discern new truths, not incorporated in (or even contrary to) Scriptural teaching, as they think appropriate to their contemporary experience. . .
Two opposing theologies reside in the ELCA. . .I agree that there are two conflicting and irreconcilable positions in the ELCA. I disagree that they are both valid. The questioning of the authority of God’s Word in the ELCA results not from just two conflicting paradigms, but from two basic theologies in the ELCA. . . (see a table with the two opposing theologies in the ELCA)
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END OF THE LINE FOR THE ELCA "JOURNEY TOGETHER FAITHFULLY."
Today is the end of the Line for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s “Journey Together Faithfully.” They vote on the second of two big issues in human sexuality and the one that the media deems so important, gay clergy. You can expect headlines and pictures of people in tears. I don’t want to belittle anyone involved, but you need two things straight. This is not about sex, but about the Bible, and second, this process has eviscerated the ELCA. It is a sad morality play about religion and politics full of ironies. It is a tale of what happens to a body of Christians when they want to be nice to everyone. In the end they forget what they were formed for . . .
Bound by Conscience or Denying the Bible? (MP3 Audio)
Interview with Dr. Albert Mohler and Dr. Robert Benne - The ELCA believes Bound Conscience overrides Biblical authority
Why the Historical-Critical Method of Interpreting Scripture is Incompatible with Confessional Lutheranism - by John F. Brug (pdf)
. . .the use of the historical-critical method is incompatible with confessional Lutheranism. This method must be rejected by everyone who believes in the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. The historical-critical method must be rejected by confessional Lutherans because it is contrary to what the Bible reveals about itself. The historical-critical method must be rejected by confessional Lutherans because it destroys confidence in all of the doctrines of Scripture. . .
Comparison of the ELCA and the LCMS
(details on a lot of issues we highlight on this site.)
The Church as an Organization - by Dr. Lothar Schwabe
A theology that does not respect “the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, through which God still speaks and as the only source of the Church’s doctrine and authoritative standard for the faith and life of the Church” deteriorates into religious propaganda that serves those who pay the bill.
To say that my church is not the same any more is an understatement. . .
To say that my church is not the same any more is an understatement. . .
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) - pdf doc.
The ELCA claims that it is a Lutheran church and that it honors the Lutheran confessions. But what is actually taught and practiced by these churches is not confessional Lutheranism. Several recent books supply the evidence that the ELCA is a grossly false-teaching church body. . .
A COMPARISON OF TEACHINGS - Scripture vs. the teachings of the ELCA - (pdf doc.)
. . .It does not take someone with a master of divinity degree to recognize that the teachings and practices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) are un-Scriptural. Because the ELCA clearly teaches doctrines contrary to the pure, simple Word of God neither Prince of Peace nor the CLC are in fellowship with the ELCA. . .
God, Christ, and Biblical Authority in the ELCA Today by Mark C. Chavez
(2010) . . .The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is experiencing a severe, tragic crisis with spiritual, theological, organizational, and financial dimensions. . .
Against the Holy Blasphemers
The greater problem in the ELCA, however, is called enthusiasm, or fanaticism. Fanatics are a specific type of infiltrating and clandestine false prophet. They are self-righteous. They are on a mission. They believe that they hold the key to the future. . .They believe they are the messengers and purveyors of a *new and higher law* than had ever existed before in church and world—even laws given by God himself. Furthermore, this new and higher form of law comes in the person of the Holy Spirit who gives them new spirit-led revelations that are not in Scripture but are supposed to be part of God’s hidden plan.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America moves closer to apostasy
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has decided to officially disregard the Bible's clear condemnation of homosexuality and instead adopt a politically correct view. When any Christian denomination puts political correctness above Scripture, cares about its own image instead of biblical truth, and even seeks to "play nice" with those who openly contradict God's mandate of heterosexual marriage, it ceases to be a true representative of Christ. . .
Theological Issues Challenging the ELCA
. . .Our beloved church, the ELCA, is awash in the culture of American religion but, as I said, we are in the same boat with many other churches. By all the polls America is a very religious nation, but its religion is predominantly not New Testament Christianity but neopagan gnosticism. . .
The Aroma Of An Empty Bottle - by Carl E. Braaten
. . . This is what happened in Minneapolis: appeals to reason and experience trumped Scripture and tradition, punctuated with pious injunctions of Lutheran slogans and clichés. The majority won. And they said it was the work of the Spirit, forgetting that the Holy Spirit had already spoken volumes through the millennia of Scriptural interpretation, the councils of the church, and its creeds and confessions. . .
Articles about ELCA Church's "Sparkle Creed"
- Minister’s Heretical ‘Sparkle Creed’ Sparks Controversy and Criticism
- Edina Lutheran church recites ‘sparkle creed,’ professes belief in ‘non-binary god’
- Video: Church recites 'The Sparkle Creed,' which proclaims belief in 'non-binary God whose pronouns are plural,' Jesus Christ who 'had two dads'
- Jesus ‘Had Two Dads’—Church Recitation of ‘Sparkle Creed’ Draws Criticism
- Female Lutheran pastor leads church in 'sparkle creed' prayer to 'nonbinary' God, says Christ Jesus had '2 dads'
- Video: Church recites 'The Sparkle Creed,' which proclaims belief in 'non-binary God whose pronouns are plural,' Jesus Christ who 'had two dads'
God-Breathed by Rev. Josh Schneide
. . .The way this happened in the ELCA and in so many other church bodies is that the Holy Word of God has been pushed from its place of honor and authority to become common and ordinary. Itching ears wanted new teachings that would suit our own passions and sensibilities. While they might say that the Bible contains truth, they would not affirm that all of the Bible is God’s truth. The one slogan of the Lutheran Reformation that was conspicuously missing from their official statement on accepting homosexuality was “scripture alone. . ."
MAKING OUR BRAINS BIGGER THAN GOD - PART I
(the ELCA uses the Historical Critical Method for interpreting the Bible) . . .this method that is the enemy of the Historic Christian faith that your parents and grandparents were taught from pastors and professors who were faithful to God’s Word. Many laypeople wonder: “what has happened to our church?” And the answer is: the “Historical Critical Method”. It has led countless churches, denominations, pastors and laypeople away from the rock-solid foundation of God’s life-giving Word, to doubt and question the Bible and the faith of prior generations of believers. . .
Lutheran Pastor Announces He’s Going to Preach ‘Against the Text’ + Torches the Great Commission
. . .his sermon engages in some hardcore higher criticism of the scriptures, freely admitting that much of it is untrue and self-contradictory but that he’s okay with it. Specifically, he goes after the Great Commission as against the spirit and teaching of Jesus, ties it into gender affirming care for children and then ends his sermon strangely and abruptly. . .
The Lord’s Prayer at HerChurch
. . .The Lord’s Prayer is one of several liturgical texts which have been rewritten for use in worship at HerChurch. . .
The Idolatrous Religion of Conscience — A Lutheran Lesson for Us All
. . .The idea of a bound conscience is deadly dangerous unless the conscience is bound by the Word of God. Those who would claim a bound conscience but pervert, deny, subvert, or relativize the Word may indeed be bound by conscience. But a conscience bound by anything other than the Word of God is a conscience given over to idolatry. . .
Transgender Pastor Claims Bible 'Wasn't Written For 2024'
. . .Stever, who identifies as a transgender man, serves at Hope Lutheran Church in Hollywood, part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In this interview, Stever stated that he believes traditional interpretations of gender, as outlined in the Bible, are "outdated." . .
Can circles once again not be square? (ELCA synod/bishop article - 2023)
. . .We Lutherans believe that the Bible truly matters. But, it doesn’t matter as much as the Word made Flesh. It doesn’t matter as much as Jesus. To quote Marcus Borg, “Jesus is the norm of the Bible. When the Bible and what we see in Jesus conflict, as they sometimes do, Jesus trumps the Bible. … In Jesus, Christians see more clearly than anywhere else the character and passion of God.” . .
Lesson Learned from Ethiopia
. . .This ELCA theologian was invited to teach a class on the Gospels at an Ethiopian Lutheran seminary.
One class was devoted to discussing the miracles of Jesus. The professor told the class of Ethiopian seminarians that his wife had a doctorate in Chemistry and had confidently assured him that it would have been physically impossible to change water to wine. . .
One class was devoted to discussing the miracles of Jesus. The professor told the class of Ethiopian seminarians that his wife had a doctorate in Chemistry and had confidently assured him that it would have been physically impossible to change water to wine. . .
An Ecumenical Council to Address “Biblical Fundamentalism?”
. . .Over the past half-century, various heresies, aberrant beliefs systems, and theological movements have found a safe home under the umbrella of the “mainline” denominations. Now, Bishop Hansen want to convene a global council to combat literalist interpretations of the Bible. . .
Top Lutheran bishop: If hell exists, ‘I think it’s empty’
. . .Is there a hell?
“There may be, but I think it’s empty.”
Why?
“Jesus was clear” in the Bible that after he was “raised up he will draw all people to himself.”. .
“There may be, but I think it’s empty.”
Why?
“Jesus was clear” in the Bible that after he was “raised up he will draw all people to himself.”. .
ELCA Bishop Teaches that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were Transgender Slaves
. . .she shared her youtube video of her retelling this story. The video is titled "Transgender slaves Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Follow God When Fancy People Do Not." . .
Lutheran Pastor Suggests Jesus Did Not Miraculously Feed the 5000, Offers THIS Stupid Alternative Reading
. . .Luedtke suggests that Jesus did not perform a physical miracle during the feeding of the 5000; instead, it was a spiritual miracle. Jesus did not create more loaves of bread and fish; instead, the boy’s generosity in giving his to Jesus saw the rest of the crowd pool the food they’d been hoarding. . .
Can circles once again not be square? (By an ELCA Bishop)
. . .We Lutherans believe that the Bible truly matters. But, it doesn’t matter as much as the Word made Flesh. It doesn’t matter as much as Jesus. To quote Marcus Borg, “Jesus is the norm of the Bible. When the Bible and what we see in Jesus conflict, as they sometimes do, Jesus trumps the Bible. … In Jesus, Christians see more clearly than anywhere else the character and passion of God.” . .
Lutheran Pastor Says Jesus Screwed Up Big Time
Quote
When the Bible uses an allegory or figure of speech, it is usually obvious. But when an interpreter arbitrarily takes a passage that is obviously intended to be a literal statement of fact, and treats it as allegory, he is twisting the Word of God and knowingly perverting its meaning. - Dr. David L. Cooper
"no violence is to be done to the words of God, whether by man or angel. But they are to be retained in their simplest meaning wherever possible, and to be understood in their grammatical and literal sense unless the context plainly forbids, lest we give our adversaries occasion to make a mockery of all the Scriptures. Thus Origen was repudiated, in ancient times, because he despised the grammatical sense and turned the trees, and all things else written concerning Paradise, into allegories." - Martin Luther
"Let the man who would hear God speak read Holy Scripture." ~ Martin Luther
"But I have often declared that I greatly abhor allegories and condemn the fondness for them. For the examples and the footsteps of the fathers frighten me. By means of their allegories they obscure doctrine and the edification of love, patience, and hope in God when by those speculations of their allegories they divert us from the doctrine and genuine meaning of the words. Jerome and Origen are especially devoted to this. Indeed, Augustine, too, would have been brought to do so had he not been withdrawn from it by his controversies and disputes with the heretics. But because I admired these men as very great theologians, I followed the same course at the outset. When I read the Bible, I did not follow the literal sense; but according to their example, I turned everything into allegories.
Accordingly, I urge students of theology to shun this kind of interpretation in the Holy Scriptures. For allegory is pernicious when it does not agree with the history, but especially when it takes the place of the history, from which the church is more correctly instructed about the wonderful administration of God in all stations of life, in the management of a household, in the state, and in the church. Inasmuch as such interpreters overlook these things in the histories, they necessarily transform everything into allegories and a different meaning. Thus in this example, because they do not see the counsels of God and His governance, which is hidden under this ordinary outward appearance of household management and marriage, they attach to it a foreign meaning concerning the contemplative and active life" - Martin Luther, AELW 5:345
"no violence is to be done to the words of God, whether by man or angel. But they are to be retained in their simplest meaning wherever possible, and to be understood in their grammatical and literal sense unless the context plainly forbids, lest we give our adversaries occasion to make a mockery of all the Scriptures. Thus Origen was repudiated, in ancient times, because he despised the grammatical sense and turned the trees, and all things else written concerning Paradise, into allegories." - Martin Luther
"Let the man who would hear God speak read Holy Scripture." ~ Martin Luther
"But I have often declared that I greatly abhor allegories and condemn the fondness for them. For the examples and the footsteps of the fathers frighten me. By means of their allegories they obscure doctrine and the edification of love, patience, and hope in God when by those speculations of their allegories they divert us from the doctrine and genuine meaning of the words. Jerome and Origen are especially devoted to this. Indeed, Augustine, too, would have been brought to do so had he not been withdrawn from it by his controversies and disputes with the heretics. But because I admired these men as very great theologians, I followed the same course at the outset. When I read the Bible, I did not follow the literal sense; but according to their example, I turned everything into allegories.
Accordingly, I urge students of theology to shun this kind of interpretation in the Holy Scriptures. For allegory is pernicious when it does not agree with the history, but especially when it takes the place of the history, from which the church is more correctly instructed about the wonderful administration of God in all stations of life, in the management of a household, in the state, and in the church. Inasmuch as such interpreters overlook these things in the histories, they necessarily transform everything into allegories and a different meaning. Thus in this example, because they do not see the counsels of God and His governance, which is hidden under this ordinary outward appearance of household management and marriage, they attach to it a foreign meaning concerning the contemplative and active life" - Martin Luther, AELW 5:345