The False gospel of Affirmation

In today’s progressive new church tolerance has become a substitute for adhering to God’s law. Our love for our neighbor takes precedence over the love of our Lord, sin is minimized and forgiveness doesn’t matter. Many look upon themselves as victims, pointing their fingers derisively at those that choose to obey the law and have the audacity to call attention to their disregard of morality. Many members of this progressive new church consider themselves oppressed and demand compassion and understanding. They chide those that have the courage to claim that faith requires sacrifice, calling them judgmental while they themselves lash out in anger and act as judge and jury. Those thirsting for acceptance willfully ignore God’s will and deliberately reinterpret Scripture to support their desires, all the while invoking a God that affirms any and all persons, regardless of faith or belief. This culture of victimization focuses, not on the atonement that took place on the cross, but on demanding justice and righting their perceived wrongs in this world. This new religion that affirms all is centered on self fulfillment, self esteem, self acceptance, and the love of self.

Much of the new doctrine promoted by the ELCA hinges upon the false gospel of affirmation. The false gospel of affirmation declares that God loves and affirms everyone, regardless of their faith. Sin matters not, since God loves us unconditionally, is never angry with us, and always affirms us. The need for forgiveness presumes that we have done wrongs, and the false gospel of affirmation and acceptance eliminates sin and opens a path to salvation to all, regardless of one’s actions or inactions. It is no longer necessary for God to judge, because God is love and only love. This reckless ambition to be all inclusive declares that there is no wrong, only a new and different, nonjudgmental and accepted norm. Where there is no need for forgiveness everything and anything is permissible. Nothing is subject to judgment, so the law is no longer necessary. When the law is no longer necessary, steps can be taken to eliminate the law. This often takes place gradually. We need look no further than the actions of the 2009 ELCA Church Wide Assembly to see how this is happening. Eventually, one believes that they are free from all moral laws by God’s grace. Then they are free to act in a way that pleases the self while rejecting our Lord’s directives. Where there are no limits or boundaries, there is chaos, and eventually a total disregard of the law, replaced by whatever it is that pleases us. This false gospel of affirmation does not need a Savior, since there are no sins to be forgiven. Since Jesus in no longer Savior, He becomes a martyr or perhaps just a nice guy that was misunderstood.

Romans 5:15-17, “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” When Adam sinned, he brought sin upon all mankind. Grace was given to us by God as a gift and that gift was His Son, Jesus Christ. Our Savior took upon Himself the sin of the entire world, yesterday, today and tomorrow, took the punishment that was meant for us, died in our place and defeated death so that we may live, eternally with our Father in Heaven. No, we are not affirmed simply by our Father’s love for us. He loves us so much He sent His only begotten Son to die for us so that if only we believe, we may have eternal life. Our grace is not without cost. Our grace came with a cost that was so precious and with a love that was so profound, it is beyond our human understanding. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God and that He came to take away the sin of the world. Our faith is not about ourselves, it is all about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This false gospel of affirmation does nothing but dishonor everything our Lord did for each and every one of us. This false doctrine is apostasy, plain and simple.

Since the heretical essays were removed from the "Digging Deeper" page on the ELCA website on 11-09-10, perhaps the leadership of the ELCA is reassessing their foray into apostasy. Let us pray that the leadership of the ELCA comes back to the Lord, since many will fall if they continue to travel this path away from God. Continue to proclaim the Gospel, everywhere and to everyone. Expose the false teachings of the ELCA and pray that the faithful that remain do not fall into the trap woven by the leadership and scholars of the ELCA.