When investigating crimes, the police detective searches for evidence and clues. If the detective focuses on one particular suspect before compiling all the evidence, he may overlook facts that may implicate someone else that actually committed the crime. So, the detective must follow a pattern to search for the truth in order to point to the proper suspect. If that detective has any preconceived notions, the guilty party may never be discovered. The trail of evidence will always lead the detective to the truth and to the perpetrator of the crime. The leaders and scholars of the ELCA have a specific goal to reach in their modernization of Christian Lutheranism. Their objective is to promote a God made in their own image, one that is all welcoming, tolerant of everything, and has an unconditional love for man that guarantees salvation for all, with no strings attached, no matter what one believes or doesn’t believe. While in this headlong rush to promote this new enlightened religion, the ELCA has run into a problem. God’s Word contradicts the basis for their reinterpretation of this new religion. So, the ELCA has Biblical scholars that debate Scripture and determine that now God is telling us something new. 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
While most people in the real world would find it difficult to deny the very foundations of their beliefs and still maintain their faith, this apparently is not a dilemma for the ELCA. On one hand they can pick and choose Scripture verses from the “Book of Faith”, known to most of us as the Bible, that are twisted to bolster their arguments, while conveniently omitting those verses that specifically discredit their new religion. Sin is also problematic for this new religion, so the ELCA has decided to marginalize sin. The doctrine of bound conscience allows one to reinterpret God’s intent and to believe that their sinful actions are right in God’s eyes, in order to make certain that no one will need to feel guilty. Low self esteem is never an issue for this new enlightened ELCA. Anything and everything goes. Except those that adhere to traditional and orthodox Christianity. This is problematic for the ELCA. All of us knuckle dragging traditionalists that cling to Scripture are looked upon as outcasts, homophobes, and obsolete, because of course, God is now telling the ELCA something new.
The ELCA’s Biblical scholars question the very foundation of Christianity and manipulate Scripture to bolster arguments that violate our Lord’s commands. They invent doctrine to place man’s authority above our God. The false doctrine of bound conscience allows the ELCA to accept any behavior, including homosexuality, pagan goddess worship, and radical feminism, as right with God. Bishop Mark Hanson stated in his most recent town hall meeting that he has dedicated more time to the Palestinian issue than anything else during his term as Bishop. Has he not heard of Jesus Christ and His call to all Christians in the Great Commission to go and make disciples of the world? As the ELCA blindly travels the wide road in a steady path away from the Lord, they drag their membership along with them into the abyss. All the while the leaders of the ELCA fail to recognize the truth, placing their agenda ahead of our Lord’s design.
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Unfortunately, God’s grace is not unconditional. We must believe and have faith in the Risen Christ, that he took upon himself all our sins, suffered, and died in our place. That He defeated death and through His resurrection we are granted eternal life, if only we believe. We must follow the truth that is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. John 14:6, “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is the only way we will earn God’s grace that grants us our salvation.
Tolerance: a prized virtue today...right? The ability to be understanding of those you may disagree with. Jesus was tolerant- of his disciples when they doubted Him; tolerant of the crowds when they misunderstood Him; tolerant of us when we fall away from Him and the list goes on. However, there is one area where Jesus was intolerant! Max Lucado describes it this way, "there was one area where He as unindulgent and dogmatic. Were He to share His opinions today, He would be accused of being narrow, biased, one-sided, even bigoted.
ReplyDeleteBut as far as He was concerned, then it comes to salvation, there aren't several roads....there is only ONE road. There aren't several ways.....there is only ONE way....there aren't several paths....there is only ONE path. And that path is Jesus himself.
That is why it is so hard for people to believe in Jesus. It's much easier to consider Him one of the options rather than THE option. But such a philosophy is no option. Jesus closed that door. Jesus positioned Himself as the peerless Savior of the world. In defining who He is, Jesus is bold and unapologetic!"
Today I read from 1John. First John was written to dispel doubts about Jesus. False teachers had entered the church, denying the incarnation of Christ. John steps up to the bench and makes his defense.
To quote Max Lucado, "Jesus in not one of many options. He is the only option or nothing at all. There are times to be tolerant. And there are times to take a stand for truth. In this letter, John takes a stand."