“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people, all of the time.” A quote sometimes attributed to P. T. Barnum and sometimes to Abraham Lincoln. One of the surest methods one can choose that will inevitably cause one to fail, is to try to please everyone. Just as one cannot fool all of the people all of the time, one also cannot please everyone. The leadership of the ELCA wants to affirm anyone who wants their sinful behavior accepted as good and normal, in an effort to please them and add them to their diversity. Vocal minorities have caused the leadership of the ELCA to go out of their way to try to “grease the squeaky wheel”, by willfully choosing to disregard God’s law and deciding that homosexuality is no longer sinful. The Bible is no longer the authoritative word of God, according to the enlightened leaders of the ELCA, since they declare that they know better. Now according to the Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust statement, it is no longer enough to love our neighbor, who happens to belong to the LGTB lifestyle, we must also accept that behavior as right with God. Oh, but the doctrine of bound conscience will allow those of us that remain true to the Word, the right to disagree, but the synod accepts the LGTB lifestyle as normative and has made it acceptable by enacting doctrine. Love the sinner, but hate the sin is no longer pertinent, because the church wide assembly voted to disregard God’s law and the leadership decided to stand and watch the ship sink even deeper into heresy.
Radical feminists have complained openly about the audacity of a God that refers to Himself in the masculine gender, so the leadership of the ELCA accepts a member congregation that worships a pagan goddess and allows it to remain in good standing with the synod. The Lord’s Prayer is altered to offer praise to our “Mother God” and the “power within us”. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ taught us how to pray to our Father and now the leaders of this misguided denomination decide that our Lord and Savior was wrong or perhaps misquoted. Matthew 6:9, "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." It seems abundantly clear that in this verse Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in heaven. Some ELCA Bishops and pastors now offer prayers that His or Her will be done. The Biblical scholars of the ELCA continue to debate that the authors of Scripture misunderstood God’s intent or were adversely affected by their biases and lack of education. Our God made it clear to those authors of Scripture what they were to write, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” Yes, those men were not recording devices, but they were driven by the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit as they wrote each verse.
Bishop Mark Hanson stated that he has spent more time addressing the Palestinian issue than anything else during his term as the Bishop of the ELCA. The ELCA has led efforts to rebuke Israel while they attempt to protect their citizens from the terrorist attacks that target them daily. Bishop Hanson supports an effort to place an embargo on goods made in Israel to force them to cede land to the Palestinians. Benevolences, given in good faith, by ELCA congregations to reach out to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, heal the sick, and preach the Gospel to the world are being redirected to support a terrorist organization that has a stated goal of eliminating the Jewish nation from the face of the earth. The Holy Land was given to the Jewish nation by God Himself. Genesis 17:8, “The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." Yet, the enlightened leadership of the ELCA would serve as co-conspirators to evict Israel from the land promised them by the Lord.
As the leadership of the ELCA goes “off the beaten path” and advocates for social justice while relegating our Lord to a place secondary in their ministry, their membership will continue to dwindle. Since they are not trying to please the Lord, but trying to please man, they are destined to fail. Not placing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at the center of this church, is the formula for failure. This wayward denomination is not only displeasing to God, they are likely disappointing and angering Him. The leadership of the ELCA is no better than disobedient children, who think they know better than their Father. Ephesians 5:6, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” Our God is faithful and just. Our God is without fault. Psalm 18:30, “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” Serve the Lord and please Him alone. This is our calling as Christians. Our Lord will be well pleased with those who hold fast to His Truth.
Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Counterfeit Truth
A teenage runaway is alone in the city, out of money, with nowhere to sleep but the street. She meets a man, who asks about her, but does not understand that he has ulterior motives. He offers her food and shelter. Once he gains her trust, he leads her into the world of prostitution. All she wanted was to be loved and accepted by the very person that has led her into a life without hope. The inner city youth that does not fit in at school or in society, falls for the lie that he can belong to something important and find companionship by joining a street gang. He then becomes involved in criminal activity, losing any hope to live a normal life. The outcast who is not accepted by the “in crowd” is befriended by someone who offers drugs to help him feel better about himself and escape from the reality of this cruel world. He accepts this gift, but as he becomes dependant, the drugs are no longer complementary. He becomes a drug addict, steals to pay for his habit, and is lost in hopelessness. When one hungers to be accepted and loved, they will often grasp at anything or anyone that welcomes them, even those that only want to use them.
The false hope that arises from the counterfeit truth of bound conscience draws those that want their sinful lifestyle accepted in order to feel welcome and loved by the church. They do not want to give up their selfish desires and refuse to seek God’s forgiveness. The ELCA entices them with the false offer that their lifestyle choice will be no longer be sinful to God and His church if only they accept this “truth”. We know that this doctrine is not of our Lord because it circumvents the authority of Scripture. The ELCA uses this false doctrine as an excuse to pass resolutions and to adopt doctrine to affirm homosexual behavior as normative and acceptable to this denomination. In doing so, they disregard Scripture in the name of being more welcoming, tolerant, and loving of our neighbor. We surely can love our neighbor as our Lord commanded without disregarding His word. This doctrine that attempts to legitimize aberrant behavior only serves to distance this church from God’s will.
Unfortunately, this doctrine will allow those engaging in homosexual behavior to continue in their sin, with no need to repent before the Lord. This doctrine will also lift up the self while diminishing our Lord. If we truly love the Lord, we will sacrifice for Him. We will place our own needs and desires secondary in order to please our Lord. If one's desire for their lifestyle to be accepted and affirmed is more important than their love of the Lord, then they love themselves more than they love Him. Is it so difficult to understand that as Christians, as Disciples of Christ, we are to place Him foremost in our lives? Any doctrine that relegates our Lord to a secondary role is, plain and simple, promoting a false gospel. For God’s church to lead their membership astray in this way is unconscionable.
This misguided denomination takes a cue from the George Orwell novel, Animal Farm, in their interaction with the LGTB community. In the novel, when the pigs took command of the barnyard, they also took more for themselves, while other animals had to do with less. When some of the other animals protested, the pigs contrived a doctrine that stated that although all animals were equal, some of them were more equal than others. In the June 2010 edition of the Lutheran Magazine, an article entitled, Rite and Bound conscience appeared in the news section on page 8. This news article stated that “The ELCA church council authorized a rite that synod bishops can use to receive 17 pastors from Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries onto the ELCA roster. ELM credentials candidates of all sexual orientations and gender identities for ordained ministry. The rite, “Reception to the Roster of Ordained Ministers with Prayer and the Laying on of Hands,” was recommended to the council by the ELCA Conference of Bishops and is authorized for “no other use,” the council said.” It would appear that some pastoral candidates are more equal than others in having their own exclusive ordination rite.
Additionally, a working group was convened to study the concept of bound conscience, especially relating to same-gender relationships. It also has a goal to engage people across the denomination in conversation about the theological foundation of the ELCA decision making and respect for people whose consciences are bound to different understandings of Scripture. 1 Timothy 1:5-11, “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God” While there is still much good to be found in the ELCA, it is obviously rotting away from the top down. Those that choose to remain and accept these destructive doctrinal changes will eventually be swept into the abyss with the enlightened elites that lead this misguided denomination. Continue in prayer, that more will be saved from the false teachings of the ELCA.
The false hope that arises from the counterfeit truth of bound conscience draws those that want their sinful lifestyle accepted in order to feel welcome and loved by the church. They do not want to give up their selfish desires and refuse to seek God’s forgiveness. The ELCA entices them with the false offer that their lifestyle choice will be no longer be sinful to God and His church if only they accept this “truth”. We know that this doctrine is not of our Lord because it circumvents the authority of Scripture. The ELCA uses this false doctrine as an excuse to pass resolutions and to adopt doctrine to affirm homosexual behavior as normative and acceptable to this denomination. In doing so, they disregard Scripture in the name of being more welcoming, tolerant, and loving of our neighbor. We surely can love our neighbor as our Lord commanded without disregarding His word. This doctrine that attempts to legitimize aberrant behavior only serves to distance this church from God’s will.
Unfortunately, this doctrine will allow those engaging in homosexual behavior to continue in their sin, with no need to repent before the Lord. This doctrine will also lift up the self while diminishing our Lord. If we truly love the Lord, we will sacrifice for Him. We will place our own needs and desires secondary in order to please our Lord. If one's desire for their lifestyle to be accepted and affirmed is more important than their love of the Lord, then they love themselves more than they love Him. Is it so difficult to understand that as Christians, as Disciples of Christ, we are to place Him foremost in our lives? Any doctrine that relegates our Lord to a secondary role is, plain and simple, promoting a false gospel. For God’s church to lead their membership astray in this way is unconscionable.
This misguided denomination takes a cue from the George Orwell novel, Animal Farm, in their interaction with the LGTB community. In the novel, when the pigs took command of the barnyard, they also took more for themselves, while other animals had to do with less. When some of the other animals protested, the pigs contrived a doctrine that stated that although all animals were equal, some of them were more equal than others. In the June 2010 edition of the Lutheran Magazine, an article entitled, Rite and Bound conscience appeared in the news section on page 8. This news article stated that “The ELCA church council authorized a rite that synod bishops can use to receive 17 pastors from Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries onto the ELCA roster. ELM credentials candidates of all sexual orientations and gender identities for ordained ministry. The rite, “Reception to the Roster of Ordained Ministers with Prayer and the Laying on of Hands,” was recommended to the council by the ELCA Conference of Bishops and is authorized for “no other use,” the council said.” It would appear that some pastoral candidates are more equal than others in having their own exclusive ordination rite.
Additionally, a working group was convened to study the concept of bound conscience, especially relating to same-gender relationships. It also has a goal to engage people across the denomination in conversation about the theological foundation of the ELCA decision making and respect for people whose consciences are bound to different understandings of Scripture. 1 Timothy 1:5-11, “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God” While there is still much good to be found in the ELCA, it is obviously rotting away from the top down. Those that choose to remain and accept these destructive doctrinal changes will eventually be swept into the abyss with the enlightened elites that lead this misguided denomination. Continue in prayer, that more will be saved from the false teachings of the ELCA.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Straight and Narrow
In our youth we were cautioned to walk the straight and narrow path. We were called to make decisions using the morals and values instilled in us by our parents and by our Father in Heaven. In other words we were counseled to conduct ourselves with integrity and to choose our actions wisely. It is when we make poor choices and fall from that path that trouble befalls us. Our Lord, Jesus Christ taught in the parable of the “Narrow and Wide Gates” in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Following our sinful nature is easy for us. It comes naturally, because human beings are inherently self centered and inconsiderate toward others. This is why it is so easy for so many to accept the ELCA’s teaching of the “gospel of affirmation”. Having one’s weaknesses and imperfections affirmed as good and correct, allows that person to feel good about himself. Having no one to criticize or condemn your transgressions, allows you to continue in your sin without remorse or the need to repent. Feeling guilty about one’s behavior and having to confess that they fall short of expectations is difficult in this society that is so concerned about maintaining positive self esteem.
The ELCA has adopted doctrine to make sinful behavior acceptable in their church, directing those that accept this doctrine to the wide road of destruction. Their Biblical scholars challenge the authority of Scripture and accuse the Spirit inspired authors of bias, misunderstanding God’s true intent and conclude that they often offer conflicting and contradictory views. Why does the leadership of this misguided denomination persist in casting doubt upon the very truths they are charged to uphold? Our Lord calls us to deny ourselves and to take up His cross. These progressive leaders of the ELCA lift up the self and deny our Savior. Why is it so important to lift up the sexual identities of the LGTB community if our call is place our Lord above all else and deny our very selves. Matthew 10:37-39, Jesus said, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” If we insist upon lifting up the self, we will be unworthy in the sight of our Lord. When one’s life becomes more important than our Savior, they will lose their life and their salvation.
The leaders of the ELCA are deliberately leading their membership to ruin. Emphasizing the self while minimizing our Lord in their ministry, puts their membership at risk when they accept this false doctrine. The leadership of the ELCA preaches love and unity, while they debase and chastise those that reveal the truth of their apostasy. So it is obvious that the ELCA has chosen a path that is in conflict with the path that our Lord has directed us to take. Now what? Should we stay with an organization that does not uphold our Lutheran values? As difficult as it may be, we need to break fellowship with the ELCA and find that synod that embraces the Lutheran core beliefs, not one that only gives lip service to God’s word while challenging the authority of Scripture. We need to find a partner that shares the values that our Lord has instilled in us and upholds the authority of Scripture. We need to find a synod that proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ and embraces the Great Commission. We need to find an organization that doesn’t look to offer a “big Tent” in order to maintain fellowship despite a variety of opinions, but one that embraces Jesus Christ, while striving for justice, not placing justice ahead of our Lord and Savior.
If you considered joining an organization, would it not be important to you that the organization shares the same values and beliefs that you do? Would you become a member of an organization that believed and behaved contrary to the values and beliefs that you espouse? While many would argue that it doesn’t matter what the greater church believes; that it only matters what one believes in their own hearts, it does matter greatly. Being a member of any organization carries with it the assumption that you, as a member of that organization, accept and practice what that organization preaches. So, to say that we belong to an organization, but don’t believe as they do, is nothing short of being hypocritical. John 5:22-23, Jesus said, “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” The false doctrines promoted by the leaders of the ELCA dishonor our Lord. Those that accept these false doctrines place their very salvation at risk. Those that choose to remain in fellowship with the ELCA take the very real risk that they too, will be overtaken by these false gospels.
The ELCA has adopted doctrine to make sinful behavior acceptable in their church, directing those that accept this doctrine to the wide road of destruction. Their Biblical scholars challenge the authority of Scripture and accuse the Spirit inspired authors of bias, misunderstanding God’s true intent and conclude that they often offer conflicting and contradictory views. Why does the leadership of this misguided denomination persist in casting doubt upon the very truths they are charged to uphold? Our Lord calls us to deny ourselves and to take up His cross. These progressive leaders of the ELCA lift up the self and deny our Savior. Why is it so important to lift up the sexual identities of the LGTB community if our call is place our Lord above all else and deny our very selves. Matthew 10:37-39, Jesus said, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” If we insist upon lifting up the self, we will be unworthy in the sight of our Lord. When one’s life becomes more important than our Savior, they will lose their life and their salvation.
The leaders of the ELCA are deliberately leading their membership to ruin. Emphasizing the self while minimizing our Lord in their ministry, puts their membership at risk when they accept this false doctrine. The leadership of the ELCA preaches love and unity, while they debase and chastise those that reveal the truth of their apostasy. So it is obvious that the ELCA has chosen a path that is in conflict with the path that our Lord has directed us to take. Now what? Should we stay with an organization that does not uphold our Lutheran values? As difficult as it may be, we need to break fellowship with the ELCA and find that synod that embraces the Lutheran core beliefs, not one that only gives lip service to God’s word while challenging the authority of Scripture. We need to find a partner that shares the values that our Lord has instilled in us and upholds the authority of Scripture. We need to find a synod that proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ and embraces the Great Commission. We need to find an organization that doesn’t look to offer a “big Tent” in order to maintain fellowship despite a variety of opinions, but one that embraces Jesus Christ, while striving for justice, not placing justice ahead of our Lord and Savior.
If you considered joining an organization, would it not be important to you that the organization shares the same values and beliefs that you do? Would you become a member of an organization that believed and behaved contrary to the values and beliefs that you espouse? While many would argue that it doesn’t matter what the greater church believes; that it only matters what one believes in their own hearts, it does matter greatly. Being a member of any organization carries with it the assumption that you, as a member of that organization, accept and practice what that organization preaches. So, to say that we belong to an organization, but don’t believe as they do, is nothing short of being hypocritical. John 5:22-23, Jesus said, “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” The false doctrines promoted by the leaders of the ELCA dishonor our Lord. Those that accept these false doctrines place their very salvation at risk. Those that choose to remain in fellowship with the ELCA take the very real risk that they too, will be overtaken by these false gospels.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Speak the Truth in Love
Ephesians 4:15-16, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, that we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” The body that Paul refers to is the church and the head of the church is Jesus Christ. The church must grow according to the direction of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our Lord gives us direction in His Word. When we dwell in His Word, His Spirit will lead us in our understanding and we will grow in our faith. We must also grow in unity and love of one another. Simply loving one another or living our lives in a Christian manner is not enough. One must believe in the truth that Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, went to the cross, suffered and died to atone for our sins, overcame death and was resurrected so that we may have salvation. Having unity is more than simply having a loving attitude or religious feeling. One must have a true understanding about Jesus Christ. To grow the whole body of the church is much more than merely doing good deeds. We are called to live as Jesus lived. We are called to reach out to those that do not have that personal relationship with our Lord. And we must bring those back to the Lord that have gone astray.
Many in the LGBT community are angry that the doctrine of bound conscience allows traditional Lutherans to disagree with the ELCA’s human sexuality statement. Many that choose to adhere to Scripture are derided and called intolerant and hateful. This does nothing to build up the church in Christ’s love. Instead, this posture causes division and strife among the community of the faithful. Is it more important to regard one’s sexual identity above the commands of our Lord to love one another? Christ’s disciples are called to reach out to those that have been led astray with Christian love and respect. Anger is not an option. James 1:19-20, 22 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, 20 because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” When we place our Lord first in our hearts we will joyously obey God’s law. If we place ourselves first and choose to disobey God’s law, we will become slaves to sin.
The leadership and scholars of the ELCA have lifted up the things of this world over God’s command. Sexual identities, good works, tolerance, minimizing sin by making confession optional, and falsely interpreting God’s Word to fit in with the secular world, have replaced our Lord as the cornerstone of their Faith. Isaiah 53:5, 12, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 12 because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Everything we do should be done to give glory to our Lord. We are lost without our faith in the Risen Christ. Nothing else in this world matters as much as what our Lord did for us.
The ELCA is all about promoting their struggle for social justice. They proclaim “God's work, our hands” as the mission of the ELCA. What about those that do not know our Lord. If we gain the whole world, but lose our souls, we are nothing. Being a Christian is not just about loving your neighbor and being accepting, tolerant, and welcoming. God’s law has been given to us in His Word as written by mortal men, inspired by the Holy Spirit. If we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we will also joyfully obey His law. There will be no need to proclaim our own special identities. We are Christians, disciples of Jesus Christ and we will proclaim His Word to the world until we can speak no more. 1 John 3:11, 16, “For this is the message you heard from the beginning; We should love one another. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another.”
Many in the LGBT community are angry that the doctrine of bound conscience allows traditional Lutherans to disagree with the ELCA’s human sexuality statement. Many that choose to adhere to Scripture are derided and called intolerant and hateful. This does nothing to build up the church in Christ’s love. Instead, this posture causes division and strife among the community of the faithful. Is it more important to regard one’s sexual identity above the commands of our Lord to love one another? Christ’s disciples are called to reach out to those that have been led astray with Christian love and respect. Anger is not an option. James 1:19-20, 22 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, 20 because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” When we place our Lord first in our hearts we will joyously obey God’s law. If we place ourselves first and choose to disobey God’s law, we will become slaves to sin.
The leadership and scholars of the ELCA have lifted up the things of this world over God’s command. Sexual identities, good works, tolerance, minimizing sin by making confession optional, and falsely interpreting God’s Word to fit in with the secular world, have replaced our Lord as the cornerstone of their Faith. Isaiah 53:5, 12, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 12 because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Everything we do should be done to give glory to our Lord. We are lost without our faith in the Risen Christ. Nothing else in this world matters as much as what our Lord did for us.
The ELCA is all about promoting their struggle for social justice. They proclaim “God's work, our hands” as the mission of the ELCA. What about those that do not know our Lord. If we gain the whole world, but lose our souls, we are nothing. Being a Christian is not just about loving your neighbor and being accepting, tolerant, and welcoming. God’s law has been given to us in His Word as written by mortal men, inspired by the Holy Spirit. If we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we will also joyfully obey His law. There will be no need to proclaim our own special identities. We are Christians, disciples of Jesus Christ and we will proclaim His Word to the world until we can speak no more. 1 John 3:11, 16, “For this is the message you heard from the beginning; We should love one another. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another.”
Monday, September 27, 2010
Father Knows Best
After decades of political infighting, the ELCA has, with a total disregard of Scripture, altered doctrine to allow practicing homosexuals to be ordained and same-sex unions to be blessed. There are so many that are all worked up over this issue alone. For some this is the overriding factor when deciding whether or not to break fellowship with the ELCA. Some in the LGTB community are still angry that there are those that cling to Scripture and continue to disapprove of their lifestyle. Anyone who stands up for God’s Word is derided and mocked as a homophobe, hateful or hypocritical by those who state that they only want to be loved and accepted for what they are, God’s children. When one reads from some of the progressive blogs, there is so much anger in the LGTB community that one would be led to believe that the 2009 Church Wide Assembly voted NO! Brothers and sisters know this, the evil one is in utter bliss over what has transpired within the ELCA. Sex is not the major issue. It is only the tip of the iceberg in the ELCA’s misguided assault on the Christian faith! We all fall short of the glory of our Lord and we all fall into sin regularly. Yes, all of us! But, we are no longer under the law-we are under God’s grace. If we simply fail to obey His law, we will not fall from the path of salvation because our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin. His ultimate sacrifice was the final atonement that permanently paved a path to our salvation, as long as we truly believe. No matter what we do, so long as we truly believe, that path will remain open for us.
But, when one truly places Christ at the center of his or her life, that person will gladly obey His law and live one’s life according to God’s will. Our selfish desires, whatever they may be, will lessen in importance. We will do whatever we can to please our Lord and begin to live our lives to give glory to Him. When we look to prop up our selfish nature by using our “bound conscience” to believe what we want, contrary to God’s intent, we commit the gravest of sins against our God. We place ourselves above our Lord and worship, not the God of all creation, but ourselves, our identities and our accomplishments. Thou shall have no other gods before me. Matthew 22:37-38, “Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.” This just may be the deal breaker for our Lord. How sad this is for those that accept and are led astray by this false gospel. Man’s law forbids certain behavior and if you choose to disobey, you get arrested and go to jail. Our Father’s law forbids certain behavior, but now we are told that we can disregard His law because some ELCA scholars believe that God is telling us something new. But, because God loves us so much, He forgives us and invites us to live with Him in His house despite our willful disobedience. The leadership of the ELCA has, by adopting the doctrine of bound conscience, placed man in authority over God. These petulant children, the leaders and scholars of the ELCA, think they are more enlightened and know better than God, who can with a word, create the universe or destroy it. It appears that they are playing with fire here.
Nothing that is happening now, has not happened before. Our Lord has dealt with His disobedient children all too often. When the Holy Spirit inspired the human authors of Scripture, it was all part of His plan for us. His plan is made known to us through the Scriptures. Those that choose to ignore God’s Word do so at great peril. The ELCA is called to safeguard our church's doctrine, or that which we believe and profess, not question the long held truths of the Christian faith. The ELCA is called to enforce discipline against those that teach false doctrine and to guard the historic and orthodox Christian faith, not adopt doctrine that contradicts Scripture. As the leaders and scholars of the ELCA question the long held truths of the Christian faith, their arrogance betrays them. The leadership of the ELCA is engaged in this self-destructive pursuit of secular values while denying the very God they profess to worship. Luke 17:1-3, “Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around your neck than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves.” Unfortunately, there are those that are falling prey to these heretical teachings. Pray for those unaware of these destructive teachings, that their hearts and minds be opened to resist this false gospel. Pray that those true to the Spirit awaken and rise up to leave this misguided denomination. Continue to reach out in Christian love to all our brothers and sisters so that all will come to believe and know the Lord.
But, when one truly places Christ at the center of his or her life, that person will gladly obey His law and live one’s life according to God’s will. Our selfish desires, whatever they may be, will lessen in importance. We will do whatever we can to please our Lord and begin to live our lives to give glory to Him. When we look to prop up our selfish nature by using our “bound conscience” to believe what we want, contrary to God’s intent, we commit the gravest of sins against our God. We place ourselves above our Lord and worship, not the God of all creation, but ourselves, our identities and our accomplishments. Thou shall have no other gods before me. Matthew 22:37-38, “Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.” This just may be the deal breaker for our Lord. How sad this is for those that accept and are led astray by this false gospel. Man’s law forbids certain behavior and if you choose to disobey, you get arrested and go to jail. Our Father’s law forbids certain behavior, but now we are told that we can disregard His law because some ELCA scholars believe that God is telling us something new. But, because God loves us so much, He forgives us and invites us to live with Him in His house despite our willful disobedience. The leadership of the ELCA has, by adopting the doctrine of bound conscience, placed man in authority over God. These petulant children, the leaders and scholars of the ELCA, think they are more enlightened and know better than God, who can with a word, create the universe or destroy it. It appears that they are playing with fire here.
Nothing that is happening now, has not happened before. Our Lord has dealt with His disobedient children all too often. When the Holy Spirit inspired the human authors of Scripture, it was all part of His plan for us. His plan is made known to us through the Scriptures. Those that choose to ignore God’s Word do so at great peril. The ELCA is called to safeguard our church's doctrine, or that which we believe and profess, not question the long held truths of the Christian faith. The ELCA is called to enforce discipline against those that teach false doctrine and to guard the historic and orthodox Christian faith, not adopt doctrine that contradicts Scripture. As the leaders and scholars of the ELCA question the long held truths of the Christian faith, their arrogance betrays them. The leadership of the ELCA is engaged in this self-destructive pursuit of secular values while denying the very God they profess to worship. Luke 17:1-3, “Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around your neck than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves.” Unfortunately, there are those that are falling prey to these heretical teachings. Pray for those unaware of these destructive teachings, that their hearts and minds be opened to resist this false gospel. Pray that those true to the Spirit awaken and rise up to leave this misguided denomination. Continue to reach out in Christian love to all our brothers and sisters so that all will come to believe and know the Lord.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Love is not Enough
The ELCA is all about love, acceptance, welcoming and tolerance. These are all important in our walk with the Lord. 1 Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient, love is kind, It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” And love is not enough. Many at the Greater Milwaukee Synod Assembly were filled with the love of the Lord. Much of the discussion centered about the belief that our God is a loving God, and He is indeed a loving God. God loves each and every one of us, despite our sinful nature. But, there is danger in placing too much emphasis on this free and unconditional love. Simply applying our Lord’s command to love our fellow man can lead us to make compromises when it comes to accepting God’s Word. Many of the doctrines intrinsic to the Lutheran faith have been tossed aside by the leaders of the ELCA in the name of love. Confession of sin is absent from more and more worship services in ELCA churches and either replaced by a celebration of baptism or disregarded altogether. The quest for diversity and acceptance has led to allowing pagan ceremonies to be blended into worship services, such as the libations ritual used in the opening worship service at the GM Synod Assembly. Misguided love for our neighbor has led to doctrine that accepts behavior specifically prohibited by Scripture, in the effort to be more welcoming to the LGBT community. Reaching out to the oppressed in our love has elevated the goal of social justice above our mission as Christ’s disciples to preach the Gospel and bring the lost to salvation.
Not all who profess a love for our Lord are saved. We are saved by our faith in the risen Christ, by our belief that Jesus took our sins to the cross, suffered and died in our place, defeated death, so that we may live eternally with Him in heaven. Without faith, love is meaningless. If we clothe, feed, or heal nations of people, but do nothing to save their souls, we are doing nothing more than conducting a fool’s errand. Faith is constant and unwavering. Faith will never compromise. Faith is steadfast, always true to our Lord. Love, however, can be used by the evil one to cloud our minds and compromise on the very principles our Lord has taught us in His Word. If we use this flawed reasoning that our God is a God of love and love alone, we will find it easy to ignore His Law and replace it with our modern sensibilities. If we feel that our love for our fellow man linked with God’s love for us is all that is necessary to earn one’s salvation, this will only lead us to the bitter realization that there will be no room in His house for us.
So, as we proclaim our love of the Lord and do our good works in the world, congratulating ourselves for doing God’s work with our hands, we are embarking upon the wide path toward destruction. We must love our neighbors as our Lord commanded, but if we are not centered in Christ’s love, we can love them to death. If we minimize and ignore sinful behavior in an effort to show that person how much we love them, we do nothing to help them from straying from the narrow path leading to their salvation. Yes, we can love our neighbor too much. We are not properly equipped to love unconditionally. This is a task that only our Lord can accomplish. Too often our misguided efforts to embrace God’s love and share it with the world, only encourages those is error to continue on a path away from God. Sometimes, tough love is necessary when dealing with our children so that they realize that there are consequences to their wrong behavior. If we acquiesce to any and all behaviors, the sky becomes the limit and those children cannot be successful in society. As with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we must love them, but we must help lead them back to the most important thing, their faith. When we have faith, love will come naturally, as we will love as our Lord loves us. Love is important, but it pales in contrast to the faith that is necessary to earn that salvation that is so freely placed before us.
Not all who profess a love for our Lord are saved. We are saved by our faith in the risen Christ, by our belief that Jesus took our sins to the cross, suffered and died in our place, defeated death, so that we may live eternally with Him in heaven. Without faith, love is meaningless. If we clothe, feed, or heal nations of people, but do nothing to save their souls, we are doing nothing more than conducting a fool’s errand. Faith is constant and unwavering. Faith will never compromise. Faith is steadfast, always true to our Lord. Love, however, can be used by the evil one to cloud our minds and compromise on the very principles our Lord has taught us in His Word. If we use this flawed reasoning that our God is a God of love and love alone, we will find it easy to ignore His Law and replace it with our modern sensibilities. If we feel that our love for our fellow man linked with God’s love for us is all that is necessary to earn one’s salvation, this will only lead us to the bitter realization that there will be no room in His house for us.
So, as we proclaim our love of the Lord and do our good works in the world, congratulating ourselves for doing God’s work with our hands, we are embarking upon the wide path toward destruction. We must love our neighbors as our Lord commanded, but if we are not centered in Christ’s love, we can love them to death. If we minimize and ignore sinful behavior in an effort to show that person how much we love them, we do nothing to help them from straying from the narrow path leading to their salvation. Yes, we can love our neighbor too much. We are not properly equipped to love unconditionally. This is a task that only our Lord can accomplish. Too often our misguided efforts to embrace God’s love and share it with the world, only encourages those is error to continue on a path away from God. Sometimes, tough love is necessary when dealing with our children so that they realize that there are consequences to their wrong behavior. If we acquiesce to any and all behaviors, the sky becomes the limit and those children cannot be successful in society. As with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we must love them, but we must help lead them back to the most important thing, their faith. When we have faith, love will come naturally, as we will love as our Lord loves us. Love is important, but it pales in contrast to the faith that is necessary to earn that salvation that is so freely placed before us.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Spirit of Truth
Much wailing and gnashing of teeth has transpired within the membership of the ELCA since the adoption of a doctrine designed to justify the reinterpreting of God’s Word to meet their goal of social justice. Some of the ELCA biblical scholars believe and are teaching that the Bible is an outdated collection of anecdotes and stories written by simple, uneducated men specifically for the people of that time. Some say that the Word is clouded by the attitudes and perspectives of a people that were culturally predisposed to prejudices against practices that were acceptable in other societies. These misguided opinions have supported the ELCA’s attack on Scripture and are the principal rationale used to defend their effort to supplant Scripture with man’s more enlightened version. This modern and secular interpretation of God’s Word has brought us the doctrine of bound conscience.
Many of the activists that have fought for the full inclusion of the LGTB community in the church are still angry that many traditional Lutherans continue to believe that homosexuality is sinful and that the actions of the 2009 ELCA assembly violate God’s law. Simple inclusion without the acceptance of their lifestyle is not sufficient enough. This sinful traditional Lutheran knows of no congregation that prohibits anyone from the LGTB community to worship and have full communion with the church. As a matter of fact, no sinners are prohibited from fully participating in worship, fellowship and Communion at any Lutheran church. We need to remember that we are all sinful beings and need to regularly ask God for His forgiveness. Most of us are not proud that we fail our Lord on a regular basis and realize that our Lord suffered greatly for each and every sin we commit.
Unfortunately, the ELCA has invented doctrine that allows one to disregard language in the Bible if one only has an opinion contrary to God’s intent and further, allows it’s membership to engage in acts that defy God’s law. In doing so, their selfishness and arrogance separates them from our God. That the ELCA would voluntarily adopt doctrine that, by its nature, distances us from our Lord is beyond belief. There are many excuses one can use to justify engaging in sinful behavior. With bound conscience, the ELCA provides a doctrine that legitimizes that excuse for anyone to engage in sin if only they believe in their own interpretation of Scripture. It is when we deny our sin that we betray ourselves, convincing ourselves that we are indeed good and have no need to confess to the Lord. We need to realize that we are all equals as sinful human beings. No sinner is better than or worse than any other. No sin should cause any brother or sister in Christ to be rejected or treated any differently than any other child of God.
Then why is there so great an outcry about the actions of the 2009 ELCA assembly? This dispute should not be exclusively about human sexuality. The fact of the matter is that the new doctrine of bound conscience elevates man to a position to be in authority over Scripture and, as such, places all of God’s word in jeopardy. Argue about the other matters all you want, but when it comes down to the ultimate authority, God has the final word, not us. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ told his disciples in John 15:26-27, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” and John 16:13-14, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” The testimonies of the Apostles are, indeed, the inspired Word of God, received from the Holy Spirit as directed by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Peter testified, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” All Scripture, in this instance the Old Testament is the subject of Peter’s testimony, is God’s Word and therefore, His truth and law for us.
It is more than unfortunate that some of God’s children believe it to be appropriate to disregard our Lord’s word and replace it with the words they long to hear. It is heartbreaking that some of God’s children feel the need to place their sexual identities above their love of our Lord. Our salvation was paid for in Jesus’ blood and suffering. Those that refuse to obey our Lord and cling to their own selfish desires will only place their salvation at risk. The leaders of the ELCA that encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to ignore God’s Word are leading others away from the Lord and jeopardize their own salvation as well.
Many of the activists that have fought for the full inclusion of the LGTB community in the church are still angry that many traditional Lutherans continue to believe that homosexuality is sinful and that the actions of the 2009 ELCA assembly violate God’s law. Simple inclusion without the acceptance of their lifestyle is not sufficient enough. This sinful traditional Lutheran knows of no congregation that prohibits anyone from the LGTB community to worship and have full communion with the church. As a matter of fact, no sinners are prohibited from fully participating in worship, fellowship and Communion at any Lutheran church. We need to remember that we are all sinful beings and need to regularly ask God for His forgiveness. Most of us are not proud that we fail our Lord on a regular basis and realize that our Lord suffered greatly for each and every sin we commit.
Unfortunately, the ELCA has invented doctrine that allows one to disregard language in the Bible if one only has an opinion contrary to God’s intent and further, allows it’s membership to engage in acts that defy God’s law. In doing so, their selfishness and arrogance separates them from our God. That the ELCA would voluntarily adopt doctrine that, by its nature, distances us from our Lord is beyond belief. There are many excuses one can use to justify engaging in sinful behavior. With bound conscience, the ELCA provides a doctrine that legitimizes that excuse for anyone to engage in sin if only they believe in their own interpretation of Scripture. It is when we deny our sin that we betray ourselves, convincing ourselves that we are indeed good and have no need to confess to the Lord. We need to realize that we are all equals as sinful human beings. No sinner is better than or worse than any other. No sin should cause any brother or sister in Christ to be rejected or treated any differently than any other child of God.
Then why is there so great an outcry about the actions of the 2009 ELCA assembly? This dispute should not be exclusively about human sexuality. The fact of the matter is that the new doctrine of bound conscience elevates man to a position to be in authority over Scripture and, as such, places all of God’s word in jeopardy. Argue about the other matters all you want, but when it comes down to the ultimate authority, God has the final word, not us. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ told his disciples in John 15:26-27, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” and John 16:13-14, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” The testimonies of the Apostles are, indeed, the inspired Word of God, received from the Holy Spirit as directed by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Peter testified, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” All Scripture, in this instance the Old Testament is the subject of Peter’s testimony, is God’s Word and therefore, His truth and law for us.
It is more than unfortunate that some of God’s children believe it to be appropriate to disregard our Lord’s word and replace it with the words they long to hear. It is heartbreaking that some of God’s children feel the need to place their sexual identities above their love of our Lord. Our salvation was paid for in Jesus’ blood and suffering. Those that refuse to obey our Lord and cling to their own selfish desires will only place their salvation at risk. The leaders of the ELCA that encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to ignore God’s Word are leading others away from the Lord and jeopardize their own salvation as well.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Division by Subtraction
When the ELCA met in August of 2009 for their national assembly, their leadership had already counted on passing several key agenda items. In order to be more welcoming and accepting of the LGTB community, the resolution, Human Sexuality-Gift and Trust was expected to pass. By stacking the deck with activists and supporters of the resolution, only a few fence sitters needed to be convinced to vote in their favor. Bishop Mark Hanson and the other leaders of the ELCA expected that this decision would cause a rift in the membership of this Synod, and they fully expected to lose 20% or approximately 1 million members along with numerous churches. The resolution passed by the narrowest of margins and the fallout continues. While the ELCA preaches that reconciliation is occurring, the fact is, the outcry over the passage of this and other resolutions at that assembly reverberate throughout the Christian world.
Much of the chorus of disapproval stems from the church’s acceptance of a practice specifically prohibited in Scripture. That the leaders of the ELCA would have the audacity to disregard Scripture and replace it with an interpretation more in tune with the modern, secular world view is where much of the dispute lies. Many of the LGTB community activists take the new doctrine that allows for the blessing of homosexual unions and the acceptance of practicing homosexuals, in monogamous relationships to serve as pastors in the ELCA, as a victory to their cause. Unfortunately, their supposed victory places them and the church that disregards Scripture and encourages sinful behavior, at odds with our Lord. If the church accepts sinful behavior and teaches that God’s laws are no longer applicable, it leads those sinners on a course away from God. We are all sinful beings, no better or worse than any other sinner. It is when we deny our sin that we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. We must confess our sins, all of them, and realize that it is only through our Lord that we are saved. If we decide that our own foolish desires are more important than obeying and loving our Lord, then we are lost.
By placing ourselves above our God and using our bound conscience to disregard any part of Scripture that we happen disagree with, we subtract ourselves from His presence. When God removed His presence from Jesus on the cross, Jesus felt the crushing aloneness that sent him into a despair too deep to even begin to describe. By passing resolutions and adopting doctrines that separate us from our God, the ELCA is taking a course that saddens our Lord and absolutely delights the evil one. The leaders of the ELCA are embracing a misguided course of action, using the buzz words of acceptance, tolerance, and welcoming. Our fellow sinners need to be guided to the narrow path, not sent on the easy and wide path of destruction. What part of Scripture will be the next victim to our bound conscience? How many will be led away from God to fight for social justice while learning to disregard Scripture and place their own opinion over and above the Lord?
We need to learn that God loves and accepts us as His children, but He does expect us to return that love, in part by obeying His law for us. We cannot decide to invalidate Scripture when it does not suit our own selfish cravings. We are, by nature, selfish and it is often more desirable to follow our own fancies. But, if we choose to place our wants above our Lord, we fail our Lord and ourselves. Romans 8: 5-8, “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their mind set on what the nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind controlled by the sinful nature is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The sinful mind is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” While the Spirit will never lead you to sin, our sinful nature is disobedient and rebellious and will only lead us to death. We must strive to please our Lord with our faith, our love and acceptance of His Word. This will keep us on that narrow path that leads to our salvation.
Much of the chorus of disapproval stems from the church’s acceptance of a practice specifically prohibited in Scripture. That the leaders of the ELCA would have the audacity to disregard Scripture and replace it with an interpretation more in tune with the modern, secular world view is where much of the dispute lies. Many of the LGTB community activists take the new doctrine that allows for the blessing of homosexual unions and the acceptance of practicing homosexuals, in monogamous relationships to serve as pastors in the ELCA, as a victory to their cause. Unfortunately, their supposed victory places them and the church that disregards Scripture and encourages sinful behavior, at odds with our Lord. If the church accepts sinful behavior and teaches that God’s laws are no longer applicable, it leads those sinners on a course away from God. We are all sinful beings, no better or worse than any other sinner. It is when we deny our sin that we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. We must confess our sins, all of them, and realize that it is only through our Lord that we are saved. If we decide that our own foolish desires are more important than obeying and loving our Lord, then we are lost.
By placing ourselves above our God and using our bound conscience to disregard any part of Scripture that we happen disagree with, we subtract ourselves from His presence. When God removed His presence from Jesus on the cross, Jesus felt the crushing aloneness that sent him into a despair too deep to even begin to describe. By passing resolutions and adopting doctrines that separate us from our God, the ELCA is taking a course that saddens our Lord and absolutely delights the evil one. The leaders of the ELCA are embracing a misguided course of action, using the buzz words of acceptance, tolerance, and welcoming. Our fellow sinners need to be guided to the narrow path, not sent on the easy and wide path of destruction. What part of Scripture will be the next victim to our bound conscience? How many will be led away from God to fight for social justice while learning to disregard Scripture and place their own opinion over and above the Lord?
We need to learn that God loves and accepts us as His children, but He does expect us to return that love, in part by obeying His law for us. We cannot decide to invalidate Scripture when it does not suit our own selfish cravings. We are, by nature, selfish and it is often more desirable to follow our own fancies. But, if we choose to place our wants above our Lord, we fail our Lord and ourselves. Romans 8: 5-8, “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their mind set on what the nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind controlled by the sinful nature is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The sinful mind is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” While the Spirit will never lead you to sin, our sinful nature is disobedient and rebellious and will only lead us to death. We must strive to please our Lord with our faith, our love and acceptance of His Word. This will keep us on that narrow path that leads to our salvation.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
How does Sin Separate Us from God?
Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Yes, we are all sinners. No matter how hard we try to live a godly life, we all fall woefully short. Before you fall into despair, know this; 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.” Does this mean that sin is irrelevant? Even though we are saved by the grace of God and need only to believe, we are still expected to endeavor to follow God’s law to the best of our ability. But, sin is much more than our disobedience of God’s laws. Timothy Keller explains in The Reason for God “Sin is the despairing refusal to find your deepest identity in your relationship and service to God. Sin is seeking to become oneself, to get an identity, apart from Him.” Our relationship is damaged with God when we give our own self identities, whether you view yourself as a conservative, liberal, police officer, LGBT, business executive, etc., precedence over our true calling, being a faithful servant of God. We must relinquish our own identities in order to place God first and foremost. If we fail to do so, we will remain apart from Him.
When our Lord suffered and died on the cross for us, He took with Him all our sin, all that had been committed and all that were yet to come. Without our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dying in our place, we would be forever prevented from entering His kingdom. In addition to His death on the cross, our Lord felt the terrible aloneness when God the Father abandoned the personal relationship with Him as the atonement for our sinful natures. All the sins of the world and the abandonment by His Father brought our Lord Jesus Christ to a deep despair beyond all comprehension. But, when we place self above the Lord, we bring the same despair and aloneness to ourselves. We must also learn to suffer for our Lord. 1 Peter 3:14-15 "But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
While we are called to respect and love all our brothers and sisters in Christ, we must still recognize that the path that the Lord has set before us is not the easy path. Matthew 7: 13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” There is much division in the ELCA. It may seem that the leaders of the ELCA have taken the broad road of acceptance and entered the wide gate of tolerance, and by doing so are leading many fellow Christians away from God. David S. Yeago said, while addressing the schism that has developed between the traditional and progressive factions of the ELCA, “What the law demands, the gospel bestows.” The law demands righteousness, the gospel bestows righteousness, and it does so by bringing Christ to us and us to Christ. He is the living fulfillment of the law, the one in whom all that the law requires is fully and unquestionably realized. His righteousness covers our sin, when we become one with him by faith, but at the same time, he lives in us, which means that righteousness dwells in us, alive and triumphant, and we begin to live a new kind of life. But, if the gospel bestows what the law demands, then without agreeing substantially on what the law demands, we cannot agree on what the gospel bestows. And pushed to the end, such disagreement will easily turn into disagreement about Jesus Christ and his saving righteousness.”
When we fall out of communion with our Lord by placing one’s self above Him, we reject God’s laws and replace them with our own selfish set of principles. Once we begin to reject God’s laws that don’t fit in with our modern, enlightened view of the world, we begin to die in our sin. Glorifying the ideals of social justice over and above God’s law just increases the distance between us and our salvation. If we seek to be welcomed into the Lord’s kingdom, we must humble ourselves before Him. We need to dwell in the Word and grow nearer to our Lord, not reject the Word and replace it with our foolish desires. We need to share with those weak in the Spirit and lead them into communion with the Lord. We need to pray, long and hard, for those that lead the ELCA so that they reject their secular identity and rekindle their relationship with the Lord.
When our Lord suffered and died on the cross for us, He took with Him all our sin, all that had been committed and all that were yet to come. Without our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dying in our place, we would be forever prevented from entering His kingdom. In addition to His death on the cross, our Lord felt the terrible aloneness when God the Father abandoned the personal relationship with Him as the atonement for our sinful natures. All the sins of the world and the abandonment by His Father brought our Lord Jesus Christ to a deep despair beyond all comprehension. But, when we place self above the Lord, we bring the same despair and aloneness to ourselves. We must also learn to suffer for our Lord. 1 Peter 3:14-15 "But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
While we are called to respect and love all our brothers and sisters in Christ, we must still recognize that the path that the Lord has set before us is not the easy path. Matthew 7: 13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” There is much division in the ELCA. It may seem that the leaders of the ELCA have taken the broad road of acceptance and entered the wide gate of tolerance, and by doing so are leading many fellow Christians away from God. David S. Yeago said, while addressing the schism that has developed between the traditional and progressive factions of the ELCA, “What the law demands, the gospel bestows.” The law demands righteousness, the gospel bestows righteousness, and it does so by bringing Christ to us and us to Christ. He is the living fulfillment of the law, the one in whom all that the law requires is fully and unquestionably realized. His righteousness covers our sin, when we become one with him by faith, but at the same time, he lives in us, which means that righteousness dwells in us, alive and triumphant, and we begin to live a new kind of life. But, if the gospel bestows what the law demands, then without agreeing substantially on what the law demands, we cannot agree on what the gospel bestows. And pushed to the end, such disagreement will easily turn into disagreement about Jesus Christ and his saving righteousness.”
When we fall out of communion with our Lord by placing one’s self above Him, we reject God’s laws and replace them with our own selfish set of principles. Once we begin to reject God’s laws that don’t fit in with our modern, enlightened view of the world, we begin to die in our sin. Glorifying the ideals of social justice over and above God’s law just increases the distance between us and our salvation. If we seek to be welcomed into the Lord’s kingdom, we must humble ourselves before Him. We need to dwell in the Word and grow nearer to our Lord, not reject the Word and replace it with our foolish desires. We need to share with those weak in the Spirit and lead them into communion with the Lord. We need to pray, long and hard, for those that lead the ELCA so that they reject their secular identity and rekindle their relationship with the Lord.
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