Lutheran (EL
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Posted on 09/21/2009 6:08:43 PM PDT by rhema
Meeting barely a month after the Episcopal Church voted to end its ban on the consecration of openly homosexual bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] has taken similar steps. Meeting last week in Minneapolis, the Lutherans voted first to adopt a comprehensive statement on human sexuality that at least allows for the recognition and blessing of same-sex relationships in the church. Beyond this, it establishes a platform for the eventual acceptance and affirmation of same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Then, acting just as the week came to an end, the denomination voted to eliminate barriers that had prevented non-celibate homosexual ministers from serving in ELCA churches. The vote to affirm the new statement on human sexuality was close -- receiving the exact number of positive votes necessary for passage -- but, taken together, the two actions signal a massive seismic shift, not only in the ELCA, but also in the larger denominational world. For advocates of the normalization of homosexuality, the votes in Minneapolis represent a clean sweep of votes their way.
The churches and denominations of mainline Protestantism are being torn asunder over the issue of homosexuality. Denomination after denomination becomes the focus of national attention as it meets for crucial votes and decides its future. Observers of the ELCA had seen this process extended through years of study and controversy. In the view of many, the process mostly served to postpone the inevitable. The inevitable happened in Minneapolis.
The inevitability of the votes to allow the affirmation of homosexual unions and the calling of homosexual ministers is rooted in decisions made prior to those crucial votes. The actions in Minneapolis would be inconceivable but for the fact that the denomination has for decades allowed increasing theological pluralism to mark its membership and its leadership. But plainly, this pluralism allows for radically different theologies to reside within one denomination and for fundamentally divergent understandings of Scripture and biblical authority to coexist. All parties now recognize that this coexistence will be very hard to maintain. For those who believe that the votes in Minneapolis represent the church's endorsement of sin, heartbreaking decisions now cannot be avoided.
The social statement adopted in Minneapolis, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust," is itself a parable of the mainline Protestant predicament. More than anything else, the document represents an attempt to present two irreconcilable understandings side-by-side. The document simply cannot avoid acknowledging that some within the ELCA believe that all homosexual acts and behaviors are explicitly condemned as sin in Scripture, while others believe that the biblical text can be reinterpreted to allow for the total acceptance of homosexual relationships on par with heterosexual marriage.
On the crucial issue of blessing same-sex unions, the ELCA now recognizes no less than four understandings. The first represents those who "are convinced that same-gender sexual behavior is sinful, contrary to the Bible teaching and their understanding of natural law." These Lutherans believe that same-sex acts represent "the grave danger of unrepentant sin." Therefore, these Lutherans would call those struggling with same-gender attraction to a celibate lifestyle.
A second group of Lutherans believes "that homosexuality and even lifelong, monogamous, homosexual relationships reflect a broken world in which some relationships do not pattern themselves after the creation God intended." Thus, these Lutherans do not accept the public recognition of same-sex unions.
The third group of Lutherans goes so far as to believe "that the scriptural witness does not address the context of sexual orientation and lifelong loving and committed relationships that we experience today." This group is ready to bless same-sex unions, but not to grant of these unions the status of marriage.
Finally, the report indicates that the fourth group of Lutherans is ready to affirm same-sex marriage as equal in legitimacy to heterosexual marriage. "They believe same-gender couples should avail themselves of social and legal support for themselves, their children and other dependents, and to seek the highest legal accountability available for their relationships."
All this was pretty much to be expected. What makes the Lutheran action distinctive and especially troubling is the effort to claim that a church can remain united even as it is strained by such divergent understandings of human sexuality and biblical morality. In anticipation of the meeting in Minneapolis, some Lutherans were already claiming that the issue of homosexuality simply is not a matter of fundamental importance. This argument is easy to make, but very difficult to defend.
This becomes clear at two crucial points -- the authority of Scripture and the significance of sin. A crucial footnote in the new social statement reads: "The difference between interpreters should not be understood as a conflict between those who seek to be 'true to Scripture' and those who seek to 'twist the Bible' to their own liking." In other words, the document seeks to affirm that two contradictory statements concerning what the Bible teaches about homosexuality are equally valid. The statement cited in the footnote comes from a study prepared by two Lutheran New Testament scholars who reviewed the crucial biblical texts concerning homosexual behavior and came to the conclusion that there can be no authoritative interpretation.
The tragedy of all this is accentuated by the fact that Martin Luther, the great Reformer who gave birth to the Lutheran tradition, staked his life and the Gospel he preached upon the principle of Sola Scriptura -- the final and exclusive authority of the Scripture within the church. Luther also affirmed the essential clarity of Scripture, affirming that its clarity is a function of its divine authorship. "Let miserable men, therefore, cease to impute, with blasphemous perverseness, the darkness and the obscurity of their own hearts to the brilliantly clear Scriptures of God," insisted Luther.
A revealing statement on the Lutheran decisions came from Barbara Wheeler, who serves as an advocate for the acceptance of homosexual ministers in the Presbyterian Church (USA). "What you're seeing is two things: the society is in the process of changing its collective mind about the moral status of same-sex relationships, and there's a parallel theological movement." She is exactly right, for the theological movement to normalize homosexual relationships is working hard to accommodate the Scriptures and the church's historic teaching so that it matches the changing mind of the larger society.
The claim that these two contradictory understandings of the Bible's teachings on human sexuality can coexist and be recognized as being equally faithful to the Scriptures is nonsense. Those pressing for the normalization of homosexuality must put the Scriptures through hoop after hoop of theological acrobatics. The claim that a church can both condemn and bless homosexual relationships with equal faithfulness falls false on its face. Worst of all, it sows a disastrously deadly confusion about the nature of sin -- a confusion that subverts the Gospel and brings eternal consequences. Should homosexuals repent of their sin, or come to the church for the blessing of their homosexual unions? There can be no multiple-choice answer to that question. The actions in Minneapolis will reverberate far into the future. Woe unto those who cloak such decisions with the disguise of faithfulness.
Wisconsin synod is liberal? Are you sure you are Lutheran? That is like saying that Ronald Regan is liberal. Wisconsin synod is a close communion, very conservatice synod.
This org. neither qualifies as “Evangelical” Lutheran” or “church” much less Christian, which is defined by the source of the term, the Bible, which they have rejected.
The extraordinary efforts to negate the condemnation of homosexual relations in the Bible, and attempts to find sanction for the same are manifested as specious, and require the negation of the Divine inspiration of the very book they seek to enlist for support. See such considered here: http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Homosex_versus_the_Bible.html
Some will abandon sound doctrine and follow the doctrine of demons..The Lord is not amused.
The ELCA simply voted to schism itself from the Lutheran Church. LCMC, Lutheran Core and other Lutheran groups are leaving, and the ELCA will simply go on and practice its gospel of social justice and be apostate. All this thanks to the narrow minded, agenda driven, doctrine ignoring, apostate Bishop Hanson who should immediately be defrocked and excommunicated.
Yo.
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) holds that the Bible is inspired and inerrant, and only the source of doctrine. It “Rule of faith” is judged by it.
The “Holy Scriptures are the Word of God...they are in all their parts and words the infallible truth, also in those parts which treat of historical, geographical, and other secular matters, John 10:35.[78]
On homosexuality, in a detailed and consistent teaching it states that,
The Lord teaches us through His Word that homosexuality is a sinful distortion of His desire that one man and one woman live together in marriage as husband and wife.God categorically prohibits homosexuality. Our church, The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod,has declared that homo- sexual behavior is “intrinsically sinful.”
And in addition,
While clearly affirming the sinfulness of homosexuality, we will also want clearly to affirm God’s promise of forgiveness in Christ Jesus.Often families of homosexuals are embarrassed and ashamed. If Christian friends and relatives treat them in ways that increase this shame, it is little wonder that they will attempt to rationalize or otherwise explain away a son’s or daughter’s sinful lifestyle.[79]
http://www.conservapedia.com/Homosexuality_and_Christianity#Lutheran_Church—Missouri_Synod
Having cooked its own goose, the ELCA is now desperately attempting to coerce faithful Lutherans to stay in the sect and "engage in further conversation," even as faithful Lutherans, who have had enough of onesided "conversations" are preparing to pack their bags by the thousands.
This "unity" campaign, which is all and only about money and the tithes of departing members, is being shamelessly led by the chief homosexual appeasor "Presiding Bishop" Hanson, a singularly deceptive man who is ill-educated in matters of the real world but steeped in modernistic leftwing ideology and moral relativism.
All in all a disgraceful penultimate act for the ELCA.
Hosanna Lutheran in Lakeville (6,084 members, 14th largest; 1st among all ELCA churches in operating budget at $6.9 million) is a good candidate for departure. Its pastor wrote to the St. Paul ELCA bishop: "... We do not feel that the actions taken represent the beliefs and desires of the majority of the ELCA, but rather a small fraction of the denomination, politically well organized and driven by personal agenda. We feel these actions are biblically indefensible.
" Now, we are forced to deal with the aftermath. Many are asking ‘when are we leaving the ELCA?’ Part of my response has been ‘they have left us.’ It feels like we have been abandoned. But we are not alone.
"The leadership at Hosanna! is putting into place a “Plan for Decision and Discernment.” Ours will not be a knee-jerk reaction and I suspect these events and opportunities will unfold over the next 6-8 months. This letter is a first step. It will be posted on our website and read to the congregation this coming weekend. Second, I will also be speaking to the congregation about our relationship with the ELCA this weekend. Third, I will be speaking next week with the leadership team of The Lighthouse Covenant. We will affirm common ground, talk about next steps, and consider a mid-winter Lighthouse Covenant Conference to encourage and care for other pastors and congregations that are hurting, angry, or confused. Fourth, we invite you to meet with our Vision Board sometime this fall. We meet the third Tuesday evening each month. Fifth, we will schedule a town hall forum for Hosanna! members to attend to voice their concerns. Finally, we will explore affiliation with numerous groups, both within and outside the ELCA: CORE, LCMC, ARC, Word Alone, and others.
"Finally, I need to tell you that we are going to suspend immediately all financial support to the Saint Paul Area Synod and the ELCA. Our giving beyond Hosanna! will remain strong, but we cannot give our benevolence dollars to a denomination that has moved in a direction so contrary to some of our core beliefs."
(Acts 20:30) “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
This is a pretty short-sighted policy by the ELCA Lutherans, from a fiscal perspective alone.
I just don’t see the ELCA gathering enough homosexuals to sacrificially give their time and treasure to actually grow the church- not even enough to make up for the people they are alienating with this.
The story forgets to note that a tornado hit the convention center in which the vote took place and tore the cross off an ELCA church across the street - at the very time the vote was scheduled to take place!
Link please!
In other news the ELCA is dropping use of the traditional Christian fish symbol and replacing it with an icon more relevant to their current teachings: (_o_)
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Um, no. The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) is also very conservative.
ELCA = Evolving Liberal Coalition of Apostates
The ELCA now recognizes no less than four understandings. The first represents those who “are convinced that same-gender sexual behavior is sinful, contrary to the Bible teaching and their understanding of natural law.” That is the historical and the only Biblical one
A second group of Lutherans believes “that homosexuality and even lifelong, monogamous, homosexual relationships reflect a broken world in which some relationships do not pattern themselves after the creation God intended.” Thus, these Lutherans do not accept the public recognition of same-sex unions.
Jesus clearly declared that the male and female sexual union constituted the “what” of “what therefore God hath joined together.” (Mt. 19:4)
The third group of Lutherans goes so far as to believe “that the scriptural witness does not address the context of sexual orientation and lifelong loving and committed relationships that we experience today.”
This group is out to lunch, and supposes God was neglectful or forgetful to add the critically needed sanction for “loving and committed” homosex, just as this is missing for “loving and committed” bestiality, or pedophilia, ETC. Instead, such are only condemned wherever they are explicitly dealt with.
Finally, the report indicates that the fourth group of Lutherans is ready to affirm same-sex marriage as equal in legitimacy to heterosexual marriage.
This lost multitude seeks to joined together what God has (sexually) placed asunder.
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