Just days ago, the largest Lutheran church denominational group (the ELCA) openly and formally abandoned the Bible when it voted to approve practicing, non-celibate homosexuals as members of its clergy. The vote took place in Minneapolis, and it makes this Lutheran denomination “the largest denomination in the country to welcome gays into the pulpits without restriction.” It should be pointed out that there are other Lutheran denominations (such as the Missouri Synod) which did not participate in this vote. I especially take note of this revolutionary departure from the Bible as I was raised in this Lutheran denomination as a child and youth. The Lutherans I knew at the rural country church where I attended would all “roll over in their graves” if they could know about this vote.
The Lutheran Church claims to be a Christian Church. The Bible is the foundational Word of God for all Christians (or at least that is how is should be). Let’s remind ourselves of what God’s Word says on the subject of homosexuality (all quotes below from the RSV).
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; It is an abomination….do not defile yourselves by any of these things.” (Leviticus 18:19, 24)
“God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women…men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.” (Romans 1:24-28)
“Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers nor sexual perverts…will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you, But you were washed…in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (Romans 1:9-11).
It should be noted that two of the above scriptures are from the New Testament. The second one infers the penalty of venereal diseases for homosexual practices and the third scripture states some early Christian converts were ex-homosexuals, confirming that homosexuals can come out of their sins even as heterosexuals can come out of their respective sins. Everyone can be cleansed by the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for all mankind at Calvary.
I wonder if anyone at the ELCA convention bothered to see what God had to say on the issue before they voted on it. The Lutherans gave God a hard slap in the face as their vote doesn’t merely permit homosexuals to be members in good standing of their denomination, it allows them to be congregational leaders (and therefore role models for all their youth and children). The first link below includes a caption under a photo which indicates the Lutherans “prayed for guidance after the vote.” What is the point of “praying for guidance” from God when they are starting down a path that God calls an “abominable” one? Biblically, this was a clear-cut issue on which God’s will is so clear no prayer is necessary to know his “guidance” on the subject. Would the Lutheran delegates have prayed for God’s guidance before deciding to rob a bank? Would they pray for God’s guidance before gunning down passers-by in the street outside their convention hall? I suspect the Lutheran delegates would be horrified at the thought of openly voting to approve of stealing and murder; however, God’s will is as clear on the subject of homosexuality as it is on the subjects of stealing and murder. A majority of the Lutheran delegates simply chose to flagrantly disobey God in their vote.
While the Lutherans did not bother to consult or obey God’s Word in their decision, God may have “voted” in a way which indicated his displeasure at their action. The second link below notes that “Some conservatives even saw signs of divine anger when a tornado touched down on the Minneapolis Convention Center just hours before the vote (Emphasis added).” It was a weak tornado, but the fact that it hit the Lutheran convention site (and points around the twin Cities) just before the delegates voted is a sign that God is still watching (and warning) mankind’s organizations about the actions they take. There will be a Judgment Day at some point in the future. Those Lutheran delegates who voted for the pro-homosexual position will face their Creator and be judged for their actions, based on the scriptures cited earlier in this blog. If you would like to see photos of this tornado and the damage it caused, please check out the 3rd link below (it includes a photo of the tornado cloud over Minneapolis).
II Thessalonians 2:3 prophesied there would be a “falling away” from biblical truths in the end times of our age just before the “man of sin” (also called the “son of perdition”) is revealed in world affairs. The second link below notes that the Lutherans have joined the Methodists, the Presbyterians and the Episcopalians in taking pro-homosexual positions. I wonder what the founders of these denominations would say if they could be resurrected to see what their denominations have done. As an ex-Lutheran myself, I’ll bet Martin Luther would have disowned the delegates who voted in favor of homosexuality. The “falling away” process just got stronger in the ELCA vote.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/53918332.html
http://wcco.com/slideshows/tornado.downtown.minneapolis.20.1135427.html
