Pastor: LCMS Failed a Big Test of Faith – Still Yoked with Apostate ELCA
MEDIA ADVISORY, July 28 /Christian Newswire/ — The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod- LCMS- had its national convention in July, completely re-structuring the organization, electing Biblically confessional leaders to most of its national posts, and re-affirming its commitment to mission in a weary world.
But the denomination of nearly 3 million members failed its greatest test this year, following behind denominations all over the world that have condemned the departure of the American Mainline and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from biblical orthodoxy, only to retreat into empty statements.
For 20 years the LCMS has been issuing cautions and statements and pastoral admonishments to the ELCA. A few years ago, the denomination said that the ELCA is no longer a biblically orthodox denomination over that group’s march towards instituting gay marriage and allowing sexually active gay pastors.
No admonishment, no statement, no dialogue or discussion the LCMS has ever had with the ELCA ever led to a change in direction for that apostate denomination.
This year the LCMS, even in the face of the decisive action last summer of the ELCA to unequivocally trample on 2000 years of Biblical teaching, offered more admonishments at the LCMS voter’s assembly. Just more word salad- statements with no teeth.
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod not only failed to seize the opportunity God offered them this year to sever all ties with the ELCA, but in their decision to remain yoked to a denomination that has so clearly left historic Christianity, the LCMS has failed American Christianity and Christians all over the world in a miserable and lamentable way.
The LCMS has acknowledged that its membership has been in decline all these years they’ve been issuing admonishments while working hand-in-hand with the ELCA. Scripture is clear that no church community will be blessed that goes down that road- that fails to sever the bonds with impenitent idolaters (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)- and LCMS leaders play a risky game in betting that God will make an exception in their case.
I’m betting God won’t, and that the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod- so long as the group supports, finances, and works together with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for “social justice” – will continue to dwindle and whither on the vine, hanging by a tether, until the day that the “vine-dresser” finally cuts them too from the tree of life (John 15:1-8).
Rev. CJ Conner
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“No admonishment, no statement, no dialogue or discussion the LCMS has ever had with the ELCA ever led to a change in direction for that apostate denomination.”
As Luther would say, “This is most certainly true.”
I agree that the LCMS has failed in not separating, but Reverend Conner i have to say that you aren’t necessarily one to be speaking. While the ELCA’s stance on homosexuality is the worst and most recent of their attacks on scripture it is simply the end result of years and years of abandoning biblical teaching. The blatant disregard for the biblical teaching of church fellowship has been going on in the ELCA since its inception. Paul writes that we should separate ourselves from false teachers, that we should be of “One mind and one judgment” with those with whom we are in fellowship, this has NEVER been the case in the ELCA. The next big departure from scripture is the ordination of women pastors. The way that ELCA theologians skirt around the texts of scripture to call that ok is very similar to what they are now doing to get around the places where paul calls homosexuality an “abomination.” Paul writes very clearly, that no woman should have authority in the church but remain in silence. Silence does not include preaching. There are many other areas where the ELCA has left the teaching of scripture, these are just a couple but it is not surprising at all that the ELCA has taken this most recent step, it was inevitable considering their long history of disregarding scripture. Jesus calls us to a different path, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed and you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.” Do not follow the clever and deceiving, smooth sounding words that the false teachers whisper in your ears, they are designed, as Paul says, to deceive you and lead you away from Christ. Cling to every word of scripture and lean not on your own understanding!
“The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod not only failed to seize the opportunity God offered them this year to sever all ties with the ELCA, but in their decision to remain yoked to a denomination that has so clearly left historic Christianity, the LCMS has failed American Christianity and Christians all over the world in a miserable and lamentable way.”
This is also “most certainly true”, and pastors and laity in the LCMS must not ignore Romans 16:17:
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Are we to disregard Scripture too? Kyrie Eleison! (Lord, Have Mercy!)
The LCMS does not work jointly with non-Lutherans in “externals.” Is there any reason why they should maintain any joint work with a church body which continually rejects the clear word of Holy Scripture and ignores all godly admonition from other Christians.
I was a delegate to the LCMS convention and went in with thoughts basically the same as this article presents, and planning to vote accordingly.
However, during discussion on the resolution to sever ties, Rev Harrison asked us to not proceed with the resolution at this time. The LCMS is involved with ELCA (and other Lutheran bodies) in human care efforts all over the world. To drastically cut off those efforts without any plan to replace them or join with other groups would be very short sighted and cause some harmful results. It is not an easy call to make.
Rev Harrison promised us that, as President, the status quo would not stand, that he knows how the membership of the synod feels (and has relayed to the ELCA).
As much as I know about Rev Harrison’s stands in many doctrinal areas, and seeing that he is the person most involved in working with the ELCA, I have to trust his judgment and hence honored his request to not cut off joint efforts just yet.
Matthew 18 prescribes several steps in Christian discipline. Since he has not even taken office yet, I’m trusting Rev Harrison to take the proper steps in this disciplinary situation.
Pastor Harrison’s candid remarks on World Relief-Human Care dealings with the ELCA.
Reflecting on the work that has been done over the past nine years, Pastor Harrison states:
“It has been a blessed endeavor, but a very hard road. Our offices have had more direct contact and involvement with the ELCA than any other in the LCMS. The complications brought about by the recent decision on homosexuality are only the most recent high-water mark of what has been a rising tide of pain, sorrow, and frustration in dealing with ELCA leadership, whom I have personally heard confess that there is salvation outside of faith in Christ. The decisions on homosexuality are symptomatic of a fundamental difference with them on what the Bible is and what the Gospel is. It has been supremely challenging to kindly but firmly insist on respect for the LCMS’s biblical positions, and to do as little damage as possible to agencies that serve so many with mercy. That said, the status quo with the ELCA cannot hold.”
From: http://stand-firm.blogspot.com/2010/04/pastor-harrisons-convention-report.html
There is a significant difference between doctrinal fellowship and cooperation in external matters.
Does feeding, clothing, and housing the sick and poverty-stricken constitute doctrinal fellowship? No.
Is feeding, clothing, and housing the sick and poverty-stricken restricted to those Christians who agree doctrinally? No.
We are called as Christians to act in and with the world to assist and aid our neighbors in love and compassion. Cooperating on external matters in no way translates into doctrinal compromise. The two are exclusive to each other.
The LCMS has adamantly protested and admonished the recent (and not so recent) sin of the ELCA. It has also elected a confessional president, which will hopefully lead to the beginnings of some healing of its own doctrinal differences.
Confessional Lutherans do not let people go hungry or homeless on account of petulant legalism. While the LCMS has rightly made it clear that there can be no doctrinal fellowship with the ELCA until its sin is confessed and repented of, it also rightly continues to cooperate in externals (void of doctrinal content) which fulfills Christ’s command to love thy neighbor.
In Christ,
Jerome
The LCMS has sister/partner churches on their website. Those in North America are the following: Lutheran Church- Canada, The American Association of Lutheran Churches, and The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti. http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6268