Harry Hein is a pastor. A good and decent man full of years. I haven't known him more than 4 or 5 years but the man who was my pastor in Ellendale when my parents died, John Bohlman, was Harry's roommate in Seminary many years ago. We have a rich connection.
Pastor Harry was distressed over the recent decision by the Evangelical Church in America, ELCA, ALC et al to not discipline homosexual pastors but to allow them to continue to be Pastors.
I was equally distressed by the vote of delegates to boycot products from Israel. This is a truly apostate organization that any Christian must run from. It's all over. They have taken a stand for unrighteousness. IF you or anyone you now is still part of the ELCA it's time to go and let the cold dead carcass fall like Dagon.
Harry's writing Follows:
Bishop Hanson, presiding Bishop of the ELCA in statements reprinted in the Chicago Tribune said that the "Literal" interpretation on the part of some Christians is not what we have in our understanding of scriptural interpretation in the Lutheran Church.
He (Hanson) made no reference to specific scriptural passages which would be applicable to the burning issues of the convention, namely homosexuality and the implied permitting of those who are practicing homosexuals to continue as ordained pastors in ministry to their congregations. He did not, for instance tell the pubic or the convention how the ELCA interprets Romans 1:24-28. He did not explain the implications of the words of scriptural qualifications for and overseer (GK. episkopos) as is outlined in 1 Timothy 3. "it is necessary for the overseer to be husband of one wife". Literally to be a one woman MAN. (Male)
He did not explain the "So-Called" Lutheran interpretation of the texts. Does the 1 Timothy text seem to allow that an overseer in the church can be a homosexual or for that matter a female? Does the Romans 1 text teach that homosexual practice is in fact a CHOICE some have made? Does it teach that in making such a choice the homosexual has "exchanged the truth for a lie" by "exchanging" the God-ordained use of sex between husband (male) and wife (female) for some same sex relationship?
For a proper understanding of Romans 1:24-25 and to understand how it is wrongly misused by the pro-homosexual crowd, see the sermon by John Piper of Minneapolis: The Other Dark Exchange, Homosexuality.
Reading the newspaper account of the action of the ELCA in convention calls to mine comments of Dr. Martin Luther in his "Treatise on Good Works". In one placed he speaks of the fourth commandment "Honor Your Father and Mother..........
Luther says "....another dishonoring of parents more dangerous and subtitle than this first, which adorns itself and passes for real honor, is when a child has it's own way and the parents thru natural love allow it.... the parents are blinded.... and do not honor God according to the first commandment." I I don't know what the ELCA and it's presiding Bishops teaches as "Lutheran Exegesis" of this but as spiritual "Parents" of the ELCA, as Luther says, they are letting the children have their own way.
Furthermore, as Luther says, "out of natural love they allow it".
They have a "Natural Love" for the homosexual. I don't mean that those who tolerate are themselves homosexual or homosexual lovers. They assume that this kind of "Toleration" on their part is a sign of the love of God shown in them, allowing and approving of homosexual behavior. Or at least overlooking it.
Yes, of course, GOD loves the homo and heterosexual, BUT His love for them is purely thru the Death of his Son Jesus the Christ and is to lead them to repentance and faith in HIM. The Power of the Gospel is to become renewal of life as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:9-11. God's love, true spiritual love, would demand that the "Spiritual Parents" of the ELCA clergy to be among the foremost of God's ministers to apply that this true spiritual love, would be to speak the clear Word of God to the Issue. Luther would chide the ELCA leaders as he did the parents who allowed children to "Have their own way".
The way of the Gospel is not tolerance of wrong. It seems that what we see in our nations in regard to this is a tolerance of wrong doing (Mild Punishments by judges and courts, parental laxity over children's behavior, failure to carry out legalities like the immigration issue) until this attitude has invaded the CHURCH.
There is a purpose in preaching the Gospel of Grace and also the Law. Without the application of divine law the Gospel makes no sense. Why would we need a savior? Wrongdoing offended GOD so much that he sent his son to the cross to take care of it so we might be acquitted of our sin.
Well said Brother Harold.
Not to continue to sin and sin and sin because grace abounds. Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2).
If there is any fear of God left on the planet what David Wilkerson said of this is critical.
3 comments:
what if sexuality is biologically based? disciplining a person for homosexuality would be like disciplining mr. redlin for being bald.
A bald guy in the Bible was made fun of, and there was punishment. We are not making fun of homosexuals. We are pointing out what the truth is according to the revealed Word of God. Baldness is not a sin. Practicing homosexuality is, according God's Word.
according to god's word, it is a sin to do lots of stuff that we recognize as silly. all that mixing fiber stuff and food rules. right there where the no men sleeping together stuff is. and it doesn't mention women - is lesbianism ok then? you are familiar with the arguments and how lame your biblical rule claims are so don't make me spell them out - you can find many an internet slice and dice of your claims to biblical right on this - and you are wrong. just plain wrong and mean and ignorant and unkind. you give up the rules you don't want to cling to and explain them away with the passage of time into the modern world, and it is time to give this anti-gay stuff up too.
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