If you have paid attention to the news recently you know that the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) has decided that those congregations that choose to have practicing homosexuals as Pastors may do so.
A couple of comments on this matter. First, it must be clarified that that are a variety of Lutheran Churches. The ELCA tends to be the most liberal (theologically...meaning they are shakey on what orthodox believers would consider 'essentials') of the Lutheran denominations. The Missouri Synod Lutherans did NOT adopt this decision.
Second, the nature of the decision, as I understand it, is that the ELCA concluded that though some believed the Bible speaks clearly of homosexuality as sin, others do not see it so clearly. So, in a baffling move, they decided that both sides should be embraced as lovers of the truth. Basically, each church is left to make it's own decision. One more step toward making homosexual relationships an accepted part of this denomination.
The reason this is so perplexing is that at its core the church is watering down its belief in the authority of the Word of God to rule our lives. Anyone who reads the Old Testament and New Testament passages on homosexuality will have no trouble understanding what is being taught. Such behavior is condemned as sinful. The church has basically said, "It is OK to change what the Bible teaches to fit your worldview".
This is one step further toward godlessness. When God's Word becomes subject to the whims of men then we have turned things around. God now serves us rather than we serving Him.
The church does not stand against homosexuality because we hate gays. We stand against this behavior and many others because we are FOR people coming into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Before that can happen we must turn from our sin. Whitewashing what is sinful is not better than painting over a moldy wall. It may look good for awhile but the problem is not taken care of.
Those who belong to the ELCA have some difficult decisions ahead of them.
