From Exposing the ELCA's Founder
Since the last Exposing the ELCA newsletter there has been an explosion of material to write about concerning the teachings, policies and actions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For some of you who visit ExposingtheELCA.com regularly, you know much of what I'm talking about. But for those of you who do not, let me share some of the most important articles from the last three months.
Despite the ELCA replacing its top two leaders, the denomination continues on its downward slide of denial of God's Word. The ELCA is becoming darker with every passing day, and people are being deceived.
With that in mind, I have a challenge for everyone reading this. My challenge to you is to write a letter to the editor about the troubling things happening in the ELCA. Send it to your local paper, your regional newspaper or the biggest newspaper in your state. After that, contact Exposing the ELCA and let me know about it. I'd love to read your submission and possibly post it on the website. There are millions of people who are being deceived by their denomination and there are thousands of visitors every week going to ELCA congregations with no idea what the church teaches and believes. God tells us in Ephesians 5:11, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Warning people about what is happening in the ELCA is an act of love toward them. Who is willing to accept this challenge?
Finally, thank you to all who faithfully support this ministry. The summer and fall months so far have been slow financially, so any gift that you can send to this ministry is greatly appreciated. Gifts can be sent to -
Dan Skogen
1970 50th St.
Marion, IA 52302
Or here is a link for those who prefer giving online - http://www.exposingtheelca.com/help.html
God bless you and keep you,
Dan Skogen
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Blasts from the Past -
ELCA Leader Wrong Again
(from 5/1/2010)
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson claims the god of Islam is the same God as Christians and Jews.
Rev. Hanson, in August of 2006 wrote "An Open Letter to Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Leaders" in which he said, "(t)he one God whom we worship is a God not only of judgment, but of mercy and peace." Hanson goes on to say, "(i)t is time for us together to publicly, clearly, and courageously give witness that the One in whom we believe unites us in our diversity rather than divides us in our hostilities."
The god of Islam and the God of Christianity are not the same god. See this article for some reasoning behind why I believe this is so.
This is another example of where the leadership of the ELCA is wrong and leading their membership down a path of disregard for scripture, truth and God Himself.
ELCA's God of Many Names/Many Paths
(from 9/1/2010 - written by a pastor from Michigan.)
An ELCA news release today highlights the August 30th "Public Statement on the Islamic Center Proposal" by Bishop Robert Rimbo of the Metropolitan New York Synod. In his concluding comments, Bishop Rimbo states: "We commend ourselves to the reliable and merciful arms of the God of Abraham, the God whom Jesus calls Abba, the God whom Muslims and Christians in various parts of the world call Allah. THIS GOD (my capitals) promises a reign in which all shall be well."
Am I understanding correctly that the learned bishop is referring here to God almighty revealed in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, as the God of many names, including Allah? Or perhaps, a public acknowledgment of many paths to God. It appears so, at least to me, since the bishop says THIS GOD PROMISES A REIGN...(all singular).
Isn't this yet another example of the "big tent" ELCA which bends over backward to avoid or distort the biblical name of God for the sake of secular tolerance and "political correctness?"
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ELCA Leaders Worship Muslim God
(from 1/10/2013)
ELCA leaders worship the god of Muslims. At least that is the logical conclusion most would come to when they look into what ELCA leaders are saying.
The magazine of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran, ran an article in the January 2013 issue about Muslims. The article was another attempt by ELCA leadership to indoctrinate its members into believing a heretical, blasphemous idea. The article included an argument supporting the claim that the God we Christians worship is the same god Muslims worship. Liberal heretics have been saying this for awhile now, and we will address this lie shortly, but lets first look at what The Lutheran had to say.
The magazine presented this statement to two ELCA experts: “Some people say 'Allah' is the name of a pagan moon god and isn't the same as the 'God' of the Bible.”
David D. Grafton, ELCA missionary serving as the coordinator for graduate studies at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt replied: “This is a very old claim. It's similar to an old Christian argument about the 'God of the Old Testament' being distinct from the 'God of the New.' That, of course, was declared a heresy long ago.”
Michael Shelley, dean and vice president for academic affairs at the ELCA's Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, answered by saying that “Allah” was one of many gods in Arabia, before the Koran was written, and was considered “the creator.” Prof. Shelley then says, “Are Allah and the God of the Bible the same? Certainly the Quran contends they are. It says to Jews and Christians, 'Our God and your God is one' (Quran 29:46) . . . we are likely to have a more constructive conversation with our Muslim neighbors if we proceed on the assumption that we are talking about the same divine being.” (see here)
So The Lutheran tells its readers that we worship the same god as the Muslims. The ELCA's Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson has said the same thing in a letter to Muslims saying “(t)he one God whom we worship is a God not only of judgment, but of mercy and peace." (see here)
There are a number of reasons the ELCA does this. One reason, I believe, is because of the ELCA's acceptance of universal salvation, that all people will go to heaven no matter what they believe, who they worship or if they've placed their faith in Christ. The ELCA has walked away from leading people to a saving relationship with Christ which makes “working together” with “all people” the focus of why the ELCA exists.
Now there are a number of reasons we can say with confidence that the God of the Bible and the Muslim god are not the same god. I will give you three:
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Muslims claim the teachings of their most holy book, the Koran, came from an angel. The Koran denies Jesus is the son of God. In Galatians 1 it indicates that gospels other than the gospel of the Bible are not from (our) God even if “an angel from heaven” preaches it.
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The Bible and the Koran contradict each other on major theological issues. If they were the same god there would not be these huge contradictions.
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The Bible and the Koran also portray very different and contradictory attributes of God. This again is a strong evidence that they are not the same God. (see here)
The ELCA's thinking and teaching is evil, and it blasphemes God. It is a teaching that comes from the pit of hell. I don't know how much longer God will allow the ELCA to mock Him.
If you haven't read my blog “The ELCA is No Longer a Christian Denomination” you should. It could just as easily been titled “The God of the Bible and the God of the ELCA are not the same.”
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News and Notes
- Exposing the ELCA has almost 1000 people who have "liked" us on our Facebook page. Join us here if you haven't already.
- Pilot Knob Lutheran Church, Forest City, Iowa, invited me to speak at their church this summer. It was a wonderful time. The people were passionate and kind. They have Godly leadership. And the church was beautiful. The audio of my sermon to the congregation is available here.
Quotes
"Thus, from its very starting point Islam denies what Christianity takes as its central truth claim — the fact that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father. If Allah has no Son by definition, Allah is not the God who revealed himself in the Son. How then can the use of Allah by Christians lead to anything but confusion . . . and worse?. . .If Allah has no son, Allah is not the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even if the case is made that Allah could be used in a generic sense to refer to God ( and I am not persuaded that it can), the word cannot be used to mean the Father in a Trinitarian affirmation. This is not mere 'discussion and bickering.' This is where the Gospel stands or falls." - Dr. R Albert Mohler Jr.
God's Word
“You shall have no other gods before me."
- Exodus 20:3
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