Comments on: The ELCA Misstep http://steveholtonline.org/2009/09/01/the-elca-misstep/ Tue, 08 May 2012 19:47:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: David Brownlee http://steveholtonline.org/2009/09/01/the-elca-misstep/#comment-92 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:54:38 +0000 http://steveholtonline.org/?p=103#comment-92 Greetings Pastor Steve, and Matt,

This is I believe more and more of a sign from what you taught Pastor Steve out of Romans 1 months ago.
These happenings are showing that humans are living for pleasure, i.e. the so-called satisfaction of their souls, confusion has set in, etc.

My story if I may, I was abused sexually by my grandfather in my childhood. I grew up going to a main line denomination where two pastors resigned and went to the homosexual lifestyle (and pastored).
This really made me question my faith, question other believers, Christians, etc. What I have ultimately learned from this is that Satan is out on the prowl, devouring, Satan came to steal, kill and destroy (as Jesus states, and I believe Peter alluded to in his book also). No mater whether one is a Christian, born-again or not, Satan tries this, and unfortunately succeeds. If Satan can impact one person, than that person can influence others, such as what has been happening and just happened in the decision with ELCA.

Matt, I agree with you on the unity thing. When I read this, I could not resonate with what type of unity, this is so out of context. Also the fact of bearing one another burdens, wow, way out of line again.

Gentleman, I believe that somehow, someway in God’s sovereignty God is allowing this. Do I/we like it, no. However, just as what Jesus says, and I would like to have greater understanding on this, is when Jesus mentions about letting the wheat and the tares grow together. Hopefully I am not out of context, but I believe this is what is happening.

For me, thank God His hand is upon me, I could have gone a this other route. It is time for all Christians to stand up, put away the sin which besets us, look unto the author of our faith (Hebrews 12). It is time to take back the land, time to really unite. God does have much grace, however, we need not continue therein as Paul states.

Thanks gentleman,

GRACE – God’s Righteousness and Christ’s Embrace

David Brownlee

]]> By: Matt DeCoste http://steveholtonline.org/2009/09/01/the-elca-misstep/#comment-91 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:23:15 +0000 http://steveholtonline.org/?p=103#comment-91 Pastor Steve,
Thanks for your thoughts regarding this momentous and sad misstep by the ECLA. I agree with your thoughts and just felt like I had to add a comment regarding Bishop Julian Gordy’s explanation of the new policy on homosexual clergy. In his letter he states, “… unity is a work of God… The church of Jesus Christ is not ours to dismember… We are bound to do all that we can to preserve its God-given unity and health.” But what unity are we talking about here? Are we talking about unity of true saints that openly and intentionally address sin issues (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) in the body and take corrective steps to change them in alignment with God’s Word? Or are we talking about unity in order to “keep everyone happy and not rock the boat” despite our knowledge that what they are doing is contrary to scripture?

Bishop Julian Gordy also states that we are to “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” He says this in the context (in my opinion) that the church needs to take care of its own because the secular world will not do so. But isn’t he really just saying that gays and lesbians that claim christianity should not be confronted about their sin issues by other christians because that would create division? That’s how I interpret his statement.

Just a few thoughts to ponder.

I do love attending Mountain Springs and appreciate that you keep in tune with what is going on in the evangelical and secular world around us and you are not afraid to speak up about it. Thanks Pastor Steve!

Sincerley,
Matt DeCoste

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