Any suggestions on how to combat a proposal to ordain homosexuals in the ELCA?
Question:
Thank you so much for your web site. The ELCA is presenting a policy for a General Assembly vote in August to approve the ordination of same-sex cohabiting individuals. I am a documentary producer and have offered my services to oppose the approval of this proposal. Have you any suggestions as to the best way to present opposition in a powerful, concise way? We will show the video at conference exhibit tables so I believe it should not be more than 8-10 minutes. We will also send it to individual churches to win support.
Answer:
The reason your Lutheran denomination is facing these issues goes far deeper than the consideration of ordination for practicing homosexuals. The fact that they are considering it at all tells the entire world that they do not believe God -- a harsh statement, I know, but an accurate one. People who practice homosexuality are not even a part of God's kingdom. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10). Thus, the question of whether they should be put into a position of leadership is a moot point. They are not even faithful members of Christ's church.
What I find even more distasteful is that mere men have given themselves the right to alter God's laws by their vote. Christians can get together, examine the Word of God, and reason out what God has taught. But that doesn't imply that their conclusions are always right or that they have the right to vote changes to what God has said. "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19). The point is that God knows what He commanded. Unlike people who constantly change their minds, God has no need to repent of His statements and actions.
Homosexuality is a sin. That isn't up for a vote. "Co-habiting" is just a polite way of saying having sex without being married, which is also a sin. Ignoring that fornication is a sin isn't up for a vote either. "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person" (I Corinthians 5:11).
The only thing a person can choose is whether to follow God or not and their choice leads to their choice of destinations. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Your denomination is trying to tell God what He will accept, but sadly for them, they will eventually learn there is a reason the Bible says Jesus rules with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:27).
It is truly sad that people have more loyalty toward their denominations, which are their own creation, than to the King of Kings. The way to combat error is by teaching people exactly what God has said about the error. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:3-5). Your sword is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), so pick up your weapon and start battling.
