Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, NASB)

Jesus Died For All The Sins Of All Who Will Believe The Good News And Repent Of Their Sin

In recent posts such as The Nightmare Beginning For Mainstream Evangelicalism here at Apprising Ministries I’ve been doing what I can to warn that as we watch how the highly divisive issue of homosexuality is ripping apart the mainline denominations e.g. the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) mainstream evangelicalism itself is getting another peek at its own impending future. Sadly, just as those mainline denominations are now doing,  the heart of evangelical camp has also begun deciding issues by feelings and not by what the text of the Bible itself says.

We add to the above that “gay affirming” clergy like ELCA “pastor” Nadia Bolz-Weber and “Outlaw pastor” Jay Bakker and are right now steadily gaining ground within evangelicalism as well. And this is why AM again attempts to alerts you to the very dark and threatening same-sex storm right now approaching hurricane force, and which is currently only slightly off the coast of the mainstream evangelical community. For the benefit of many new readers coming over lately I’ll explain why I began covering the issue of those having sexual relations with another of the same sex i.e homosexuality.

You see, by turning attention upon the sin of homosexuality right now in this Truth War, we’re able to light up the night sky with the Word of God. You see, as we have been doing so you should now be able to see the advance of enemy forces against Sola Scriptura because the case for affirming the practice of homosexuality can’t be made from the Bible. And if one won’t adhere to Scripture on this issue, they will also eventually bail on the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. Katharine Jefferts Schori Calls Individual Salvation Heresy/Idolatry being a case in point.

In fact, many in mainline evangelicalism have already begun hedging because of their open embrace of the egregiously ecumenical Emerging Church aka Emergent Church—currently morphing into Emergence Christianity (EC). What you’re about to read concerning the foolish decision just made by the ELCA will soon be a spiritual battleground within mainstream evangelical denominations in the immediate future. EC leaders like Tony Jones, “theologian in residence” at the church of his quasi-universalist pastor Doug Pagitt, already told us a couple of months ago:

I think we can see Cornerstone as a sort of belwether of evangelicalism. Five and ten years ago, the seminar tents were populated with seminars on modern, evidential apologetics (Norman Geisler was a name I heard a lot) and pro-life stragegy sessions. Today, the seminars are on creation care, developing new monastic communities, centering prayer, and human rights. Phyllis Tickle and I talked about the great emergence. And, for the first time at Cornerstone, Christians who favor gay rights and GLBT inclusion in the church were allowed to speak alongside those from “ex-gay” ministries.

This is the shift that’s taking place in evangelicalism, people. Get ready for it. (Online source, bold his)

But Luther Said He Was Held Captive By The Word Of God, Not Mere Personal Opinion

Tony Jones is right; he aims to lead the shift, or do you think it’s simply a coincidence that Jones and Pagitt have included among the 21 women speakers at their upcoming Christianity 21 conference the gay affirming Phyllis Tickle, Empress of Emergence, PCUSA “pastor” Nanette Sawyer—ardent activist for gay inclusivism within her denomination—as well as the aforementioned “Queer inclusive” Bolz-Weber. Take a look for yourself in The New Christians With Christianity Worth Believing—No Sola Scriptura: Yes, Women Pastors And Queer Christians.

Well circa the mid 70s and concerning the homosexual debates—which were then only in their beginning stages within many of the mainline denominations—Dr. Walter Martin (1928-1989), foremost defender of what he would so often call the “historic orthodox Christian faith” said, “What really is there to debate about; if, you actually believe what the Bible says.” Yet here we come forward a few decades later and we have obstensibly “Evangelical Lutherans” now even opening ordination up to homosexuals.

But when we consider e.g. Martin Luther Says No…To Women Pastors and Martin Luther’s Rejection Of Homosexuality do we really think that Luther would approve of women ordained to the pulpit like former “professional f**k-up” Nadia Bolz-Weber? And who in their wildest dreams could see Luther sharing his pulpit with people who are unrepentant in their practice of the sin of homosexuality i.e. openly committing sexual immorality/fornication with members of the same sex?

Now against this proper backdrop I point you to ELCA Opens Ordination to Noncelibate Homosexuals from Christian Post:

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on Friday approved a resolution to allow gays and lesbians in same-sex relationships to be ordained. ELCA’s highest legislative body voted 559-451 during the biennial Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis.

It was a moment of celebration for supporters of the resolution, which overturned the denomination’s ban on noncelibate gay and lesbian clergy. But opponents warn the action will likely lead to an exodus of churches.

“This will cause an ever greater loss in members and finances. I can’t believe the church I loved and served for 40 years can condone what God condemns,” said the Rev. Richard Mahan, pastor at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Charleston, W.Va., according to The Associated Press. “Nowhere in Scripture does it say homosexuality and same-sex marriage is acceptable to God. Instead, it says it is immoral and perverted.”… (Online source)

Keep in mind now that we’re discussing a denomination which would claim to have decended from the work of Martin Luther; you know, he of Sola Scriptura. And if true, Evangelical Lutheran Church backs away from Christian chastity, gives us even more cause for concern. This is taken from Metro Catholic who carries that report originating from Catholic News Agency. At the time of this writing I receive an Error Message as I try and access the original CNA link:

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on Wednesday approved a new policy that no longer declares marriage as “the appropriate place” for sexual relations, but rather calls for “social trust” in associations that are “loving” and “committed.” One critic characterized the move as an embrace of moral relativism. The ELCA claims about 4.6 million members. Its numbers have declined by 1 million over the past forty years.

The ELCA’s Churchwide Assembly, meeting from August 17 to 23 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, formerly said that marriage is “the appropriate place for sexual intercourse.” Such language is absent from the new policy, which says that heterosexual relationships are “best served through binding commitment, legal protections, and the public accountability of marriage.”

“Some cohabitation arrangements can be constructed in ways that are neither casual nor intrinsically unstable,” the policy adds. The policy calls for “social trust” in relationships that are “loving,” “life-giving,” “fulfilling,” “nurturing,” and “committed.”… (Online source)

To paraphrase that renouned philosopher of shock rock, and professing Christian, Alice Cooper: Welcome to your nightmare…

 See also:

THE SIN OF HOMOSEXUALITY IS DIFFERENT

HOMOPRESSIVE AS JAY BAKKER

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY

THE EMERGING CHURCH HIGHJACKING EVANGELICALISM

BUT DO EMERGENCE CHRISTIANITY AND BRIAN MCLAREN REALLY LOVE GAY PEOPLE?

AM MAILBAG: DR. WALTER MARTIN ON APOSTASY

JOHN MACARTHUR: WHEN BEING “NICE” IS WRONG