Lutheran bishop made good choices

Posted by dinomac (anonymous) on August 27, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess a tornado that splits the Lutheran Church's steeple wasn't a clear enough sign from God (while they convention was asking the question) that the ELCA was moving in the wrong direction. Yes, grace is so important when dealing with those who sin (which we all do), but like the Bible says, we are to love the sinners and hate the sin. We are not to condone it. Yes, we are supposed to have grace for murderers and child rapists, but are you going to welcome them to be your minister? I guess the ELCA churches don't believe in the Bible being God's Word... that's their perogative, God says homosexuality is a sin and is wrong! I know a bunch of ELCA church members are now seeking Bible believing churches to switch to.

Posted by Disgusted (anonymous) on August 27, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The homosexuals are attacking the churches from within. You only hear about one gay preacher that wanted to get married to his boyfriend. How many are waiting in the wings for their opportunity to enter into unholy wedlock. The Catholic church was overwhelmed by homosexual pedophiles and is close to being financially insolvent. Another voice against perverted sexual behavior has been silenced.

Posted by chrish (anonymous) on August 27, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

dinomac - If you actually believe that God sent a tornado to damage the church over this, you either have to be extremely ignorant or chemically dependent.

Go on Google. Do a search on tornadoes damaging churches. You get 300,000+ results. God must have issues with lots of churches. Heck, if we go by your theory, God must not like the Southeast and East Coast as that is where hurricanes hit. He must like MN better because we never get hurricanes. He must really have it in for New Orleans. He must have it in for anyone whose home gets storm damage.

Incidentally, if you do that same Google search and substitute church for synagogue, you only get about 12,000+ results. So using your logic, I think God like Jews better and we really are his Chosen People! Hooray!

Comparing a gay person to a murderer or child rapist is ridiculous. How does a gay person hurt you directly? That is their business, not yours. You don't like the ELCA decision? Don't attend their church. Problem solved.

Posted by harriet (anonymous) on August 27, 2009 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

God has the power to protect. When tragedy stricks it is time to examine ones life and choices and wonder why the protection was not there. Too many churches have forgotten what their purpose is in this world and have succumbed to the sinners will. I believe these churches will not survive the test of time. And as Disgusted said, I also believe god and his people are being attacked by satan. How sad that so many christians have become blind,deaf and just plain weak. How long before we fight for our Father?

Posted by Culture_Warrior (anonymous) on August 27, 2009 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is only one Church that has survived the test of time. It is the Catholic Church. This is simply an historical truth. In St. Matthew's Gospel, chapter 16:13-19, Jesus points out quite clearly to Peter that he was to be the Rock upon which Christ would build his Church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it. If you believe this, then you must also believe that the "Church" Christ referred to around the year 33, is still in existence even though sin, scandal and persecution have raged against it for 2,000 years. (within as well as from the outside) Besides, if you are the Devil and you want to destroy the Church, with all due respect you don't focus on "Good Book Bible Church" down on third avenue with a membership of 62, instead, you go for the jugular, the Universal Church began by Christ himself 2,000 years ago. Although all Christians suffer some form of persecution, you would have to admit that Catholic bashing is the one form of intolerance that is not only ignored but celebrated by the media. My point to all of this is that if you are looking for a Church home that has not given into the ever shifting winds of moral relativism, consider giving the Catholic Church another look! As the great Arch-bishop Fulton J. Sheen once stated, "There are not perhaps 100 people in this country that truly hate the Catholic Church, but there are literally thousands who hate what they THINK is the Catholic Church."

Posted by truthshallprevail (anonymous) on August 27, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

chrish,
Your facts are ridiculous! I think dinomac was referring to the timing of the tornado, not the fact that the tornado hit a church! And he was just comparing sins (which none are any worse than any other). And how does a gay person hurt you? It hurts God, it hurts society (because we are supposed to be people of morals). Disobeying God is everyone's business. Sure it's personal, but it affects every one. Love the sinner, hate the sin! It's great that God is a God of grace, because we all need grace and forgiveness... so do gays and lesbians.

Posted by chrish (anonymous) on August 27, 2009 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Give me a break. I have never been hurt by a gay person in my life. Many of them could teach the straight population a thing or two about love and commitment. With the divorce rate at 50+%, straight people need to look at themselves before they judge homosexuals. And the implication in dinomac's post was the tornado hit the church as a sign from God. Yeah, right.

Culture - while I have nothing against Catholics (married to one actually), they also have issues in their church. Inquisitions, sex abuse scandals, IRA, recent orphan abuse scandal in Ireland, etc. Point being no one religion is without issues/controversies. People have to pick the one that is the best fit for them.

Here's a solution for all of you that are unhappy about this. Don't be Lutheran if you don't like this. Problem solved! You think being gay is "immoral" and "sinful"? Well don't hang around people that are gay. They live their life, you live yours, another problem solved!

Posted by BabyGotBack (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

For those of you going around quoting your Bible, etc. I would like to open your closets to see what comes out (no pun intended). I'll bet I would see some interesting skeletons to say the least.

Ever worked on a Sunday (and that includes cleaning your house)? Stepped outside your marriage or gotten busy with someone who was? Gotten divorced? Taken God's name in vain? Were you a virgin when you got married? I didn't think so.

If you live in a glass house, don't be throwing the stones. Your own house might shatter. Leave it to the Man Upstairs to do the judging and MYOB!

Posted by harriet (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If a person is known to be comitting a sin and that person is preaching Gods lessons to me it would be rather difficult to beleive any thing they are saying or to go to that person for counsel if they can not control their own behavior this is why clergy are expected to follow the 10 commandments. I know a minester who was kicked out of the pulpit because he had a affair with his secetary and one who had a problem with alcohole return which caused him to lose his job. If gay people are going to be accepted then the church is going to have to accept anyone, no matter what their behavior is. People preaching in a church need to be truly called to do so by God and I doubt God would command a gay person to teach his word from the pulpit. Preachers who are living a homo lifestyle can create a church of their own and stop bullying their way into churches that have always rejected them. If you are struggling with changing a sinful behavior would you ask for help from a person who is comitting the same sin? Of course not. They don't belong in the pulpit!!!

Posted by CC (anonymous) on August 30, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"clergy are expected to follow the 10 commandments" If you believe the Bible is God's word, then are we not ALL supposed to follow the 10 commandments? You really believe that members of the clergy are any different from the rest of us humans? Since it's been stated, even by those opposing homosexuals in the clergy, that "a sin is a sin," then why don't churches/synagogues/etc. start canning any clergy person who is a sinner, whether they cheat on their wife, curse or covet their neighbor's fancy car, and we can see who's left standing without sin. My guess would be nobody.

Posted by HenryLea (anonymous) on August 30, 2009 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ms. Slette, It is always refreshing, and indeed quite hopeful, when an American like yourself has the courage to write such an important letter to the editor. Thank you.

Posted by museo (anonymous) on August 31, 2009 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Our culture is as diverse today as when Hubert H Humphrey said,"It is not a question of whether or not we can pile up more wealth, it is a question of whether or not we can live together, different creeds, different races, different cultures, different areas - not as homogenous people, but rather as a pluralistic society where we respect each other, try to understand each other and try to help each other." Sometimes these principles are worthy of our remembrances. I agree with the ELCA decision at the convention for the prayerful manner Bishop Mark S Hanson conducted the voting to reach the passage of a simple statement for the ELCA. To live with that decision will also benefit by the prayers of its members everywhere.