Thursday, July 22, 2010

Missouri Synod Lutherans Adopt Resolutions to Make Sure People Know They're Bigots and Homophobes

The level of contempt and bigotry that is the hallmark of so many allegedly Christian denominations never seems to amaze me. The latest case in point is the Missouri Synod Lutherans ("LCMS") who - God forbid - feared that people might confuse them with the more liberal and surely more Christian acting Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ("ELCA"). Last year the ELCA voted at its Churchwide Assembly to allow partnered gay clergy and recognized the need to accept and affirm the committed relationships of same sex couples. Therefore, in order to reaffirm that they are bigots and homophobes, the LCMS adopted resolutions at its convention this week (see photo). While not voting to severe all ties with the ELCA, the LCMS roundly condemned gays and insisted on clinging to selective literal application of Bible passages. Like so many faux Christians and modern day Pharisees of the professional Christian set, the LCMS picks and chooses which parts of the Bible will be applied literally in order to condemn others while ignoring other passages that would condemn their own hypocrisy. Here are highlights from the Christian Post.
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Delegates of the Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod on Tuesday overwhelmingly adopted two resolutions in response to last year's pro-gay actions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. One resolution commends for "study and reference" two documents that state that the ELCA's actions – including allowing partnered homosexuals on the clergy roster – are contrary to Scripture.
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When the ELCA's highest legislative body voted last August to allow gays and lesbians in "publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships" to serve as clergy, the denomination received wide media attention, prompting concerns within the LCMS that many may think all Lutherans share the same beliefs. The ELCA had also adopted a social statement on human sexuality acknowledging that there is no consensus on homosexuality while at the same time recommending that the ELCA commit itself to find ways to recognize lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.
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Meanwhile, the second document – "Theological Implications of the 2009 ELCA Decisions" prepared by an LCMS task force – notes that the LCMS and the ELCA have partnered together in works related to mercy and relief but that the controversial decision threatened the cooperative relationship.
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Slavery, treating women as chattel, and murdering non-Christian women and children have also been viewed as Biblically sanctioned in the past and I'm sure the LCMS's actions towards gays will someday be viewed as horrible and un-Christian. Until then, I suppose the self -congratulatory members of the LCMS will revel in its chosen bigotry, rejection of modern knowledge, and hatred towards those who are different than themselves. WWJD?

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