The Book of Concord was written, in part, by a guy named Martin Luther - heard of him? You know, the guy who was influential in getting this whole protestant movement started, the guy who nailed 95 thesis to a church door in Germany - kind of important to us Lutherans and to the protestant movement overall.

To repent means you are sorry for your sin. If you are a gay person, you are not sorry for your "sin" and you do not see it as a sin. That's what it means to repent.

Go back to 7th grade confirmation.

Here is the miraculous thing - we had these same arguments 35 years ago when the former church bodies that make up the ELCA started ordaining women. Bible verses tossed around how a woman should not have authority over a man.

Seems that worked itself out, didn't it?

LarsThunder. . .Are there no gays or divorced persons in heaven? If so, they didn't get there by not sinning anymore. . .They trusted in Christ's Mercy. Obeying the command "not to sin" is not repentance. Lutherans believe that repentance has two parts: Confession of sin and faith in one's absolution. Your all or none approach to the Law for Christians, for fear of hypocracy, leaves God's Mercy out of the equation. Unwittingly, that's what the ELCA does by "artifically" removing the Law against homosexuality. . .It throws repentant homosexuals (and God's Mercy) under the bus in favor of His Justice!

As the title says, I believe it is time to leave the denomination that long ago left God. God's Word is true and the ELCA has decided that their thoughts are above God's thoughts. This is evident in many ways that I don't think the typical ELCA member is aware of. Below I outline a number ways the ELCA has turned away from God and deny the very Word of God. The ELCA church, that I am a member of, is in the process of deciding what they will do regarding the ELCA and if they will leave the denomination. If you believe the Bible is God's Word and Jesus is the way to be saved, please stand up and let your voice be heard in your church. And tell others about it. Below is an email I sent the council members of my church. ***********exposingtheelca****/

See, that's the hang-up, we as a God-fearing society pick and choose which rules we follow. If we are going to hide behind the bible for some, we best get it right all the time. Otherwise we are hypocrites.

Leaving and dividing the ELCA would be contrary to what Jesus would want, imho.

e) I have been asking the contrary minded if they have ever worked with a gay or lesbian and the parents of either. Almost to a person they answer with a no. I suggest that they might have a genuine learning experience if they did so.

f) And I must also take into consideration that Minot and other local churches do not know what it is like to do ministry in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Minneapolis or other cities where there is a concentration of gays and lesbians. If the decision of Church-wide meets a need in those communities - who are we to say otherwise. Upper Midwest congregations make for a very different scene. Some of St.Paul's counsel on bearing one another's burden seems come into play.

I believe Harvey made a very poor decision. A decision based in fear and complete and utter ignorance of the Bible and its intended meaning - especially the meaning of Jesus' teachings.

a) In the Parable of the Wheat and Tares Jesus makes it clear that judgment is not for us to render - leave it to God and He will carry out His judgment in His time. In the meantime, just let it be.

b) In reading the New Testament the persons who said they could not be a part because it violated their sense of holiness were the Scribes and Pharisees - not the followers of Jesus.

c) When Martin Luther found the Church to be in error he did not propose withdrawing,. rather he took the approach of "Lets work on it". The Lutheran Church was born only after he was kicked out.

d) The Resolution allows every congregation to set its own policy - and some Bishops are encouraging a By-Law in the congregation's Constitution.

If you can live with that, that's fine. But just know that it'll be your legacy.

And if you still want to hide your hatred behind the Bible then you should know it also has its say on other civil rights issues. Such as slavery:

" However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46)"

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5)"

One day they were seen pounding a sign into the ground, that said:

DA END ISS NEAR! TURN YERSELF AROUNT NOW BAFOR IT'S TOO LATE!

As a car sped past them, the driver leaned out his window and yelled,"Leave me alone, you Skandinhoovian religious nuts!"

From the curve they heard screeching tires and a big splash. Rev. Ole turns to Pastor Sven and asks,"Do ya tink maybe da sign should yust say,

Bridge Out?"

What, divorce a sin? It goes against God's teaching, especially if the woman gets remarried.

We can't pick and choose God's teaching's we embrace. If you are going to insist on following one, then you best embrace them all.

Or, we could take Jesus advice and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. That's a radical thought if I ever heard one.