Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Succumbs to Heresy
Martyr and other early sources, expose cultures not unlike the one in which we live today where people were treated as property, "freedom" was perceived as a power over others and unrestrained license masqueraded as liberty. The word "pagan" was not used as a disparaging term in those accounts but referred to a pseudo-"religious" worldview. I use it the same way in calling contemporary western culture increasingly pagan and not progressive at all. Many of the "gods and goddesses" of this pre-Christian worldview promoted lifestyles of selfish excess, homosexual practices, and hedonism masquerading as freedom. The myths concerning them had them acting in much the same way as we see in our day. The lies have simply been reintroduced, only the myths and the statues are different. They purport to be "progressive" when in reality they are regressive.
The early Christians did not back down from contending with the pagans of old. They knew then - and we must reassert in our own day - that what is at stake are two competing visions of the human person, human freedom, human flourishing and human progress. The early Christians demonstrated the superiority of their claims by their compelling witness of life. So must we. They lived in monogamous marriages, raised their children to be faithful Christians and good citizens, and went into the world of their age offering a new way to live. This "way" (which is what they first called the early Church) presented a very different worldview than the one that the pagans embraced. As a result, they sometimes stirred up hostility. Some of them were martyred in the red martyrdom of shed blood. Countless more joined the train of what use to be called "white martyrdom", living lives of sacrificial witness and service in the culture, working hard and staying faithful to the end of a long life spent in missionary toil.
Slowly, not only were small numbers of "pagans" converted and baptized, but eventually their leaders and entire Nations followed suit. Resultantly, the Christian worldview began to influence the social order. The "clash of freedoms" continued, but the climate changed significantly. It was the Christian faith and the practices of these Christians that began to win the hearts of men and women. The cultures once enshrined to pagan practices, such as plural marriage, active homosexuality, exposure and abortion began to change dramatically and this dynamic continued for centuries. It was Christianity that taught such novel concepts as the dignity of every person and their equality before the One God. The Christians proclaimed the dignity of women, the dignity of chaste marriage and the sanctity of the family. The Christians insisted that freedom must be exercised with reference to an objective moral code, a law higher than the emperor, or the sifting sands of public opinion; a Natural Law which could be known by all men and women, through the exercise of reason, because it was written on the human heart.
The Christian faith presented a coherent and compelling answer to the existential questions that plagued the ancients such as why we existed and how we got here. What was the purpose of life? Questions like how evil came into the world and why we could not always make right choices? What force seemed to move us toward evil and how we could be set free from its power? Christian philosophy began to flourish and the arts also flourished under the Christian worldview. Philosophies of government and economic theory began to be influenced by these principles derived from a Christian worldview. It offers the same genuine liberation to the contemporary age.
Some say we live in a post modern age; indeed others call it a "post Christian" age. I will not use either description. If anything, it is a pre-Christian age, ripe for the "New Evangelization" of the Church. The future belongs to the Church. The message and gifts she holds for every age pave the road of true progress. The contemporary re-emergence of ancient paganism, even within some Christian communities, is not the path to freedom and flourishing but to misery. It must be exposed,opposed and rejected.
Fortunately for Catholic Christians, we have a "Magisterium", a teaching office, which, continuing the apostolic mission, guards the deposit of faith against heresy. Many of our friends in other Christian communities do not. We need to pray for the faithful Christians in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, just as do for those within the Anglican/Episcopal communities who are also experiencing the devastation of unchecked heresy. We must also rededicate ourselves to standing "Against Heresies" in our own day by proclaiming the Truth which alone sets all men and women free, without compromise.
- - -
Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
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As a born again, spirit filled Christian I am appalled at the direction that the Lutheran Church seems to be heading, however it is completely Scriptural, our Lord says that many will be turned away to the Doctrines of Demons, and there will be mant false prophets in the end times. Why a Druid is heading up the Church of England. The United Methodist Churches have for some time ordained men and women of homosexual tendency. It does seem that the compromise to appease the congregation is becoming the norm. Please as a Body of Christ here on Earth stay fast to your Faith. I am one of the few that have overcome the flesh and the devil, even though I have many errors. Bless you.
Every church besides the One Holy Roman Apostolic Church IS a heresy. You can't just take a passage of the bible, and rip it out if you don't like it. Thats creating your own god. Saint Augustine said, "One who does not have the church as a mother, can not have God as a father." I am saying, they DID succumb to heresy, about 1600, when the Protestants first split off from the Roman Catholic Church. A branch that is split of from the tree can not bear fruit.
Yes, we should pray for those lost, but not for the church to find the light, and not so they can ONCE AGAIN become the children of God, but so they can BECOME children of God through the Catholic Church.
I'll pray for them,
God Bless!
This is yet another article I will continue to treasure. It is a write-up with the right messages. God bless Deacon Keith and many like him. Our separated brothers need just to understand that Christianity is oneness in Christ. Christ being the very appropriate definition of godliness. If God abhored SODOMY in early Christianity, sure He still abhores it now, "... even to the end of time". Jesus Christ is same forever! God in your care is the Magisterium. Guide it, furnish it and empower it to reveal YOUR worthy Truths unhindered through the ages, in Jesus' victorious name!
Thanks, Deacon Keith, for laying out Church History--not to mention Sacred Scripture which is always relevant to the times. It's hard to understand HOW anyone who has read the Bible could conclude that the homosexual lifestyle is okay now, but that is due to what our Holy Father calls the "dimming of the light." And it does, indeed, give us pause for "fear" of what we are coming to as a society.... May God keep and protect us and all those who belong to Him!
Just wanted to thank everyone here for reminding that the Lutheran heresy goes back farther.
Its not that I humbly forgot so much it just slipped my mind in the issues.
Excuse my lapse. All of you are so right about this being older than what were thinking of in the moment.
God will win the day on this one to. Never loose heart neighbors.
Thanks again for the important History lesson we need to be reminded of.
My goodness we have such smart people in the church. Keep up the good work peacefully as usual. Think is through. I see some of the best comments here.
Humbly and love in Christ.
Dont forget our brothers and sisters everywhere who suffer for us and for all of the world in these trying times.
I hope they unite it with Our Lord.
I hope that the Lord loves and protects them to during the darkness.
Rosary bigtime.
"Thank you Jean for your reply. Your calm and grace-full approach to these difficult issues does not go unnoticed. I catch myself looking for "Jean's comments". I, on the other hand, frequently imagine myself hearing "get thee behind me Satan", after I've posted a comment. This world just seems so increasingly upside down I just wanna....cut somebody's ear off! lol Thanks again Jean. God Bless You
Hope Im humble when I say all of this: God Bless you Carl but just for the Lord's sake and yours and mine lets keep what I call Satan--The Thing behind us just the same--besides we dont have to worry about him read the end of the book we won. As you know. The Lord for whatever mystery still has need of us here until His second coming but He didnt leave us orphans so were ok just the same. (Revelation etc.)
The problem is Carl that thing keeps looking for our weakness'.
I know it sounds strong but sometimes we have to shoo--The thing away. We have to strengthen each other just the same because without the Lord's love, grace and mercy we can do nothing without Him.
Go away Satan we dont need you here. Humbly and respectfully from the Lord of course.
Anyway I dont take Satan lightly but the Lord told us not to worry about him either because He showed us what to do and to stay close to Him (Christ).
Two commandments of course--the greatest come to mind.
Love your Lord (God) with your whole heart and Love your neighbor.
The biggies. Bigger than Satan.
Satan doesnt want you to believe this but its true. Its hard to follow but its true Carl. Keep up the good work Carl.
Also reconciliation and communion are big guns to. Partake of them as were supposed to.
God Love yah Carl we need the skeptics to.
Chuckle Chuckle.
Respectfully and humbly of course:
Daniel first of all we love you whether you know it or not.
"You say putting up with stuff you dont care for." It ok we've heard it and there is a lot we all have to put up with Im sure, maybe not equal to yourself and I say this respectfully.
Go over to the Courage Apostolate website and see if this is for your in the Catholic Church. If you know about it ignore what I say.
God Bless your understanding of the faith and Im glad your staying here at "home" with us.
Im glad you have love in your heart. The Son and the Mother love you to especially in the Eucharist.
I agree with you in regard to our brother priests to.
Love in Christ my brother Daniel.
God Bless.
Just to add: if and when I am doing something sinful, I want someone to remind me. It is a spiritual work of mercy.
Daniel, whether or not being actively homosexual (not to be confused with just having an inclination) is "less" sinful doesn't really matter. The destination is the same. Mortal sin is mortal sin. The Church cares about the souls of people. It looks to the grand scheme of things, rather than just that of this mortal earth. If this means some people are going to have their feelings hurt because they are told what they are doing is sinful, then so be it.
I am well aware that some folks have trouble understanding gay people. But I deeply wish that when you list all of the terrible sins of our modern day, you would STOP lumping in homosexuality with abortion. I'm sorry, but even if you don't understand how someone could fall in love with someone of the same sex, no rational person could say that it's as bad as a woman paying a doctor to murder the child in her womb. That's a crazy comparison to make. I am a gay person, I am devoutly Catholic and I am a pro-life activist. To compare me loving another guy (which is my private business and harms no one) to child murder is atrociously ignorant. With that said, I strongly disagree with much of what's going on in Protestant ecclesial communities and choose to remain in the Catholic Church because we have the only valid Eucharist, we have veneration of the Blessed Mother, and so much more that makes it worth sticking around and putting up with stuff I don't care for. And by the way, I feel the clergy and religious should be celibate whether they are gay or straight. In the Protestant communities, it doesn't matter because their priests are not real priests anyway--they are not part of the Apostolic succession.