The aftermath of the tornado in Minneapolis, MN at Central Lutheran Church
Glory to Jesus Christ!
When Fr. Martin Luther posted his infamous "95 Theses" against the Roman Catholic Church on the door of the cathedral in Wittenburg, Germany in October 1517, little did he know that his splintered successors would allow for homosexuals to enter the ranks of the clergy. To many in the western world, they ask "what is the big deal?" But to traditional, orthodox Christianity, it is an egregious slap in the face to Christianity at best and a blasphemous punch in the stomach at worst.
Luther, himself an ex-Augustinian monk at this time, said that “the heinous conduct of the people of Sodom as extraordinary, inasmuch as they departed from the natural passion and longing of the male for the female, which is implanted into nature by God, and desired what is altogether contrary to nature. Whence comes this perversity? Undoubtedly from Satan, who after people have once turned away from the fear of God, so powerfully suppresses nature that he blots out the natural desire and stirs up a desire that is contrary to nature.”
Is the above comparison too harsh? Is it "intolerant?" No, and by no means am I taking potshots at the Lutherans or homosexuals, but it is representative of those who hold fast to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. Please spare the comments that I am a "hatemonger" or I am "intolerant." The Orthodox Church hates no one and neither do I. While the Orthodox Church teaches homosexuality is a sin, ALL unrepentent people suffer consequences, according to Orthodox theology. And thus, with all sins, it can be overcome with repentence, prayer, fasting, partaking of the sacraments, reading Holy Scripture and
This is no time for rejoicing on this end. I am sad that this happened. You might say, "Why? You're not Lutheran, this doesn't affect you at all!" Be that as it may, Christians are to be steadfast in the faith, not buckling their knees to modernity. In a culture that is becoming more and more self-serving by the minute, there is a great need for Christians to stand for the values that are inherent within the faith. As St. Ignatius Brianchaninov said, "Society is hurtling towards hell like a downward train."
What is very interesting about this event is what happened when the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted on this matter in Minneapolis, MN just a few days ago. A tornado bent the cross perfectly over to where it was upside down on the steeple of the church. In addition, it destroyed a make-shift pub set up outside Central Lutheran Church, the church that was designated as the church during the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Oh, and there was no warning of this at all on the radar either. This was the first tornado in 90 years in that part of the city.
From an apparent eye-witness:
"The first buildings on the downtown side of I94 are the Minneapolis Convention Center and Central Lutheran. The tornado severely damages the convention center roof, shreds the tents, breaks off the steeple of Central Lutheran, splits what’s left of the steeple in two...and then lifts."
It is also curious to mention that the final vote was 2/3 in favor of allowing homosexual clergy and blessing same-sex unions, which ends up being 66.6%. That number has never really done too well. I am not saying one way or the other what it means. You decide. This might put into perspective why Orthodox are so adamant about traditions passed down to us from Christ and the Apostles and standing fast to the faith "delivered once and for all to the Saints."
It is still a little earlier to tell what the outcome will be for the ECLA. For those Lutherans who are bewildered by this, I offer my prayers that God will comfort you and lead you to seek the fullness of the truth.
For more info: An article about Orthodoxy and Bioethics.
Comments
what amazed me as i watched the live feed from their church wide assembly was that this vote came about as a result of their denomination faithfully living out the lutheran faith and traditions. the frustration of those speaking to the assembly that those on the other side of the issue did not interpret the bible like they did as both sides were solidly basing their opinions on scripture alone and lutheran tradition. i was struck that no one was circumspect enough to realize that the very assembly they were a part of to discern the will of God for their denomination was itself not biblical and unable to recognize the magesterium they supplanted to replace with themselves is itself a rebelion against the will of God. the vote on gay clergy was only part of the problem. no talk about repairing their current immoral teachings on abortion,contraception,divorce and remarriage, womans ordination etc...
luthers unique beliefs were lived out last week and failed again, they always will.
This is interesting
Does this fresh interpretation of the Biblical definition of sinful behavior mean that society is the determiner of morality and not God? Does it mean that what was sexual immorality then is not now? Does this apply to adultery, fornication, incest, prostitution, bestiality? Was not the societal practice of divination accepted? Why, then, did the Apostle Paul rebuke the spirit of divination out of the woman who followed him glorifying God? Was she not giving praise? Or was there more of something else, or someone else motivating Paul's behavior. And what about the sacrificing of children to Baal? I wonder if we are applying relative ethics to our understanding and interpretation of the Bible and thereby seeing ourselves as called by God to add to or reinterpret the concept of sexual immorality as delineated in the Bible? What other new interpretation should we entertain so that we may continue to live life with less judgement and more freedom to satisfy self?
Have we become God
I'm shocked by the "holier than though" attitudes expressed in this article and in the comments and in statements like "luthers unique beliefs were lived out last week and failed again, they always will". FYI, The social statement on sexuality which covers much more than homosexuality passed by a 2/3 vote (66.7%, by the way not 66.6%--mathmatics is actually important, even for "theologians"). As that passed the vote on whether to allow gay clergy in committed monogaomous relationships to serve as rostered clergy was taken up. That passed by a 55% simple majority.
As for your Tornado comments, a Tornado also heavily damaged a grade school in the area as well--was that some kind of punishment or warning? Tornados happen most often within the conservative Bible belt of the United States, particulary Oklahoma. Is that a warning? An earthquake hit Italy recently. Is that a warning against the Vatican? Food for thought.
i guess when you set the bar as low as the elca just did even the Christmas/Easter only Christians look "holier than though"
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