Conservative, evangelical Lutheran Christians are concerned about many things.

We are concerned about the growing lack of regard for the authority of God and God’s Word. It seems to be fashionable to explain the Bible so that it is more acceptable to people, rather than allowing the Bible to speak without watering down its meaning.

We are concerned about the drift toward liberalism. Fewer and fewer congregations have any real evangelism program, and at the same time more and more doors are being closed to groups like Lutheran Evangelistic Movement. Since faith comes from preaching of Christ (Romans 10:17) how can awe look for growth without the preaching of the pure Word of God?!

In this same connection we are concerned about the time, energy and money being spent on social issues and social statements when the church’s mandate is to make disciples. It is appalling that we have money for other things but little for world mission.

We are concerned about the plunge into what some call “Sacramentalism”, making the benefits of the Sacraments unconditional. More and more there is an emphasis on the idea that if a person is baptized, then all is well forever. “Eternal security” through Baptism is no better than any other kind of eternal security teaching. And, whatever happened to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as being requisites for worthy participation in Holy Communion?!

We are concerned about the “soft-stand-no-position” that the ELCIC is taking with regard to abortion and homosexuality. Life begins at conception. If a human fetus isn’t “human”, then what does it take to be considered human? What is the magical development in age, weight, height and mental capacity that must be attained in order for one to be regarded as human? How can anyone try to explain away God’s clearly stated abhorrence of homosexual activity? Why pussyfoot around when the Old and New Testament have so much to say on the subject?! We can love the sinner and urge repentance without accepting or condoning his or her sin!

We are concerned about the prevalence of “universalism”, which teaches that all religions are equal and makes a living faith in Jesus Christ unnecessary. The Bible says clearly that “there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12) and Jesus says: “No one comes to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) The idea that God will somehow give faith in the next life, that Satan and the fallen angels will eventually be saved, that there is no hell other than in this life, and that Christ is only one of many ways to the Father is completely unscriptural and dangerous. It should be loudly denounced!

We are concerned about the increasing emphasis on liturgical forms including fancy parades at the start of a worship service. Liturgical forms are good only if they help people to come to Jesus Christ and draw closer to him, but all too often liturgical forms serve more as a barrier to the unsaved.

We are concerned about “inclusive language” and over-aggressive “feminism”, both of which seem bent on distorting Scripture. God is Triune and the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. To refuse to speak of the “Father” and of the “Son” is to distort the Word of God. When someone quotes Scripture and speaks of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” that person is not oppressing women! Whoever invented the “God neutral” idea anyway?

My plea is for us all to allow God to be God, instead of trying to usurp God’s place! And let us return to letting “Thus saith the Lord” be our authority instead of human reason!

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Note: Although the above speaks to the situation in the ELCIC today, it was submitted to the Canada Lutheran by retired ELCIC pastor Rev. Ivar Moen in the summer of 1991 and finally published in the spring of 1992 – some 16 years ago! Apparently there was much controversy at the time over whether to print it or not. The first two paragraphs of Rev. Moen’s article speaking about shortfalls in a Forward in Missions appeal and in annual budgets, reflecting people’s unhappiness with what they see happening in the ELCIC, have not been reproduced here.