Summer 2024

Dear Friends –

In the March 2024 issue of our newsletter, CORE Voice, I wrote about the DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility) audit which the ELCA had commissioned a law firm to do of its governing documents. I listed several examples of the audit’s Recommended Minimum DEIA Standards for Congregations. There are also Recommended Minimum DEIA Standards for Synods and Churchwide. I asked the question, What will be the consequences for congregations if and when these recommendations become requirements? If congregations that are DEIA-compliant are rewarded with such things as having extra voting members at synod assemblies and greater access to grants and other financial resources, how will congregations that are not DEIA-compliant be punished? For example, will they not be given any names of possible candidates for call if the congregation is looking for a pastor?

Since then several friends of Lutheran CORE have shared with me how their synodical bishops are trying to “calm them down.” Bishops have said, “You do not need to worry. These recommendations will never become requirements.” One bishop even said, “We in the ELCA do not do things that way.”

Therefore I read with great interest – but no surprise – a posting on the Facebook page for the ELCA Youth Gathering this summer which said, “Reminder! All Adult Leaders attending the #elcayg2024 are required to complete two trainings on gLearn: ‘Anti-Racism’ and ‘Leading Well.’. . . Please note that adult leaders will not receive a wristband or access to any venues if these courses are not complete upon check-in.”

So much for “DEIA compliance recommendations will never become requirements.” But did anyone ever believe that anyway?

We of Lutheran CORE are committed to keeping you informed of ways in which the ELCA will continue to rush headlong to the extreme far left. In addition to monitoring ways in which the ELCA will enforce DEIA compliance, we will alert you to the following –

• The content delivered by the keynote speakers at the Youth Gathering in July. The last time – in 2018 – keynote speakers included a transgender activist and her pre-adolescent, transgender child and the ELCA’s first “Public Theologian,” who led 31,000 young people in a chant rejecting traditional views as a lie from Satan.
• The work of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church, which, as we have written, are developing a plan for a church based not upon Scripture but upon critical race theory and DEIA ideology.
• The work of the Task Force that is reviewing the 2009 human sexuality social statement, including a possible reconsideration of the four positions of bound conscience. I have written about how I have had two zoom conversations with two Churchwide staff members who will be working with the task force. They asked me what hopes I have for the process. I told them that I have no hopes for the process. Instead I am certain that sooner or later – under relentless pressure from powerful and preferred voices – the ELCA will eliminate the provision for bound conscience. In doing so the ELCA will be saying that there is no longer a place of dignity and respect for traditional views and those who hold them. The ELCA will also be showing that it cannot be trusted.

I am often asked, “How do you have the strength and stamina to be able to continue this work?” I answer, I feel a calling from God, I find a great sense of personal fulfillment, and I receive so many expressions of support and appreciation. Thank you for your kind and encouraging words, your fervent prayers, and your faithful and generous financial support that enable us to continue to do our work of being a Voice for Biblical Truth and a Network for Confessing Lutherans.

In addition to the above, we will continue to provide the following –

• Resources on our website, including daily devotions, worship aids, Bible studies, and videos on books and topics of interest and importance. A new resource on our website are weekly, lectionary based children’s messages.
• Support to orthodox seminarians, young adults planning on attending seminary, and the NEXUS program of Grand View University – a week of Bible study, theological reflection, fellowship, and vocational discernment for high schoolers.
• Sponsorship of local and cross-country, intergenerational and multi-denominational mission trips organized and held by River’s Edge Ministries in Mt. Airy, Maryland.
• Support and guidance for congregations that are between pastors or will soon be losing their pastor, as well as for smaller and/or more remote congregations that are facing the real possibility that there might not be a seminary-trained pastor available for them.

Please find below a link to a form which you can use to give a gift towards our regular operating expenses. Please also let us know how we can be praying for you. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel, as we seek to do what the apostle Paul urged his young friend Timothy to do. “Fight the good fight of the faith” and “Guard what has been entrusted to you” (1 Timothy 6: 12, 20).

Seeking to be faithful,

Dennis D. Nelson
Executive Director of Lutheran CORE
P.O. Box 1741
Wausau WI 54402-1741
dennisnelsonaz@yahoo.com

“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness” (Matthew 9:35).

Jesus turns His back on the liars and goes about the business of the Father.  We too are called to turn our backs on wickedness and go about the Father’s business.  We are to continue in the life that we have been given by grace so that we follow Jesus in all His ways.  The Lord knows what He has in mind for you.  He will lead you for all your days if you put your trust in Him.  Do not follow the voices of hatred and lies, but the voice of Truth.

Lord, I hear these words and it is not easy, for the liars of this world make me angry.  Lead me from anger, for I cannot handle it, to the place where I look to You for all things.  You know what needs to happen and You know the difficulties I will face.  Lead me through all difficulties so that I would learn from Your example how to live this life.  In You alone is all hope and eternity.

Holy Spirit, grant me awareness to know that there is nothing I can do about others except to show truthfulness by my example.  I too seldom keep a reign on my own tongue.  Help me to be a dutiful servant who does what You have commanded.  Lead me through all circumstances to go out into the world seeking to bring the healing that only grace can bring.  Guide me to be faithful to all that You have commanded.  Amen.

“But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons” (Matthew 9:32). 

If you do not like something, then accuse the one who did it of something outrageous.  Liars lie and people believe the liar and not the one who tells the truth.  It was true then and it is true now.  But you, do you believe the liar, or do you press on until you know the truth?  Jesus told us that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free.  Only in the truth will we see eternity in heaven. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life!

Lord, the father of all lies only knows how to lie because that is his nature.  There are those, some quite religious, who live by the lies of the devil and untruthfully accuse others of what they are doing.  Your grace is amazing in the face of such wickedness.  You stood firm and received the abuse.  You still stand and take the abuse of many in this world who do the same. 

Lord, You have given me the words of eternal life.  Jesus, with Your own body, You have redeemed us from the pit by suffering for our sins on the Cross.  Although I too face liars who try to lead me astray, help me to be merciful and gracious and to humbly walk with You now and forever.  Lead me in the truth of the salvation You have given me, knowing that all power has always been in Your hands.  You have authority over all creation.  Help me to live an abundant life under Your authority.  Amen. 

“After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him.  And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel” (Matthew 9:32-33).

It may not have been seen by you, but that does not mean it did not happen.  We take historical events which we have never seen for granted, but then, in matters of faith, become cynical when we have not seen something.  Does a falling tree make a sound if no one is there to hear it?  Of course it does.  It is not about you or me, but about the One through whom all things have their being.  God is always present.

Lord, help me to understand that this is Your world.  You have created all things.  I began life just thinking about myself.  But without You I cannot exist.  Take my sinful way of seeing things and transform it to look to You, the author of all life, and live according to Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life.  Help me to not seek to marvel so much as rejoice that You are always at work.

Lord Jesus, of course You heal.  You do it every day all over the world.  You have reasons for all that You do.  Even the demons tremble at Your presence.  Help me to come to the place where I am not so much amazed – as if it is a surprise to me that You can do what You do – as to be thankful that You care so much for this creation of Yours.  Guide me to give You praise and thanksgiving in and through all things.  Amen.

“Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.”  And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.”  But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district” (Matthew 9:29-31). 

Jesus does heal.  There are times to tell others and times to remain silent.  If we would only obey the Lord.  He asked that they remain silent.  What if we simply did what Jesus said?  How much trouble did they cause by broadcasting this news.  “Yes, but shouldn’t people know?”  Whatever the Lord tells us, there is a reason.  To obey is better than sacrifice.  Do you listen to the Lord and do as He asks? 

Lord, You know I have been guilty of disobeying what You have commanded.  I think it a good thing – and who cannot think that healing is not a good thing – but I also know that what You command is for a good reason.  Remove me from the desire to be the judge of what is good or evil and bring me to where I live knowing that You are the Lord of all.  Open my ears to hear Your stern commands. 

Forgive me, Lord Jesus, for the times where I have opened my mouth where You have commanded silence.  Lead me away from the place where I do what I think is right in my own mind so that I learn to obey You in all things.  Keep me in Your goodness and mercy to live into the life which You have given me by Your costly grace.  Thank You for healing me.  Guide my mouth to speak only what You would have me speak.  Amen.

“When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord” (Matthew 9:28). 

Do you believe that the Lord is able to do these things?  Do you believe in the Lord God Almighty.  Many say they do, but it is with their own view of things and not with the reality of who God is.  Do not create in your mind a God you want, but receive through the Word the God Who IS.  Let yourself be led by your Creator to walk humbly in the way of life that He has established. 

Lord God, Creator of all things, guide my heart, soul, and mind to seek You above all things.  Lord, help my unbelief.  You, Who created all things, will do what is right and fitting according to Your will.  Where my will conflicts with Yours, renew my mind to see things through Your Word.  In all things, may I learn to be content and take joy in the truth that You are with me. 

Minister to my heart, Holy Spirit.  You know where I do not believe.  You know where I am conflicted with the Father’s will.  Through all that this life will bring, lead me into the way of life that is right and in harmony with Your Word.  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heat reflect Your leading each day that You grant me in this age.  Do not grant me lenses through which to see, but vision to see clearly, I pray.  Amen. 

September 1: 15^th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 17; Labor Day weekend

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 (Keep God’s command fully and diligently)

Psalm 119:129-136 (Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them)

RCL/ELW: Psalm 15 (Those who keep commandments may live on his holy hill)

Ephesians 6:10-20 (Put on the whole armor of God)

                RCL/ELW: James 1:17-27 (Be doers, not just hearers, of the Word)

Mark 7:14-23 (Defilement is from within, not without; evils arise in human heart)

                RCL/ELW: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 (Jesus rebukes Pharisee; omits  a repetition)

*******

Opening hymn: (If not used last week) Be Strong in the Lord in Armor of Light: LSB #665 (perfect for Ephesians text)

                OR (Also if didn’t use last week!) Beloved, God’s Chosen: ELW #648

OR Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus: LBW #389, LSB #660

OR (if not used 7/29) I Bind Unto Myself Today: LBW #188, LSB #604, ELW #450

Hymn of the Day: Fight the Good Fight: LBW #461, LSB #664

                OR O, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways: LBW #480, ELW #772, LSB #707

Communion Hymn #1: Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word: LBW #230, ELW #517,LSB #655

Communion Hymn #2: Lord of All Hopefulness: LBW #469, ELW #765, LSB #738

Closing Hymn: May We Your/Thy Precepts, Lord, Fulfil: LBW #353, LSB #698

                OR On Our Way Rejoicing:  LBW #260,  ELW #537

*******

THE PRAYERS 

Trusting in the goodness of our heavenly Father through the power of the Holy Spirit, let us pray in Jesus’ name for the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Father, thank you for your commandments, given to protect us from sin and limit its evil effect. Thank you for their goodness and wisdom. Help us to keep them out of love for you and for our neighbor.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In this broken and fallen world, you array your Church in the armor of light and call it to words and deeds of valor. Make it faithful, true, and bold in preaching and doing your strong Word. Make it your strong fortress and safe haven for all who cry to you for help.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Strengthen the Church when it is attacked by those who hate you. Make it wield the weapons of the Spirit not in hatred, but in humble witness to the Prince of Peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Prosper the words and work of this congregation. Through us, let many hear the Gospel, turn to you, and live. Let Jesus’ love shine through our words and deeds, and bring light and life to those around us.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As children head back to school, bless them with good teachers who instill the love of learning and respect for one another. Help us to be mentors, tutors, cheerleaders, and guides, especially for kids who struggle in school. Lead us all by the light of your wisdom and truth.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Shine the light of your countenance upon all who lead the nations. Give them wisdom, humility and integrity, so their people confidently turn to them for justice and may live in safety.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

On this Labor Day weekend, we thank you for honest labor, just wages, and the dignity of work. Help us to encourage and mentor young people embarking on their first jobs. Grant a good way forward for those who seek employment, especially those who need training and a fair break. Together, help us to increase prosperity, health, and justice here and throughout the world.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant healing, hope, and strength to all who are afflicted by sin and suffering. We lift before you the needs of: {List}. Surround them with your holy angels. Give refreshment, cheerfulness, and confidence to all who care for them. Restore them to the joy of fellowship with all of us.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most gracious Father, thank you for the lives of all the faithful departed who were doers of your Word. Grant that we honorably wear the armor of light which you bestow upon us. Help us rightly wield the weapons of the Spirit. In is strength, let us fight the good fight and lay hold of the life, joy, and crown won for us by your Son, Jesus Christ, our Captain and our Lord.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Incline your ear to our prayers, dear Lord; and answer them according to your most gracious and holy will, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Most people would call me a “conservative” Lutheran, although I would prefer to be called orthodox or traditional. Nevertheless, I will accept the label. Therefore, as a conservative Lutheran, it is incumbent upon me to differentiate myself from the conservative Christians who hold views that I reject. So let me say clearly that I reject Christian Zionism.

What is Christian Zionism?  Normally, that term describes a fundamentalist dispensationalist theology that believes the founding of the State of Israel in 1948 was the fulfilment of prophecy.  Furthermore it holds that all the land currently in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza belong to the State of Israel by divine right. As a result, it holds that Israel has the right to annex territory and establish settlements wherever it wishes.  It does not recognize the Palestinians as a people, nor their right to have a state of their own.  Finally, it sees conflict between Israelis and Palestinians as a necessary and unavoidable precursor to the End Times.  Anyone who does not support Israel militarily is therefore considered an enemy of God. (Not everything called Christian Zionism falls under this definition.  See Israel Matters and The New Christian Zionism by Gerald R. McDermott)

I reject Christian Zionism as described above because it is a form of Millennialism, which the Augsburg Confession rejects in Article XVII.  I also reject Christian Zionism because I reject the notion that a person’s rights should be based on their religion or ethnicity.  In other words, I am a “classical liberal”.   I support a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, in which Israelis and Palestinians, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, and people of other religions have equal political and human rights.

Having said that, I would like to ask why some Lutherans of the left refuse to distance themselves from groups that deny the right of Israel to exist, that teach violent Antisemitism, and that use Marxist dualism to justify violence and terrorism? A very concrete example of the refusal to renounce Christian Marxist Antisemitism occurred at the 2024 Synod Assembly of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA.  In a resolution entitled Resolution 24-02 Palestinian Advocacy and Dismantling Christian Zionism in Our Churches, the assembly lamented the destruction caused by Israeli attacks in Gaza, saying

Be it Resolved, The Florida Bahamas Synod in Assembly laments both the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, housing, schools and universities, hospitals, and places of worship–and the millions of people who are experiencing displacement, facing malnutrition, and starvation, as a result primarily of Israel’s continuing air strikes and blocking entry of humanitarian aid trucks…

Among other things, it also recommends that congregations learn about the  SUMUD initiative and spend at least three hours of adult education time in the next three months in learning more about the conflict, occupation and Christian Zionism.  Missing is any condemnation of HAMAS for the killing of 1200 people in Israel on October 7, 2023, or of any attribution of responsibility to HAMAS for starting the war that is now devastating Gaza. 

Consider an earlier part of the resolution:

Whereas, The ELCA Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, on October 13, 2023 denounced the attacks and hostage-taking on October 7, 2023, by HAMAS and has denounced the subsequent disproportionate death toll among Palestinian civilians; as reported by the United Nations, more than thirty-four thousand civilians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 ; https://elca.org/News-and-Events/8207…

Please notice two things.  First, while the resolution mentions that Bishop Eaton denounced the attacks and hostage taking, it never joins her in that denunciation.  Secondly, while it mentions the number of people killed by Israel in Gaza, it never mentions the number killed by HAMAS on October 7.

Is this an oversight?  Did the resolution simply assume that everyone denounces HAMAS and its ideology?  Sadly, the answer is no.  An amendment was proposed that clarified things by adding the following words:

and emphatically denounce the following Palestinian groups that have been involved in politically motivated violence to include the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of organizations[sic], Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Abu Nidal Organization, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas,

However, the Florida-Bahamas Synod declined. Why? The only answer that I can see is a convergence
of historic Christian Antisemitism and Christian Marxism. The Antisemitism of the Christian left follows
the Marxist practice of dividing all of humanity into oppressor and oppressed. This Marxist dualism sees the oppressor as always evil and the oppressed as always innocent. Furthermore, the oppressed are never really responsible for their actions. Whatever they might do, even if it involves the kind of
atrocities perpetrated on October 7, it is never their fault. The oppressor drove them to it. As Bishop
Eaton said in her letter on October 13, 2023, to which the resolution refers,

We must also call a thing a thing. The power exerted against all Palestinian people — through the occupation, the expansion of settlements and the escalating violence — must be called out as a root cause of what we are witnessing. 

Bp. Eaton

According Bishop Eaton, the root cause of the violent Antisemitism of HAMAS, is Israel. The Florida-
Bahamas Synod Assembly concurs. The refusal to denounce HAMAS and other militant groups is
intentional. So, one would guess, is the refusal to address the Antisemitic rhetoric, intimidation, and
violence at anti-Israel rallies in the U.S.

As a “conservative” Lutheran I am glad to renounce Christian Zionism. Are there any “liberal” or
“progressive” Lutherans who are willing to renounce Christian Marxist Antisemitism?

“What’s all this ‘Father’ stuff about in the Lord’s Prayer?  Why should we call God ‘Father,’ anyway?” she intoned petulantly, fixing me with a stare that clearly thought no reasonable answer was possible.  It was my first year in ministry.  I had converted to Christ but a year before and now found myself teaching Luther’s Small Catechism as part of my youth minister duties at a largish program-style Lutheran church.  From my undergraduate background in the arts and my wife’s current graduate school studies, I was utterly familiar with the post-structuralism that informed her question, but despite the self-consciously progressive, university-dominated atmosphere of the town I served, I was still shocked to hear the sentiment from the mouth of a seventh grader.

I would not be shocked today… not anywhere in the United States, let alone a college town.  “How do we know God is ‘Father?’” challenged the former PASTOR of one of my parishioners in an adult Sunday School forum.  Such pugnacious personalities litter the Christian landscape of the modern West, pseudo-intellectuals who, because they came across the concept of apophatic theology in seminary, now feel they can use it to undermine Scriptural authority and thence refashion the Christian faith in a manner more congenial to their modern WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) presuppositions and biases. 

In my last article I made the case that a specific, seemingly innocuous use of inclusive language for human beings had unexpected but potentially devastating side effects in the realm of pastoral care and Christian self-understanding.  Tinkering with Christ’s chosen address of God may have similar side effects.  Progressives like Rosemary Radford Reuther and Sally McFague purport to give us reasons we need not address God as Father.  Conservatives like Dennis Prager give us reasons we must. Still, it may well be that the question “Why should we call God ‘Father?’” may be like Job addressing God on the question of suffering, to which God responds in a way that lets Job know that he has no possible idea of full import of what he is asking—that Job lacks the capacity for God to respond in a meaningful way to such a question.  “Stop clucking in such a self-important way. You cannot possibly understand what is at play here.  Consider yourself blessed to know Me at all,” might be an apt summary of God’s speech in Job 38-41.  To address God in any other way than that revealed by God may have ripples that redound to the harm or even damnation of others and should so be avoided.

Which is why I believe that the answer that I gave the young lady mentioned above in my theological naivete is still the correct one; we call God “Father” because we are disciples—followers—of Christ, not His instructors.  If we think of Jesus as someone who merely cracked open a door on God that we can now wedge open a little wider by our own enlightened efforts, we misunderstand Him utterly as “the Word become flesh” who “dwelt” (in the Greek, skenoō or “tabernacled”) among us, who in my favorite modern translation “is in the bosom of the Father” and hence alone has the capacity to “make Him known.”

As time went on, I discovered that this young woman had good reason for negative associations with the word “father;” her own dad was an addict who had been emotionally and often physically absent until two years before when he had cleaned up and was endeavoring to “make good” in his role in her life, an effort she perceived as “pushy” and presumptuous.  What a privilege it was to teach her—as I hope I have taught my own daughter—that she has a Father in heaven who we earthly fathers can only hope to palely imitate as providers, nurturers, and self-sacrificing protectors. (Ephesians 3:14)

Had I let her indubitably real pain colonize—exercise a controlling influence—over my theology, she could never have found what I would later hear theologian Marva Dawn refer to as “the true liberation of being a woman who can without reservation call God ‘Father.’”

Grappling with Scripture as the revealed Word of God and the Apostolic faith that has informed that encounter has preserved such liberation—true liberation—for us all.