Witness Stone Blog - The Liberal Lutheran Church Today

ELCA Mega Church Pastor Mike Housholder Attacks Fundamentalists in Sermon

10/5/2020

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a dying, pro-abortion, pro-gay, pro-transgender, anti-Israel, sanctuary denomination, that teaches universalism (all people go to heaven), that often refers to God as "she" and refrains from using male words for Him, dismisses many Biblical accounts, does not evangelize but advocates for the most liberal social causes.

Mike Housholder is an ELCA pastor at the ELCA's largest church, Lutheran Church of Hope (West Des Moines, Iowa). Rev. Housholder and Lutheran Church of Hope embrace their affiliation with the ELCA. They even hosted their ELCA synod's assembly 2 months ago. I have not come across one public statement by Pastor Housholder or his mega church, in the last 10 years where he speaks a word of correction, pleads with or calls for repentance of the ELCA for its wickedness. That should tell you a lot.

Earlier this year, in a sermon, Pastor Mike Housholder lifted up an ELCA leader, who was instrumental in bringing approval of same-sex marriage to the ELCA, yet spoke condemnation of people Housholder labeled as "self-righteous fundamentalist(s)."

Cambridge Dictionary defines "fundamentalist" as "someone who believes in traditional forms of a religion, or believes that what is written in a holy book, such as the Christian Bible, is completely true."

Just before addressing the "fundamentalist(s)", Housholder shared a very peculiar story in his sermon, where he relayed an account of his observing an atheist's warmhearted comments in reaction to seeing the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Then bizarrely, Rev. Housholder puts on a grotesque face and mockingly shares how a Christian may "badly" witness to the said atheist (see video below at the 13:30 minute mark). I believe this is an interesting precursor to what followed next, with Pastor Mike Housholder's comments about fundamentalists.

Read the rest of this important article here...

Heretical Pastor Rises in ELCA Leadership

8/29/2020

ELCA pastor Lura N. Groen has been highlighted on Exposing the ELCA many times. She is one of the most radical and heretical ELCA pastors I have come across. (See here and below for a number of things she has been saying. Some of it is blasphemous and vile.)

With that said, Pastor Lura N. Groen has been endorsed and placed into postions of influence and leadership by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Last year, Rev. Groen was "elected to the Discipline Committee" at the 2019 Delaware-Maryland Synod (See page 2 here).

Delaware-Maryland Synod (ELCA) Bishop Bill Gohl is very familiar with Rev. Groen saying, "Pastor Lura Groen, with whom I belong to a weekly pericope Bible study group and who I know to be a (hard) truth-teller..." (See here).

Rev. Groen was a guest speaker, teaching a class at an ELCA seminary.

She was even on a panel discussion with the ELCA's Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton as you can see in the picture above.

Below are some writings and social media content from Rev. Groen. Sorry for the shocking and odious content. How can the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America leadership allow someone, who speaks and believes as this pastor does, to rise in their leadership ranks? How can they allow Rev. Groen and many ELCA pastors like her, to mock the One True God?

The ELCA is culpable and responsible for this. They allow it and give it a platform in their midst.

The true God of Scripture is not the God the ELCA serves. The Holy Spirit does not dwell in it.

Continuing from Rev. Lura N. Groen's article posted above "I Hope You Have Only Good Sex" (see the complete article here), she writes, "This is, for me, an open expression of a deeply faith based sexual ethic. My Christian way of saying the same thing is to hope that each of you has sex in way, and only in a way, that is set free to love God, self, and neighbor. And that every time you have sex you respect the image of God in yourself and in your partner(s). That you treat yourself and every other body involved as holy, a temple, beloved by God, created beautifully, fearsomely and awesomely made."

Some of Rev. Groen's comments get even worse:

Jesus was Queer, anti-establishment, pro-heaux, and rejected heteronormative relationship models. https://t.co/L3er24ndL3
— Lura Groen (@lura_groen) April 30, 2020

Did it work? pic.twitter.com/D6jLnR5Aku
— Lura Groen (@lura_groen) April 28, 2020

God is fat. And She twerks marvelously.

And you know what? You don’t fucking know if She has diabetes. And it’s none of your fucking business. She’s glorious either way.
— Lura Groen (@lura_groen) January 9, 2020

In the next post Rev. Lura Groen shared an article titled "What Promiscuity Taught Me About God's Love." The article was from QueerTheology.com.

I honestly believe it’s our shame that has perverted our sexuality. Shame that had been too often taught by the church.

Trying to control the gender and sexuality God has given people twists it into terrible things.
— Lura Groen (@lura_groen) April 29, 2020

I don’t know who needs to hear this* but:

Feeling your anger can be fucking revolutionary.
— Lura Groen (@lura_groen) July 26, 2019

Sometimes I say fuck, but usually only when I’m talking about holiness, so now you’re prepared.
— Lura Groen (@lura_groen) July 22, 2019

Unpopular opinion: Divorce can be a really good thing, and more people should probably get them. https://t.co/PHyEVaPGNd
— Lura Groen (@lura_groen) July 16, 2019

Now I’m Queer. Not just LGBT, as in let’s expand heteronormative relationship structures to same sex people, but Queer, as in, fuck heteronormative relationship structures, because they’re based in capitalism and white supremacy.
— Lura Groen (@lura_groen) May 1, 2020

ELCA Partner Warns of 'Large-Scale ICE Raids'

7/15/2019

A recent post by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) writes, "On Sunday, a holy day of prayer and worship, ICE plans to conduct nationwide sweeps to arrest thousands of undocumented immigrant families -- targeting the same Strangers that scripture tells us to welcome as our own. Find out how cities are responding to the administration's plans to detain and deport the families who are so vital to the fabric of our communities."

Another recent post by LIRS talks about an illegal immigrant who "faces deportation at the hands of ICE..."

LIRS even sent out a "MASSIVE DEPORTATION ALERT" about "large-scale ICE raids..."

These "raids" are aimed at people who are not obeying the United States justice system. "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to conduct nationwide sweeps to arrest thousands of undocumented immigrant families that the government says have missed a court appearance or have been issued court-ordered removals from the country." (See here)

Why is the ELCA closely working with this organization? Well, look what the ELCA itself is doing in response the ICE initiatives here.

See some of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service's actions and words below, as well as ELCA entities sharing this information:

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Trump Illegal Immigration Strategy has ELCA Frantic

6/18/2019

President Trump recently said, "Next week ICE will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States..."

Two weeks ago, the Director of ICE ice said, “Our next challenge is going to be interior enforcement...We will be going after individuals who have gone through due process and who have received final orders of deportation." (See Washington Post article linked below)

The ELCA responded with the following:

As you can see above and below, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America seems to be taking issue with people who were given deportation orders actually being deported.

Remember, all of these ELCA agencies, the seminary and organizations are funded by money given by ELCA members. Many of these members would disagree with their money being used this way.

ELCA Synod Expresses Desire for Bill Offering a "Path to Citizenship" to Pass

6/5/2019

The Western Iowa Synod is showing its true colors sharing an article, rejoicing and expressing their desire for a bill to pass that offers "path to citizenship"

A Church Closes and the ELCA Rakes in the Money

5/13/2019

It is sad that the ELCA brings in so much money when they twist and rewrite God's Word. No doubt faithful Christians over many decades put their money toward their church and now it is being used for extreme liberalism and heresy.

'Find a Church that’s Alive & is Teaching the Conservative True Word of God'

4/20/2019

From Lou Dobbs Tonight:

(Most losses in protestant membership have come from) “mainline liberal denominations that have given up preaching the true word of God, the Bible. And they shape their message around the changing culture…

If you’re in a dead dying church, don’t quit going to church, just quit going to your church. And go find a church that’s alive & is teaching the conservative true word of God.” – Rev. Robert Jeffress

The ELCA Wants the United Nations to Investigate Racism in the United States

3/28/2019

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America wants the U.N."to conduct an official fact-finding visit to examine the historic and present marks of racism and racial discrimination that have presented new and renewed, alarming trends of racism in the United States."

A letter was sent to the U.S. Secretary of State asking him to request that the United Nations conduct this investigation. The ELCA signed that letter along with over 80 other denominations/organizations including Southern Poverty Law Center, Center for Reproductive Rights, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Malcolm X Center for Self Determination, National Council of Churches, National LGBTQ Task Force, Presbyterian Church (USA) and The Episcopal Church.

The letter, which used the biased Southern Poverty Law Center as a source, said, “We are deeply concerned by credible reports indicating a frightening resurgence in white supremacy, which has led to a rise in racism and hate crimes against racial, ethnic, and religious minority communities both in the US and abroad...According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s 2018 annual report on hate and extremism in the United States, there has been 'a 30 percent increase in U.S. hate groups over the past four years and a 7 percent increase in hate groups in 2018 alone.'”

The letter also states, "We are equally concerned about the rise of misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and antiimmigrant sentiments which have continued to escalate across the United States since the last U.S. presidential election."

See the letter here.

I have no respect of the United Nations and do not want it to be placed in a position of authority and judgement over us. This organization contains and coddles the worst of ideologies, while demonizing Israel every opportunity they can (ironically given the request for a study of racism).

But this is the ELCA for you.

ELCA Update From Rev. Dennis Di Mauro

3/18/2019

ELCA Is Using Old Membership Numbers

2/16/2019

Time to update your website, ELCA.org. The most current numbers are 3.4 million members and 9,163 congregations.

ELCA Synod Promotes ELCA Church Having 'The Music of Queen Sunday' Service

2/12/2019

The ELCA's Minneapolis Area Synod posted the following on their Facebook page. "Well, Maple Grove Lutheran Church is planning a worship service I never had anticipated, ... but kind of want to experience." They are having "the music of Queen Sunday." The synod Facebook post, see below, says it will be "a unique worship service."

The popular music group Queen was fronted by flamboyantly gay lead singer, Freddie Mercury.

Blooming Prairie, MN ELCA Church Closes

1/4/2019

The ELCA's Southeastern Minnesota Synod wrote on Facebook about Trinity Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie, MN Closing.

A Biblical look at some of the ELCA's Teachings (video)

11/29/2018

Also highlights ELCA pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber.

Guess Who Supports the Migrant Caravan

10/23/2018

ELCA Ammparo's Facebook page says it is "a holistic, whole church commitment by the ELCA to accompany migrant minors with protection, advocacy, representation and opportunity."

Yesterday they, and the Southwest California Synod posted this supportive article about the migrant caravan heading to the United States.

LGBT Obsessed ELCA Church

10/13/2018

Reformation Lutheran Church in Columbia, South Carolina says "All Are ALWAYS Welcomed & Affirmed Here!" as they announce their participation in a gay pride parade.

They have been on Twitter for 11 days and written 6 LGBT related tweets.

Reformation Lutheran Church Supports 2018 @SCPrideMovement ! #gaypride #allarewelcome #allmeansall #welcomeandaffirmed @ELCA @columbiasc @SCSynod @Earlewood pic.twitter.com/6hk9C8Vsob
— ReformationLutheranCAE (@ReformationCAE) October 13, 2018

Quick News @Reformation 10/12/18 https://t.co/JTbhbKN2Nl pic.twitter.com/DkUWl4Gwqd
— ReformationLutheranCAE (@ReformationCAE) October 12, 2018

Reformation Lutheran Church Loves @SCPrideMovement
□️‍□Look for us in Friday Night’s Parade.
□️‍□Stop by our Pride Booth at Saturday’s Festival.
□️‍□Join us for a Special Pride Worship Service
at 10 am Sunday. All Are ALWAYS Welcomed & Affirmed Here! #gaypride https://t.co/ICy3jdtgVI pic.twitter.com/3iSDs2nskE
— ReformationLutheranCAE (@ReformationCAE) October 8, 2018

Pastor @PTBupp & RLC member @BryanBurgin trvld to Greenville to hear Jim Dant speak on his book. Your time would be well spent attending this event sponsored by RLC's partner-Openings SC. #diversity #socialjustice #allaarewelcome @SCpridemovement https://t.co/LXGp9UCnqM pic.twitter.com/zWgmTERuUo
— ReformationLutheranCAE (@ReformationCAE) October 5, 2018

God loves you just the way you are. #allarewelcome at the table. https://t.co/qS4g1cgIIM
— ReformationLutheranCAE (@ReformationCAE) October 2, 2018

Hello Twittershpere! Reformation Lutheran Church in Columbia, SC is now on Twitter and looks forward to reading your tweets! #GBLTQ #SocialJustice #lutheran @ELCA @SCSynod @columbiasc @Earlewood pic.twitter.com/1SIvaTpVgx
— ReformationLutheranCAE (@ReformationCAE) October 2, 2018

Bisexual Pride

8/25/2018

This woman is sadly deceived and needs our prayers. Even more so, the teenagers that were subjected to this lies of the devil (as this article highlights) coming from the ELCA and its minions.

Be sure to click "See More" so you can read the whole account.

A Greeting to ELCA Youth at the Gathering

8/25/2018

Reverend Bolz-Weber leaves her ELCA Lutheran congregation in hands of homosexual pastor "married" to a drag queen

8/17/2018

(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and Twitter - here.)

Reverend Bolz-Weber leaves her ELCA Lutheran congregation in hands of homosexual pastor "married" to a drag queen

You can't make this stuff up. Last month Bolz-Weber promoted "the beauty of queerness" to 31,000 teenagers at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Teen Gathering, and now this. I"m not sure how much lower the ELCA can sink. How God must grieve.

If you are still a member of the ELCA I ask you to ask yourself "If this doesn't get me to leave the ELCA, what will?" May the Lord lead you to join a denomination which doesn't promote immorality (and which also doesn't pay for abortion with offering dollars).

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Tom Brock

http://pulpitandpen.org/2018/08/16/nadia-bolz-weber-steps-down-from-pastorate-is-replaced-by-gay-man-married-to-drag-queen/

ELCA Synod Bishop 'hopes to attend" Gay Pride Parade

5/17/2018

This was printed in the ELCA's Metro D.C. Synod's EVENTS DIGEST
May 17, 2018

See here.

ELCA Retweet

5/8/2018

If you had any doubt if the ELCA has taken a side on the homosexuality debate look what the official twitter page of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America retweeted. A tweet about a LGBT organization, the pushes for acceptance and approval of the homosexuality, etc.,

http://www.opendoorelca.org/2018/01/18/reconciling-in-christ-sunday-is-on-january-28th-2018/