Practically in my own backyard, congregations that broke away from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America formed a new church body, the National Association of Lutheran Churches.
Credit is due to these congregations for recognizing the abyss that the ELCA is running toward. In addition to admitting unrepentant homosexuals into the ministry, the ELCA has also recently argued against the Virgin Birth (summary on Facebook), in addition to other older discrepancies with Biblical Christianity.
The NALC describes itself on its web site as “embodies the theological center of Lutheranism in North America.” Seeing oneself as on a left-right spectrum of theology is unfortunate; we should all be striving to stay as close to the promises of God as we can. It does “believe all doctrines should and must be judged by the teaching of Scripture.”
The NALC has further challenges. It has to decide how and if it can maintain some of its historical discrepancies with Biblical doctrine without it leading to what the ELCA is doing now. Like the ELCA, LCMS, WELS, ELS, and other Christian churches it needs the proper distinction of Law and Gospel. It needs Christ crucified for the sinners in its congregations.
We all need to reject false doctrine. We all have false doctrine to reject, if not in our confessions, then in our practices and in our preaching. Gospel reductionism, pietism, enthusiasm (the “revelation apart from God” kind), mysticism, and other false doctrines and heresies plague Lutheranism and Christianity in general.
Keep up the good work, NALC. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. Continue to diagnose, using the Word to kill sin and bring alive again. Best wishes to you, that you may not come near the abyss again.
The current draft constitution for the NALC only holds that Scripture is “inspired.” They do not go so far as to say “inerrant.” Also, they will retain women’s ordination.
True, Iggy. But they are making an important first step, and for that we should applaud and support them. And pray for them, too, that as they dig deeper into the Word them may reject those errors as well.