FRAGMENTED THEOLOGY OF A FRACTURED CHURCH By Rev.Dr. Francis X. Muttoo

What in the world is gone wrong with the Christian Church? What is happening within our own Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)? The evolutionary and revolutionary changes that are taking place right before our eyes are
rapidly changing the entire scenario of THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. How can the Revisionists blatantly change the course of the Church that has stood the test of time, and that has been Bible-based for centuries, and the Christians be so apathetic?

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is in serious trouble; and believe me, many are hurting at the explosion of changes and heretical promulgation of 'false doctrines. Our Church is fractured.

The Holy Bible, which was known and respected as the BOOK of books - the inerrant word of God, is fast becoming obsolete. To find one in a Lutheran Church today is like looking for a needle in a haystack. What a travesty! The compass of the ship is abandoned, and the passengers are at risk of great peril.

The pro- gays, and others of like mind, are not only seeking out their own identity, but are militantly and
aggressively pushing for legitimization of their life-style as being from God, and must, therefore, be recognized by
the Government, and all. And our Church is whole-heartedly endorsing this, at any cost. The question is: Do we still have a Theology that we can abide by, or is it in total shambles? Are we in the process of rewriting or revising what was formidable for generations? When Absolutes become out-dated, the Church becomes fractured.

Traditional Lutherans are being constantly accused of being insular in their faith. They are accused of wrongfully celebrating the Reformation because of the division it caused. Let us remember that it was not Luther's intention to divide the Church, but to help it to better understand the fallacies and unbiblical practices that plagued the Church. He was trying to rid the Church of some of its unscriptural indulgences. Relentless efforts were pursued to destroy him - an ach- heretic, who would not recant. The apostle Paul declared:"What agreement is there between the
temple of God and idols?….therefore, come out from among them and be separate." 2Cor. 6:15-17. And don't forget what Jesus said: "I did not come to bring peace to the earth, but a sword," Matt. 10:34. Divisions are inevitable!
Lest we forget, Martin Luther has been mightily used by the Lord to be the instrument through whom God has worked, in order to bequeath such a Protestant legacy, that we and all other non-Catholic Church Faith Communities, have enjoyed for centuries. Had it not been for the Reformation, we could not have expressed our views as we do today.

The troubling aspect of the Revisionist Theology is, that it will completely eliminate the Evangelical fervor - going after the other religious groups (that we once called non-christians) trying to convert them. The apparent answer today is, that they are here now to convert us. Convert us to what? We believe that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, and that He is our God. Any other Religious group that does not subscribe to this, is certainly an arable field for Evangelism. To let go of this focus, is to bemoan the hundreds of trillions of dollars that have been spent on Missionary enterprises.

Lutherans believe: "The Bible is the source of all revealed divine knowledge. Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura), is
the final principle of faith; the final authority for all matters of faith and doctrine." Throughout the Book of Concord, this truth is clearly enunciated. And now, there are those who have vowed to annihilate the immortal truths (Absolutes) that are enshrined within the Holy Bible, in order to accommodate the voracious appetites of a craving human nature.

Isaiah says: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight," Is.5:20-21. "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…" Rom. 1:22. Jesus said: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away, "Matt. 13:31.

Joel Hilliker writes: A group of lawmakers, judges, lawyers and educators in America, Britain, Canada and elsewhere, want to engineer a world free from oppression and hate. They want to introduce a 'golden age' of
tolerance and understanding. They seek a society where everyone is accepted, where no one is condemned, where everyone feels emotionally validated, where no one's feelings are ever hurt." Hilliker continues: "It is a world
where the line between male and female doesn't exist. Where not only is it just as common to be homosexual or bisexual as heterosexual, but every person has the choice -with society's full, unflinching support-to act, dress or
even biologically exist as either male or female, or anything in between. Where a school teacher, police officer,
priest or president can be a man who likes wearing dresses and high heels, and anyone who expresses discomfort over the idea can be silenced with the full force of the law." Hilliker: This utopian world removes pressure on singles to marry, pressure on married people to remain together, pressure on parents to make sacrifices for their children, and pressure on children to view their parents as authorities. In other words, it undermines the pillars of family life." Do you think that the Revisionists Theology would embrace this preposterous and damnable proposition? Time will tell.

A fragmented Theology espouses NOTHING, but opens the doors for collapse and chaos. Sin is already abolished. Anything goes! The walls are crumbling. The battle line is clearly drawn. It is now time for Christians, ( who still believe the Traditional Theology - that the Word of God is indisputable, and remains unchangeable), not only to double up in prayer and fasting, but at all cost, be ready to take a stand against the intrusion of such an insidious move on the part of the Revisionists, to totally replace the Holy Bible with another version of man's own diabolical concoction. The question of heresies is now up for grabs. What is really heretical these days? Before you know it,
our Liturgy and Creeds will soon be dissolved and replaced with some form of Liberal Theology. At the present, let
us enjoy them, for they reflect the grand old Traditional Theology. Awake, and be on guard, for your faith is not just challenged, but it's about to be belittled by the subtle proclamation of Oneness and Love - a new interpretation that
is so different - diametrically opposed to that which has always characterized the Traditional Church.

"Jesus said, if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples, then you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free …I know that you are Abraham's descendants, yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room in your heart for my Word," John 8:31-36

"And of this gospel I was appointed a herald, and an apostle, and a teacher. That is why am suffering as I am. Yet, I am not ashamed,, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that lHe is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Spirit who lives in us." 2Tim. 1:11-14.

And now the apostle Paul confronts the Church in Galatia: "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the
one who called you by the grace of Christ, and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion, and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if
we or an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him he eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again, if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what
you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Gal., 1:6-9

And now, this is what the Book of Concord (Lutheran Confessions) says: "Wherever there are godly preachers and Christians, they must endure having the world call them heretics, apostates, even seditious and accursed scoundrels. Moreover, the Word of God must undergo the most shameful and spiteful persecution and blasphemy; it is contradicted, perverted, misused, and misinterpreted. But let this pass; it is the blind world's nature to condemn and persecute the truth and the children of God, and yet consider this no sin." P. 400:262.

There is a raging war going on between the Traditional Theologians and the Revisionist Theologians. It is escalating rapidly. It must be curbed lest the Church be brought into disrepute. To say the least, the proliferation of this Revisionist Theology is spreading at an almost unstoppable speed. The Traditional Church is summoned to
PRAYER around the clock. God is still on the Throne, and He can still intervene.

The Apostle Paul says:… "I give you this Charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth, and turn aside to myths." 2Tim. 4:1-4.

I close with a reminder in the book of Jeremiah: ""Woe to the Shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture, declares the Lord, Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says to the shepherds
who tend my people. Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:1- 2.

Let us incessantly pray for the leaders of our Church. Be not discouraged! God works in ways that we do not understand, Therefore, Reason must not supplant the Faith that He has given us. Be steadfast and unmovable. 'On Christ the Solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.'