April 2024
Dear Friends in the Risen Lord –
For me among the most powerful and hope-and-strength-giving things that Jesus said are the following–
“God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” – John 3: 16
“I am the resurrection and the life” – John 11: 25
“I am with you always” – Matthew 28: 20
Another one is in Matthew 16: 18 where Jesus told His disciples, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
As I understand it, the gates of a city were their place of greatest vulnerability. Sin, death, darkness, and the devil are vulnerable. They have no chance against the light of Jesus, the truth of the Gospel, the Word of God, and the power of the cross. And in this verse the hosts of heaven and the church of God are not being attacked by the forces of Satan. Rather it is the forces of Satan that are being attacked by the hosts of heaven and the church of God. Against the light of Jesus, the truth of the Gospel, the Word of God, and the power of the cross, the forces of Satan will not and cannot prevail.
We – along with others who have contributed to the articles in our newsletter – have written extensively about ways in which a dangerous, secular, non-Biblical agenda continues to gain strength and momentum within a segment of the church. We will continue to monitor and keep you informed about such thing as –
- The keynote speakers for the ELCA youth and young adult gathering this summer. We find it amazing that the time to register is nearly completed but the keynote speakers have not yet been announced. We shudder to think of who they might be – how much worse it might be than at the last gathering in 2018 when 31,000 young people were led in rejecting traditional views as a lie and transgenderism and gender confusion were promoted and celebrated.
- The way in which the work of the ELCA’s Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church is informed, based upon, and motivated not by the Scriptures but by a secular philosophy that ultimately is destructive – critical race theory and DEIA ideology.
- Specific ways in which the DEIA agenda will impact congregations. It will get harder and harder for traditionally minded congregations to believe that this will not impact them as they read and reflect upon the recommendations (which could become requirements) for congregations in the report from the law firm that did a DEIA audit of the ELCA’s governing documents.
- Examples of when synods have used a provision in the ELCA model constitution for synods to move in on and take over congregations and grab their property.
- Ways in which the buildup has started to eliminate the provision for bound conscience in the ELCA’s human sexuality social statement, even though the ELCA says that the results of the work of the task force are not pre-determined.
In the midst of all this Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” No matter how much an individual church body may stray from Biblical truth, and no matter what happens to individual congregations, Jesus will build His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail.
I am deeply grateful for all of the messages I receive from people who tell me that they value and appreciate the work of Lutheran CORE and they support us in prayer. It is your fervent prayers and 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. I have listed above some of the major ways in which we will continue to be a Voice for Biblical Truth in 2024. We will also continue to provide such things as the following as a Network for Confessing Lutherans.
- Resources on our website, including daily devotions, worship aids, Bible studies, and videos on books and topics of interest and importance.
- 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 as we work to be a Voice for Biblical Truth and a Network for Confessing Lutherans. Please also let us know how we can be praying for you. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel, as we thank Jesus that He is building His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail.
In the love of the cross and the power of the empty tomb,
Dennis D. Nelson
Executive Director of Lutheran CORE
P.O. Box 1741
Wausau WI 54402-1741
dennisnelsonaz@yahoo.com
