May 12, 1996 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in a March 26 letter, wrote "words of prayer and pastoral concern and encouragement" for the denomination's gay and lesbian members and their families.

According to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America News, May 25, 1996: "The letter assures gay and lesbian members, '...we walk beside you and we value your gifts and commitment to the church.' The letter acknowledges, 'the debates and controversy surrounding homosexuality sometimes have turned bitter. We have not always followed our Lord's instruction to avoid being angry or insulting to one another' and to reconcile promptly."

We don't know exactly what the "bishops" are referring to here, but the fact is that righteous indignation at sin and error is not wrong or unspiritual. The Lord Jesus Christ got angry at sin. In Mark 3:5 we read that Christ "looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts." The Christ of the Bible is not the effeminate, hippie-like, ever-smiling Jesus of popular conception. The Bible says God hates sin and error, and the Bible enjoins God's people to hate the same. "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil..." (Psalm 97:10).

The press report also noted that "the letter draws attention to a 1991 assembly action that declared, 'Gay and lesbian people, as individuals created by God, are welcome to participate fully in the life of the congregations' of the ELCA."

Homosexuals and fornicators and drunkards and every other sinner is invited to come to Jesus Christ and be saved from his or her sin, but the grace of God does not lead people to continue in their sin. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, AND PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee" (Titus 2:11-15). Notice the last two sentences in that passage: speak these things with all authority. May the Lord give us the strength to do just that.