Just because every automobile has four tires, a steering wheel and an engine, not every automobile is the same.

 

In the same way, just because every Lutheran congregation has people who worship together, listen to a sermon and sing hymns, not all Lutherans share the same beliefs.

 

This observation is demonstrated by the members of the Evangelical Lutheran  Church in America (ELCA) who adopted a resolution endorsing homosexuals, in committed relationships, to serve as pastors and hold other positions of leadership in the  church.

 

While this is now the policy of the ELCA, it is not what most other Lutherans believe, including members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

 

Members of the WELS believe that the changeless and timeless Word of  God, not the ever-changing societal attitudes, establish what is moral and immoral, what is sin and what is not.

 

The Word of God reveals the following: Rom 1:26-28, "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchange natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done."

 

And again, 1 Cor 6:9-11, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And this is what some of you were."

 

Any homosexual relationship, any heterosexual relationship outside of marriage for that matter, whether in a committed relationship or not, is a sin...is immoral...is not a relationship that God will bless.

 

There  is no question that many people, for reasons yet unknown, have a same gender sexual orientation. Christians who believe that God does not bless same sexual relationships anymore than he blesses any sexual relationship outside marriage, struggle with their sexual orientation. It is a burden they would not wish on anyone. But they rely on the power and blessing of the Holy Spirit not to engage in a homosexual relationship out of love for the Lord Jesus, of whom the Apostle continues to write, "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spir of our God" (1 Cor 9.11).

 

We in the WELS recognize the burden that some Christians carry because of a same sexual orientation, and encourage them in their struggle to rely on the help and promises of God to enable them to live fulfilling lives of service to their Savior, Jesus, who loves them and paid for their sins, even  as he has paid for the sins of all people.

 

If you have questions...if you are struggling with  a homosexual orientation...if you are looking for clear direction, support and help from the power of God's Word, please contact us.