Lutheran (EL
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Posted on 08/21/2009 1:04:45 PM PDT by SmithL
Much of the damage may be gone but there's a lot of blame left behind after a tornado touchdown in downtown Minneapolis.
The storm struck the cross at Central Lutheran Church. Crews spent Thursday removing it from the steeple. Some bloggers say what happened to the church is a reaction from God to what's going on across the street.
John Piper the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, wrote in a blog: "the tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin."
Nearly 2,000 Lutherans from across the country have spent the week at the Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis. They expected a storm this week inside, but didn't see the one getting attention now outside.
Twyla Mundy was inside when the storm hit.
"Bishop Hanson got up and said 'We have a tornado warning, and please don't leave the building,'" Mundy said.
The storm blew through the same afternoon a vote was scheduled to relax the rules on gay couples in the church. Now, some groups are trying to tie the two together.
Piper wouldn't go on camera but said he'll stick to what he wrote in print.
Phil Soucy is one of the convention participants.
"He probably didn't mention that after the storm passed, and the vote was taken the sun came out. I think both of those are just weather," Soucy said.
Bernard Brady chairs the Theology Department at St. Thomas.
"That idea is that in some parts of the Old Testament to say, 'Well God's punishing us for this' is not unusual," Brady said.
Brady said in the wake of disasters people try to explain the unexplainable. He pointed out it wasn't just the church that was hit and help to clean up came from all over.
"You can see the spirit of God in these kinds of acts without saying that God caused that to punish people,'" Brady said.
Wednesday's vote approved a new social statement which acknowledges monogamous same-sex relationships. On Friday, the ELCA is expected to vote on whether under certain circumstances gays and lesbians can lead Lutheran churches.
FWIW
I was sent this; not sure where it orginated:
“The first tornado to touch down in downtown Minneapolis in 90 years touched down at the intersection of the street where the Minneapolis Convention Center and Central Lutheran Church occupy opposite sides of the street. Good Soil, the gay lobby group was planning a dinner in some tents in the courtyard area this evening and a worship service at Central Lutheran this evening. The tornado leveled the tents, tables and chairs and some cooking equipment being used for the Good Soil gathering. It tore mature trees out of the soil. And most strikingly, it ripped the cross from the top of Central Lutheran Church and left it hanging by a thread. I’ve attached some pictures I took with the camera in my phone. The Good Soil people are saying that “Some crazies will be saying that God had something to do with all of this.” They are certain it is all just a coincidence. I am thankful nobody was hurt. But given the fact that the storm struck at 2:01 pm, one minute after the debate on the social statement began, I’m not so sure. By the way, the social statement was adopted by a 66.67% to 33.2% majority late this afternoon. All requests for a recount were denied.”
Coming from a Presbyterian background, I agree with the premise of R.C.Sproul’s book “Not a Chance!”. There are no coincidences.
The head of the local Anglican church in York, England disputed the virgin birth in the early 1990’s. I personally benefited since when I visited the church the following year, the rose window was on display at ground level. It normally resides just below the roof line where only God can see it up close. Right after the Bishop’s pronouncement the church was struck by lightening. Supposedly the Bishop recanted. Meanwhile, the rose window was placed briefly at ground level for repairs and display.
As some Christians don’t really believe in Christianity any longer, maybe they would prefer to call the event “synchronicity.”
That wasn’t punishment from God.
It was a celebration by Gaia for another conversion!
The cross was hanging upside down.
Sodom and Gomorrah ping.
It is upside down..
I’ve also noted several gay pride parades cancelled due to hurricanes that came into Florida and LA years past. Tells me a message.
"a God without wrath who brings humans without sin into a kingdom without judgment through a Christ without a cross."
Consider that as you contemplate the steeple of Central Lutheran and tremble!
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Very Interesting. Thank you! Bookmarked for later.
Are you writing up the minutes of what happened today? I haven’t seen anything yet, and I apologize to imposing on you, but following your minutes has been so great.
Not a great day. Gotta find a new church.
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
This pastor belongs on the short bus. The shorter, the better.
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