ELCA Exposed News on Gospel Reductionism and Antinomianism
"What is 'gospel-reductionism?' Basically it’s the tendency to reduce the Bible to the gospel. Gospel reductionism tends to allow the Bible authority only in matters which are explicitly part of the gospel or may be developed from the gospel. Exponents of gospel reductionism believe that considerable freedom should be allowed within the church in matters which are not an explicit part of the gospel. In this way, the rest of the Bible is relativised; it does not have the same authority. Instead of the gospel and scripture, the tendency is for only the gospel to become the standard (the norm) of Christian teaching." (see here)
Antinomianism is defined as "(t)he doctrine or belief that the Gospel frees Christians from required obedience to any law, whether scriptural, civil, or moral, and that salvation is attained solely through faith and the gift of divine grace." (read here)
Antinomianism is defined as "(t)he doctrine or belief that the Gospel frees Christians from required obedience to any law, whether scriptural, civil, or moral, and that salvation is attained solely through faith and the gift of divine grace." (read here)
Antinomianism and Legalism vs. the Gospel: Is it Legalistic and Ungraceful for Saint Paul’s to Leave the ELCA? By Shawn Smith
. . .So rather than being antinomian, Christianity upholds the law to its fullest extent and in doing so forces us to look outside ourselves for deliverance/salvation (Zahl 35). On the other hand, Christianity that deserves to be called antinomian is that which lessens the severity of or does away with the law. . .
ELCA Lutherans Who Are Not Antinomian Are Either Leaving the ELCA or Looking for Ways to Cover Their Embarrassment
. . . Luther’s first big battle within the evangelical party was over antinomianism. He dealt with it decisively when it broke out and when it reemerged in the early 1530’s. . .
Law and Gospel: A Problem with Bound Conscience - Rev. Lauren Lay
. . .The "bound conscience" concept is a rejection of the law and gospel hermeneutical principle in at least two critical ways. First, its appeal is based in the taming of the word of God to gospel alone, removing the power of the law to judge. Since the law is silenced ongoing sin or sins no longer have the power to threaten one's existence before God or in relationships with others. This is gospel reductionism. . .
The Gospels and the Scriptures by Greg Lockwood
(learn about Gospel Reductionism which is happening in the ELCA). . . Instead of the gospel of “Jesus Christ and him crucified”, the church is urged to give first place to concerns like tolerance, inclusiveness or ecology – social justice concerns which belong in the realm of law, not gospel. Thus gospel reductionism, which on the face of it makes much of the gospel, comes to threaten the biblical gospel.
