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Over the past day I've been getting a number of comments in support of Dr. Wil Gafney, an Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, an ELCA Seminary. The people writing recently found a blog I wrote back in May regarding a blog written by Dr. Gafney where she posted a picture of Jesus as a female. (read my blog here) Those who commented thought the picture was great. They expressed that Dr. Gafney is a wonderful professor and attempted to justify what she did and wrote. Many of them justified the female Jesus picture by pointing to the verse where Jesus says,“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” - Matt. 23:37. Somehow, because Jesus referenced a female chicken, these people think Jesus was a woman.
Some of the comments I received:
From an ELCA pastor – Dr. Gafney's “. . . teaching and preaching build up the faith and instill a deep interest in knowing more about our Scriptures, something you sadly know nothing about. Go and educate yourself.”
From another ELCA pastor - “Do you honestly have so little imagination that you cannot see that God is greater than gender, color or race? Your God is too small, too white and too male as far as I can tell.”
“I am so glad that ELCA pastors in training are being taught by Dr. Gafney. Too few seminarians are learning robust feminist and womanist theologies . . .”
“I think Dr. Gafney is one of our most gifted and prophetic voices in our church.”
“It troubles me that my beloved church may actually have paid for your education which you are now abusing in order to propagate such flawed and hateful statements. Shame shame on you.”
“Clearly the author of this reflection is at best novice and at worst ignorant of how social realities impact theological reflection. Please spend time doing something more productive than objecting to the scholastic innovation that comes from Dr. Gafney.”
“I think the Christa image is beautiful and thought-provoking.”
“The Rev. Dr. Gafney opens up, by her meticulous scholarship, access to images of God that are not only scriptural but deeply needed in a world that is increasingly polarized by racist, sexist and homophobic agendas.”
Most of the people who support Dr. Gafney's female Jesus picture are liberals who warp Christianity and Scripture to their own liking so much so that many of them do not even worship the God of the Bible anymore. In their lost-ness, they would likely still sing Dr. Gafney's praises even in view of the professor's belief that Asherah, a Canaanite goddess, is the Holy Spirit. (see here) I'm not joking. As you can see, that is what she believes. Is this thinking and foundation for teaching “scholastic innovation” and “meticulous scholarship?” No. It's heresy! People in the ELCA need to know what is happening in their church and what their leaders are teaching.
Some of the comments I received:
From an ELCA pastor – Dr. Gafney's “. . . teaching and preaching build up the faith and instill a deep interest in knowing more about our Scriptures, something you sadly know nothing about. Go and educate yourself.”
From another ELCA pastor - “Do you honestly have so little imagination that you cannot see that God is greater than gender, color or race? Your God is too small, too white and too male as far as I can tell.”
“I am so glad that ELCA pastors in training are being taught by Dr. Gafney. Too few seminarians are learning robust feminist and womanist theologies . . .”
“I think Dr. Gafney is one of our most gifted and prophetic voices in our church.”
“It troubles me that my beloved church may actually have paid for your education which you are now abusing in order to propagate such flawed and hateful statements. Shame shame on you.”
“Clearly the author of this reflection is at best novice and at worst ignorant of how social realities impact theological reflection. Please spend time doing something more productive than objecting to the scholastic innovation that comes from Dr. Gafney.”
“I think the Christa image is beautiful and thought-provoking.”
“The Rev. Dr. Gafney opens up, by her meticulous scholarship, access to images of God that are not only scriptural but deeply needed in a world that is increasingly polarized by racist, sexist and homophobic agendas.”
Most of the people who support Dr. Gafney's female Jesus picture are liberals who warp Christianity and Scripture to their own liking so much so that many of them do not even worship the God of the Bible anymore. In their lost-ness, they would likely still sing Dr. Gafney's praises even in view of the professor's belief that Asherah, a Canaanite goddess, is the Holy Spirit. (see here) I'm not joking. As you can see, that is what she believes. Is this thinking and foundation for teaching “scholastic innovation” and “meticulous scholarship?” No. It's heresy! People in the ELCA need to know what is happening in their church and what their leaders are teaching.
9 COMMENTS:
Lee Liermann
Could Intrepid Lutherans print the Bible translation resolution that was approved at the convention? I understood the approved resolution limited the translation choices to three, the 2011 NIV, the ESV and the HCSB. But I've heard a lot of discussion that implies that any and all translations are acceptable. I can understand where that discussion comes from, based on statements made by Wendland and others, but what does the approved resolution say?
Writing a letter advocating one translation and opposing another has reduced effectiveness if the addressee can hide behind an approved convention resolution that limits translation options.
I might add that I wrote to all of the TEC members early on in the 2011 NIV saga, and was never given the courtesy of a reply from any of them. In fact, of all of the synod leaders I have ever written to, on this or any other topic of doctrinal concern, only synod President Schroeder has given the courtesy of replying to my messages. I think this speaks volumes to the attitude of synod leadership (excluding President Schroeder) towards lay people and their concerns.
Vernon
Per your request...
http://www.intrepidlutherans.com/2013/08/wels-resolution-on-bible-translations.html
The Resolution is printed below. Note that NIV11, ESV, and Holman are indeed mentioned specifically. However, note also that the TEC found that "all the precious truths of our faith are clearly taught in ALL the translations we have considered.” (emphasis mine) No list was given of ALL those considered. I would certainly doubt, for example, that the New World (JW) translation was considered. But if one drew the conclusion that most, if not all, other translations are "acceptable," for WELS members, I don't see how that could be wrong. Of course, acceptable for what use is a whole other question.
And yes, President Schroeder should be commended for answering almost all inquiries directed to him. It is unfortunate that our other leaders to not always make similar efforts.
Floor Committee 21: Translation Evaluation Committee (TEC)
Subject: Option 2
Reference: Book of Reports and Memorials, pp. 69-78; 211-215 (memorials 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 29, 30)
Resolution No. 1
WHEREAS 1) we strive to follow the direction found in Ephesians 4:2-3, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" and in Philippians 1:27, "Stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel”; and
WHEREAS 2) the TEC evaluation of the "Review of the 102" noted that each of the three translations (NIV2011, ESV, HCSB) "has some generally recognized strengths" but also "some generally recognized weaknesses" (BORAM, p. 73); and
WHEREAS 3) the TEC concluded that “As a committee we are convinced that all the precious truths of our faith are clearly taught in all the translations we have considered” (BORAM, p. 77); and
WHEREAS 4) the TEC has produced a four-part Bible study for congregational use to help lay people become more familiar with translational issues; and
WHEREAS 5) it is apparent that no consensus has developed in the synod for the use of a single translation, as is evident from the memorials submitted to the synod from a broad sampling of the districts that dealt with the translation issue; and
WHEREAS 6) Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) will be able to use NIV84 for current published products and may be able to continue to use it for some future products; therefore be it
Resolved, a) that the synod in convention adopt the second option of the TEC report, that WELS does not adopt a single Bible translation for use in its publications at this time but use an eclectic approach; and be it further
Resolved, b) that we encourage NPH to choose whichever translation it deems best for a particular publication; and be it further
Resolved, c) that all the congregations in the WELS be encouraged to use the four-part Bible study that the TEC produced; and be it finally
Resolved, d) that we, as members of the WELS standing firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel, fix our hearts on this one unshakable truth: the Word of our God endures forever.
Pastor Joel Gaertner, chairman
Pastor Mark Gabb, secretary
ADOPTED
That means faith in the atoning death of Christ and His bodily resurrection.
But we have several generations of synod-minders who attack justification by faith with the very passages that Luther explicates to show what the Gospel is. Have they read the Galatians commentary on "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world"? Obviously they have not. Have they read the Gospel of John in its entirely, as a Gospel, as a book, with all the content related, the Word explaining the Word? No, but every time they quote John, or Paul, or Luther against John, Paul, and Luther, they harden and blind themselves so that they loathe the Gospel they mention so piously.
Their generation is clearly described in Matthew 7:15ff. They say Lord, Lord and bray about the miraculous construction of buildings named after an unrepentant adulterer, but He never knew them. Because they do not believe on Him.