I attended a Lutheran church most of my life… My husband and I were very involved…in checking out Twin Cities Grace Fellowship we decided to visit…As you know, your service is not like the traditional or contemporary services… While I admit that I miss the worship teams, we both find your message very spot on and admire the depth of your bible knowledge. Any advice on how to respond to those that have made the choice to stay with the ELCA?
Thank you for sharing your story with me. I truly understand your "missing" the so-called "worship" teams and things that go along with the religious system and traditions of men, because our Apostle Paul warns us about how those things can draw upon our emotions and our sinful flesh to take us away from the truth of God's Word—that which is the issue with God.
Funny thing, most people think that the so-called "worship" they are doing through the music is what God desires, but really they forget or are ignorant that the true worship that He desires is to sit under the proper, right teaching of His Word! It is learning His WORD, above all else, that shows our true worship.
Psalm 138:2
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
The religious system has trained people to go after an emotional feeling of "worship" and "connections" with others, but that is not what God says He wants!
Matthew 10:34-38
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Here the Lord is letting us know that when it comes to true worship, relationships are secondary! And if any relationships (even with our own families) take us away from being in His truth—the thing that we should desire above all else—then we are to severe the relationships and go after His truth! God has designed it that after learning His truth, then the emotional feelings and connections in relationships will come secondarily.
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [His Word], that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
So yes, our "unconventional" style of worship is unusual because the religious system has corrupted what true worship is, and trained people to think that feeling good, being emotional, or even having nice feelings of "connections" with others is what's important to God, and those things are not! They are important to our sinful flesh, but that's not the issue with God. So our church's focus is to focus on what God desires and not what our flesh desires. And even if one is getting good "connections" within the religious system, but is being lied to when it comes to God's Word, then that is a problem! But what I have learned is, the longer one is a part of a Pauline Grace Assembly, the tighter the "connections" with others becomes. So in essence, it will come with time if you stick it out; and God will make sure that it happens!
Ephesians 4:15-16
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
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Lastly, as far as your question about how to respond to those that have made the choice to stay with the ELCA, tell them the reason that they should leave the ELCA has nothing to do with abortions or gay issues, although being associated with any of those things are sins according to the Word of God! The greater reason that nobody ought to be associated or attending an ELCA church is because they are not being taught the truth of God's Word rightly divided as God commands in 2 Tim.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The ELCA does not follow or teach its members about the unique, distinct, apostleship, ministry and message of Paul. Nor does it teach that the 13 letters of Paul alone teach us about what God is doing today in the dispensation of Grace. So whether it is the ELCA or any other religious denomination, God commands us to not be a part of that, and to be attending a Pauline Grace church! God says all others are unclean!
2 Corinthians 6:17-18
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Hopefully this
helps...Maranatha!
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