Taking an Unpopular Stand

“…come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord – 2 Cor. 6:17

A Little Falls, Minn., pastor recently spoke out about his decision to resign after his congregation rejected a motion to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The Rev. Nate Bjorge told the Brainerd Dispatch that First Lutheran Church's vote last month to stay in the ELCA called into question his effectiveness as a pastor.

"I was extremely disheartened," Bjorge told the local newspaper as he recalled the Oct. 11 vote. "I haven't been angry by this whole process. Sad might be a better word."

The congregational vote was prompted by a controversial decision by the ELCA's chief legislative body in August to allow noncelibate gays and lesbians to be ordained. Since then more than a dozen congregations in Minnesota have vowed or already voted to sever ties with the denomination.

Bjorge told the local Dispatch that he has friends who are homosexual and his congregation has always been welcoming to homosexuals. But he said he can't condone homosexual behavior, calling it a destructive lifestyle.

"For me, there was no question," he said. "This issue directly violates the word of God."

With such strongly held beliefs, Bjorge felt he could no longer lead a church that was going to continue as an ELCA congregation.

Bjorge is currently leading a group of people who left First Lutheran to start their own church, Faith Lutheran. He was called by the group to serve as their pastor.
Comments: Hallelujah for this man of God. We don’t get too many good news type examples coming from the news, but when it does comes, it stands out like a sore thumb! (Taken from the Christianpost.com)

When I read this story, I was reminded once again about the absolute importance of leading by principle and personal convictions and not by popularity and the desire to be liked and accepted.

When leaders do not lead by principle, the results are double-minded thinking and instability in all their ways (James 1:8). Much too often we read and hear about how some of our elected leaders move in the direction of which way they sense the wind of popularity is blowing. Sadly, some pastors do this as well. One sad feature of the church in the end times is that it will be “lukewarm” (Rev. 3:15-16a). This is a church that refuses to take a stand because it may be unpopular or not politically correct. What does Jesus think of this kind of church? He said, “I will spit you out of my mouth” (v. 16b).

When a church becomes like this, the best thing to do is separate oneself from it and move on. When a pastor goes the lukewarm route, the best thing is for the church to fire the man and get someone in there who will not be afraid to preach the Word and lead by principle and convictions.

Separation is good and something the best and only option. But separation will require guts. If young leaders do not start to acquire such holy guts now, then when the need to take a stand is called for, it may be too late.