Transgender Pastor Claims Bible 'Wasn't Written For 2024'

A California-based transgender pastor, Drew Stever, is stirring controversy after an interview with the Daily Mail in which he claimed, "the Bible wasn't written for 2024."

Stever, who identifies as a transgender man, serves at Hope Lutheran Church in Hollywood, part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In this interview, Stever stated that he believes traditional interpretations of gender, as outlined in the Bible, are "outdated."

Stever is just the latest in a series of pastors within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who distort the Word of God. Notably, failed vice-presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz  attend an ELCA church, reflecting the denomination's influence and teachings as Gov. Walz is known for promoting LGBT causes as part of his Lutheran faith.

This remark about the Bible being "outdated" follows a trend within the ELCA. For example, the denomination previously appointed Megan Rohrer as its first openly transgender bishop. Rohrer's advocacy for the inclusion of transgender clergy and progressive stances on gender issues have influenced the ELCA's shift toward a more liberal theology, a direction from which it has struggled to recover. 

Conservative critics argue that Rohrer's tenure brought theological distortions that replaced traditional Christian doctrine with modern, human-centric ideologies, diluting historic Christian beliefs with little opposition from within the church.

Rohrer's inclusive approach often involved incorporating feminine and non-binary language for God, diverging from the traditional masculine portrayal in the Bible. This aligns with other progressive ELCA leaders who support concepts of "Goddess" worship. An example of this is San Francisco's ELCA-affiliated "herchurch," where feminine deities and divine feminine figures are invoked in worship. Critics say Rohrer's focus on social justice issues related to race and gender overshadowed core gospel teachings and the salvation message central to Christianity.

Building on these themes, other ELCA pastors, such as Nadia Bolz-Weber, have made headlines for their controversial views. For instance, at a church gathering, Bolz-Weber encouraged youth attendees to embrace queerness as "beautiful." Known for her explicit language and swearing during sermons, Bolz-Weber has aimed to redefine holiness. 

She interprets holiness as "union with" others and emphasizes human connection over traditional concepts of purity, which she associates with moral superiority and exclusion. This redefinition encourages individuals to embrace their sexual identities without shame, including LGBTQ+ identities, contrasting with traditional teachings that emphasize sexual purity and abstinence.

To further emphasize her point, Bolz-Weber commissioned a sculpture of a golden female anatomy created from donated purity rings--a dramatic critique of purity culture.

Beyond gender-related issues, Bolz-Weber's teachings demonstrate what critics consider a rejection of the Bible's core tenets. She has suggested that hell may not be a literal place of eternal punishment but rather a metaphor for suffering on earth. This stance diverges from the traditional Christian view of hell as a real place for the unrepentant, leading some to claim she downplays the seriousness of sin and the need for salvation.

Bolz-Weber has also expressed discomfort with the traditional doctrine of atonement, specifically the idea that Jesus' death on the cross was a substitutionary sacrifice for humanity's sins. She suggests that this doctrine portrays God as wrathful, preferring instead to interpret the crucifixion as an act of solidarity with human suffering, challenging the orthodox view of penal substitution and the purpose of the cross.

Additionally, she holds a nuanced view of sin, focusing more on systemic wrongdoing (such as societal injustices) than on personal sins. She emphasizes empathy and understanding over judgment, which many believe softens the Bible's stance on sin, repentance, and transformation. This perspective aligns with her criticism of evangelical culture, especially its focus on "saving souls" and evangelism, which she finds problematic and overly aggressive.

With such beliefs being taught from ELCA pulpits, it is unsurprising that the next generation of pastors may not only interpret Scripture differently but may also question its relevance for today's society.