The UCC (The United Church of Christ) by Frank Garner

Transcription

1 The UCC (The United Church of Christ) by Frank Garner On July 4, 2005, the United Church of Christ (UCC) in its "...General Synod 25 overwhelmingly passed a resolution in support of equal marriage rights for all people, regardless of gender. It marks the first time that one of the nation's mainline churches has expressed support of marriages for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons." The action is not surprising coming from an organization that prides itself as "die first to ordain openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons (1972)." Since the organization claims nearly 6,000 congregations and 1.4 million members, its action will impact the society in which we live. What is this organization? Where did it originate? When was it formed? What are some of the tenants of its doctrine? How do its practices and teachings compare to Biblical teaching? Vile Affections Stating a tenant of belief on its website, the organization says, "We believe that everyone old, young, straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, physically or emotionally challenged, rich or poor, sure or unsure, lost or found, Democrat or Republican has a place in the body of Christ." How does this doctrine compare with Biblical teaching? The leadership of the UCC proudly proclaims that it is progressive and enlightened. It may be that they are as the apostle Paul described "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22). In Romans 1:26-27, Paul stated, "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in diemselves that recompense of their error which was meet." Later in verse 32, the apostle said of those who condone such actions, "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them." Paul told us that God gave these people up. "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:" (verse 24). There is no reason to go 1 / 5

2 further in discussing these activities. The inspired apostle informed us of God's position and judgment on such. Male and Female Relating to the news release above, the decision of the UCC and its General Synod 25 to advocate same sex marriages was just a matter of time in coming. The denomination has been headed that way since the 1970s. But, to do so, the synod had to ignore what God established and Christ taught. Christ said, "Have you not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?" (Matt. 19:4-5). This is the order set by God. A marriage is a lifetime union between one man and one woman. No other model is authorized, mentioned, or hinted anywhere in God's Word. In the letters to Ephesus and Colosse, the apostle Paul spoke of husbands and wives (male and female Matthew 19:4). The husband is referred to as "he" and his." The wife is "she" and "her." Paul never spoke of same sex partners. They were excluded. That exclusion is not permissive. Such unions are excluded as a part of God's plan for marriage. The recent action by the UCC is nothing more than a group of men and women putting pseudo-religious sanction on an activity that God called vile and dis-honorable. Baptism A UCC website, states, "When we baptize you into our (my italics) community, we promise that we will never take it back-no matter what you discover about yourself or what others discover about you along life's journey. We believe that baptism places each of us into the 'body of Christ' and lasts forever. Some are baptized as infants, others as adults. Some are sprinkled. Others are immersed. Some reclaim their baptism from a previous church life."several observations need to be made about this statement. First, their baptism is into "their community." I assume they can make decisions concerning entrance into their own organization. However, the baptism of the New Testament church calls for us to repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38). We have to change our lives. We cannot continue in the same vile state as before. Romans 6:1-2 says, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Further, the Lord adds to the church "such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). The statement of itself suggests that there are some who 2 / 5

3 being baptized will not be added to the church by the Lord. The UCC emphasis on baptism and baptism alone is faulty. Through Peter, Christ said, "Repent and be baptized." It is his church, his body. He determines who will be added and rejected. Second, the UCC accepts any man's form of baptism. The New Testament form is "immersion, submersion and emergence" (Vine). The apostle Paul likened it to a burial in Romans, chapter 6. Philip and the eunuch "went down into" and "came up out of the water in Acts, chapter 8. Sprinkling is not an option in the New Testament. Yet, the UCC, like many others, has decided that it is acceptable for entrance into their community. Third, the UCC accepts infant baptism as so many denominations do. Yet, the New Testament tells us to believe and be baptized (Mark 16:16). Acts 2:38 tells us to "Repent and be baptized." Infants can neither believe nor repent. Also, baptism is for "the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Infants do not yet have the capacity to sin. Commandments On the UCC website under a heading called "Spiritual Guidance," the following statement is made. "It's not about commandments. It's about relationships." Clearly, the UCC is not very concerned about our responsibility to do what Jesus commanded. Jesus saw it differently. He commanded his disciples to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:" (Matthew 28:19-20). The apostles faithfully preached and faithful men recorded what Jesus taught them. Those precepts have been left for us to follow, to obey. Jesus said, "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:9-10). This is the relationship that matters. It is based on love and obedience to God and Christ. History The UCC presents itself as the successor of the reform movements beginning around It claims roots in the Pilgrims, Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Reformed Church (Calvinist), Evangelicals, Methodists, and Disciples of Christ (Christian Church). The UCC sets its establishment as 1957 when the Evangelical and Reformed Church united with the Congregational Christian Churches. 3 / 5

4 The "community" proudly displays its history as participants of the Boston Tea Party and the saving of the Liberty Bell. The website often extols the desire to be the first to implement change in their religious realm. As examples they claim the first woman pastor, the first openly gay minister, the first to welcome gay, lesbian, and bisexual members, and now the first to openly endorse same sex marriage. They describe themselves as a progressive denomination. The website promotes the UCC as having a tradition of learning and scholarship, citing a connection to the establishment of Harvard and Yale. Listed as doctrinal guides (they say"testimonies") are such man created documents as the Apostles' Creed, Ni-cene Creed, Luther's Small Catechism, Hudelberg catechism, Christian Principles, Evangelical Catechism, UCC Constitution, UCC Statement of Mission, and the Presbyterian Catechism. I cite these UCC traditions in an effort to contrast the UCC with the church of the New Testament. Christ promised to build his church. After the Day of Pentecost, we easily find a church established to which the Lord added those who should be saved. We see its doctrine. We see its head Christ. We see its organization. We see its role mission. We see the terms of entrance. We see what is acceptable Christian conduct, and we see what is not. We see the body of Christ. We see salvation there. I do not see the UCC in the New Testament when Christ established his church. If you will be honest, you don't see it either. By their own admission, their "community" is based on the traditions of men, i.e., councils, synods, and prior denominations of all persuasions. By their own admission, the organization is less than fifty years old. The UCC claim that Christ is the head of their organization is erroneous and fallacious. It stands convicted by its own statements and pernicious actions. P.O. Box841, Princeton, Texas RELATED...In response to the UCC General Synod meeting mat voted to support samesex marriage brother Frank writes of, an AP release relates that as many as 25 United Church of Christ (UCC) congregations have made a decision to separate from the denomination. Among other things, members had been asked to oppose efforts to define marriage as between one man and one woman. For the "Rev." Michael Halley, minister of Suffolk Christian Church in Suffolk, Va., 4 / 5

5 the move was enough for members of his congregation to vote to leave the UCC. "Whatever they do, we have to wear," he said. "If we carry the name out front, people are going to associate us with whatever actions our national church body has taken." If Mr. Halley is correct in the foregoing (and he is), then when we carry the name church of Christ" out front, we also have a responsibility to conduct ourselves accordingly-in worship and in Christian living. That needs to be learned by many. 5 / 5