The Quiet Decision Of the United Church of Christ.

On July 4th, the United Church of Christ declared themselves open to gay marriage. On July 5th, the rest of the Christian world responded with a big yawn. For over 20 years, the UCC has supported every far left agenda imaginable. Their outward support of gay marriage was nothing more than their affirming of what we already knew about them. If the UCC wanted to surprise us, they would have voted to affirm Biblical authority in their church.

It should not surprise you that this denomination is shrinking in size. When you do not believe in anything, it is difficult for people to see a reason to join. The sad fact is that this denomination has a great Biblical history. The majority of UCC churches used to be Congregational Churches. The Congregational Church joined together with several smaller denominations to create the UCC. Early Congregationalists would be outraged at what has happened to their denomination. However, the new leadership is not interested in holding onto historical truth.

I do not want to spend much time discussing the topic of homosexuality or homosexual marriage in this post. That topic deserves a post all by itself. My views on these issues are complex. I am a Biblicist, so I must declare that the Bible calls homosexuality a sin. I must also say that the Bible calls lying a sin. I believe that many people, in the name of Christ, have been extremely unchristian to those who struggle with homosexuality. Homosexuals need to see Christ's love in the church, and then be shown how to repent.

The rest of this post will deal with my opinion of those who attend the United Church of Christ. In my opinion, there should be mass exodus on Sunday. However, there will not be, and it is not because everyone in the UCC supports gay marriage. People will stay for three reasons. Those of us who are not apart of the UCC, need to remember these three reasons. This will help guard ourselves from becoming like this in the future.

First, many in the congregation believe the lie. The laity have slowly and confidently been told for years that the Bible is not important. The leadership of the UCC have worked a brilliant plan to get their way. They knew if they taught homosexual ordination back in the 70's it would have never worked. The people would have rejected it soundly. So they slowly and confidently taught liberal theology to their people. They spoon fed them lies; little by little. They knew that eating an elephant must be done one bite at a time. If they showed their people their theology all at once, the people would have turned. So they have painstakingly taught the people, until the big lie could finally be accepted.

Second, many in the congregation are ignorant of what is going on. I believe that this is the majority. Most people do not care. This is sad, but the lack of Biblical fervency runs deep in many mainline denominations. They have placed their trust in the church, and they do not monitor what they have placed their trust in. The UCC is not the only church that has moved away from their Biblical heritage. The United Methodist Church has also embraced much of the protestant liberal agenda. John and Charles Wesley would be horrified at what is being taught under their banner. Martin Luther would start a war if he knew what was being taught in the Lutheran Church. The list of churches that have moved from their Biblical tradition is vast. The leadership of these denominations know this about themselves. They know that what they teach and believe is not what the church has traditionally taught and believed. However, the local church member is clueless. They do not want to know. They do not want to hear about it. They do not want to be challenged. They just want to set in their pew, like they have for years, and think they are doing something that pleases God.

Finally, there are those who know the truth, but out of tradition, will not leave. This is the saddest group out of the three. To know that God is not pleased, but still refusing to leave is beyond me. These people justify what is wrong to keep themselves in their Church. Their parents and grandparents are or were members of the church. There forefathers were the founders of the congregation. They allow their history and tradition to keep them in their pews. So they support what they know is wrong to justify their staying. Every member of the United Church of Christ should remember that every time they give money to their church, a portion of that money is going to support the leadership and their causes. It is hard to imagine how those who know the truth can justify their offering, but I know they will.

Is there hope for the UCC? Of course, if every Bible believing member of the Church demanded change; change would happen. However, I do not see this happening. The UCC is staunchly entrenched in protestant liberalism. The leadership has worked hard to move the congregation in this direction. They will not give it back without a huge fight.

My advice to those who are attending the UCC, and believe in the Bible, is to dust your feet at the door and leave. God expects obedience from his people. You must ask yourself if you can truly be obedient to God while setting under the teaching of such tripe. I guess some folks can learn to live with anything. I know that I am not one of those people.