Introduction

I realize that the question I pulled out of the “question jar” for this week had to do with Baptist doctrine in regards to the Church of Christ. However, I choose to call it Biblical doctrine instead of Baptist doctrine. This is because I want it to be known and clearly understood that we do not go to any Baptist traditions or anything like that for what we believe- we go to the Bible.

As part of my study, I went to the website for the United Church Of Christ (UCC). I figured it would be the best source of information as to what their doctrine was. I decided that the best way to go about this was to point out where their doctrine goes against what Scripture teaches or where one part of their doctrine contradicts another part of their doctrine. With that in mind, let’s get started.

I. The basis of their doctrine

a. The UCC says that their doctrine is based on:

i. The Bible

ii. creeds, confessions, catechisms and other statements of faith

1. Notice a couple of things:

a. Most of these creeds either do not match up correctly with what the Bible says or they contradict something else that the UCC says it believes.

b. In a section of the UCC’s website that talks about “Principles Of The Christian Church”, this statement is made: “The Holy Bible is a sufficient rule of faith and practice.” Doesn’t this sound like a contradiction to you?

c. In the Barmen Declaration, one of the other statements of faith that they use, you will find this statement: “We reject the false doctrine that the Church could and should recognize as a source of its proclamation, beyond and besides this one Word of God, yet other events, powers, historic figures and truths as God's revelation.” This is yet another contradiction.

2. II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that Scripture alone has all that we ever need.

b. One one of the main pages of the UCC’s website, you will find this statement: “The best way to learn about the United Church of Christ is to visit one of our local congregations. Because the UCC is a union of several Christian traditions and each congregation governs its own affairs, you will find a diversity of worship styles and theology in our church.”

i. In other words, each individual UCC congregation can choose what they believe and don’t believe from the Bible and the creeds/confessions/statements of faith that they use. It changes from congregation to congregation!

ii. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Christ has never and will never change. So, there should be no diversity or changes in theology from congregation to congregation.

II. They are very ecumenical

a. Their statement of faith contains this statement: “Believing that denominations exist not for themselves but as parts of that Church…” This is one of the basic principles of ecumenism. Even though different denominations teach different doctrines, we are all supposedly part of the same church.

i. However, Scripture teaches us that there’s only one way to Heaven! (John 14:6)

b. The UCC says that one of its goals is to “heal the divisions in the body of Christ” They use John 17:21 as their basis for this.

i. The UCC means this as a “bringing together” of different denominations, otherwise known as ecumenism. However, in this passage, Jesus was talking about the unity of believers- those who accept Him as their Savior.

c. Another statement you will find on the “What We Believe” section of their website is: “The unity that we seek requires neither an uncritical acceptance of any point of view, nor rigid formulation of doctrine.”

i. The Bible is very clear and “rigid”, so to speak, when it comes to doctrine! This, however, leaves no room for “diversity of theology”.

d. One more troubling quote from the “What We Believe” section of their website is: “…we are free to believe and act in accordance with our perception of God's will for our lives.” Add to it this quote from their “Principles Of The Christian Church”: “The right of private judgment and liberty of conscience is a right and a privilege that should be accorded to and exercised by all.”

i. In other words, they believe that God’s will is what you think it is. Ecumenism is easy to defend if you believe this.

ii. However, II Pet. 1:20-21 says that nothing in Scripture is of any “private interpretation”. God meant what He wrote and wrote what He meant.

III. The Catholic Influence

a. The UCC tries to say that they differ from the Roman Catholic church. However, let’s look at some direct quotes from the various creeds/confessions/statements of faith we mentioned earlier.

i. “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church” (The Apostles’ Creed)

ii. “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church” (Nicene Creed)

iii. “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church” (Heidelberg Confession)

iv. “we hold to the unity and catholicity of the Church of Christ” (Kansas City Statement Of Faith)

v. “Affirming our devotion to one God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our membership in the holy catholic Church, which is greater than any single Church and than all the Churches together;” (Preamble to the UCC Statement Of Faith)

b. Notable Catholic doctrines

i. Baptism = forgiveness of sins

1. “We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” (Nicene Creed)

2. Quotes from the UCC Website concerning baptism:

a. “Baptism is not merely water, but it is water used according to God's command and connected with God's Word. ”

b. “It effects forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and grants eternal salvation to all who believe, as the Word and promise of God declare.”

c. “In Holy Baptism God imparts the gift of the new life unto man, receives him into his fellowship as his child, and admits him as a member of the Christian Church.” (Evangelical Catechism)

3. This is why the Catholics have what they call “holy water”. Note this quote from the UCC Website: “It is not the water that produces these effects, but the Word of God connected with the water, and our faith which relies on the Word of God connected with the water.”

4. They use Mark 16:16 to support this false doctrine. However, they take it out of context- the entire verse is not used. If you finish the verse, you’ll find that the believing is the essential part- not the baptism.

5. Baptism has NOTHING to do with salvation. It is only a picture and a testimony of what happens when a person gets saved. (Romans 10:9-10, 13) (Ephesians 2:8-9)

6. Acts 8:35-38 gives a specific example of the fact that salvation has to come before baptism. Baptism had nothing to do with the salvation of the Ethiopian eunuch.

ii. Infant Baptism

1. On the UCC website, you’ll find the question asked, “Should infants, too, be baptized?” Note the answer: “Yes. Infants as well as adults are in God's covenant and are his people. They, no less than adults, are promised the forgiveness of sin through Christ's blood and the Holy Spirit who produces faith. Therefore, by baptism, the mark of the covenant, infants should be received into the Christian church and should be distinguished from the children of unbelievers. This was done in the Old Testament by circumcision, which was replaced in the New Testament by baptism.”

2. Why is this wrong? An infant cannot, until their mind develops enough to exercise their free will to choose Christ as Savior, be saved. Until that “age of accountability”, they are under the protection of Christ. Scripture teaches that baptism is a picture of what happens at salvation and has no special meaning whatsoever. Why baptize infants?

iii. Sacrament of the Eucharist is necessary for salvation

1. The Eucharist, according to Catholics, involves the belief that the bread and the wine become the actual body and blood of Jesus. (Also known as “Holy Communion” or “The Lord’s Supper”)

2. Notice this quote regarding Communion/Eucharist: “…life and salvation are given to us in the sacrament”

3. Again, Scripture teaches us that there’s only one way to Heaven! (John 14:6)

iv. Confession of sins to someone other than God

1. Here’s a quote concerning confession of sin: “…we receive absolution or forgiveness from the confessor as from God himself…”

2. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, as believers, to come to God ourselves! We don’t need a “confessor” for anything.

Conclusion

The UCC will tell you that they believe that we must trust in the work of Christ alone for salvation. They don’t. They will claim that they are not like the Roman Catholic church. They are. The truth is that, with the UCC, there are no absolutes. Everything is subject to our opinions or interpretations. That is most definitely NOT what the Bible says. Don’t be deceived by them!