Americana83’s Blog

Suppose you walked into a bookstore. Upon looking around, you see that the shelves are lined with cereal, vegetables, breads and other things you would expect to see in a grocery store. Puzzled, you ask a sales associate where the books are. He says, “Why, there right there,” gesturing to the rows of produce, cereals and vegetables.

Such will be your experience if you try to find the truths of Christianity in the United Church of Canada(UCC), though such was not always the case. Today’s  UCC retains some of the forms of Christian worship, but has replaced the Bible with the knowledge of this world

    This statement does not seek to replace the Twenty Articles of Faith included in the United Church’s 1925 Basis of Union. The Twenty Articles have historical significance for the church, being an expression of the theological agreement negotiated among the founding denominations, which allowed significantly different bodies (the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist denominations and the Local Union Churches) to come together as one united church. -  Appendix A

However, it does. Those original Articles of Faith are basically the fundamental truths of Christianity. The new ambiguous  “Statement” of Faith merely views the Bible as “one truth” and Jesus as “a way.” The foundation of the United Church of Canada was undeniably and exclusivly Christian in nature:

We receive the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, given by inspiration of God, as containing the only infallible rule of faith and life, a faithful record of God’s gracious revelations, and as the sure witness of Christ.  - Article 2

Compare that to these exerts from the “Statement of Faith(SOF)”

    The statement employs and honours the traditional image of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), but also offers other images, such as Mother, Friend, Comforter, Source of Life, Living Word, Bond of Love. Words are a significant means of understanding and relating to the Holy, and the statement of faith recognizes the adequacy of all images or metaphors that speak faithfully of “the One on whom our hearts rely.” However, the first designation of God in the statement of faith, that of Holy Mystery, serves as a reminder that all subsequent attempts to name the Divine are simply that—attempts to describe a reality that is always greater than human language can encompass.    At times the use of inclusive language demands a certain amount of “verbal gymnastics” or awkwardness of phrasing, and perhaps this is not a bad thing. It reminds us that the object of worship is ultimately God and not our images of God. - SOF, Appendix B

The use of multiple genders and awkward verbal gymnastics only serves to transform the personal identifiable God into a new age androgynous deity of whom nothing can be known or understood. Essentially a form of monotheistic polytheism, whereby any and all images of god become God. If they sincerely wanted to know the names of God, all they would have to do is consult the Bible. Anything that creates confusion about God’s indentity is a bad thing. Changing the words of the Word of God is a bad thing(On a side note, one can see very evidently the change of not only words, but also meaning in Eugene Peterson’s terrible so-called paraphrase “The Message”).

     The United Church, in its use of scripture, exhibits an approach that seeks to take the Bible seriously, but not literally. Biblical study and interpretation in the United Church often take into consideration scripture’s historical context, its literary value and function, the diversity of voices and perspectives being represented, and the voices not being represented.  - SOF, Appendix D

The new SOF also attacks those who would take Biblical scripture literally in the main body of the “poem.” (This form presents an awkward expression for a Faith Statement, but given the current confusion of truth in the United Church, it is understandable).

 The Spirit judges us critically when we abuse scripture
by interpreting it narrow-mindedly,
using it as a tool of oppression, exclusion, or hatred. - UCC SOF Poem

Mat 7:13-15  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  (15)  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Scripture is narrow, it proclaims Christ is the only name under heaven whereby man must be saved(Acts 4:12). It would be hard pressed to use scripture honestly interpreted for oppression(The Bible does state that the worker is worth his wages Matthew 10:10). The Bible does call the truth to be preached in love. The person who views the Christian rejection of same sex “marriage,” abortion, gender identity as hatred, has either met some false brethren, or has not stopped to examine the Bible’s message. The Bible has much to say about the sanctity of life and marriage. The Bible proclaims that truth is to be preached in love (Ephesians 4:15). The UCC proclaims that Love is to be preached at the expense of truth. In its earnest desire for social and political relevance, the UCC has changed its foundations. It attempts to be a church for all faiths united in diversity under different gods, and even the lack of God altogether.

The wholeness of scripture testifies
to the oneness and faithfulness of God.
The multiplicity of scripture testifies to its depth:
two testaments, four gospels,
contrasting points of view held in tension— UCC SOF poem

Compare that to the view in the Articles of Faith from the UCC’s founding:

We receive the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, given by inspiration of God, as containing the only infallible rule of faith and life, a faithful record of God’s gracious revelations, and as the sure witness of Christ.  - Article 2

The Gospels complement each other, not contrast. The harmony of the Bible, inspite of its being written over the course of centuries by princes and paupers, global rulers and clergy, prophets and lawyers in 3 languages and several countries is simply miraculous. For thousands of years the scriptures have stood. More early manuscripts and witnesses attest to the accuracy of the books of the Bible than any other, and many newer works.

 So in short, if you live in, or plan on visiting Canada and you want to go to a Christian church, do not go to a United Church. They are a church preaching the broad way and forsaking the narrow way of Christ. In addition to my studies of their Faith Statements, from personal experience, I can attest that the United Church preaches nothing of the Bible. The one service I attended while on vacation in Canada was nothing other than singing a few songs and witnessing some bizzare meditation about finding “something” at the end of one of three paths.