The United Church of Canada is a very liberal organization that has questioned the deity of Christ, His resurrection, and virgin birth. It rejects the Bible as being verbally inspired by God. They face “a stunning 18-per-cent free fall in United Church membership” (MacLeans Magazine, Dec 1997 a great article describing a trend that has continued since then). It sees itself as an organization for important social issues (like this past summer’s stand against bottled water), that is tolerant (except for conservative stands on theology and social issues), and open minded.

In light of all this, the United Church of Canada has launched a new advertising campaign. They have a number of controversial ads that they hope will provoke thought and discussion. They cover a number of areas such as parenting, homosexual marriage, how fun sex should be, the Bible, and Jesus.

Here is one of them:

“Want to explore your spirituality in a place that is as open-minded as you? Drop by wondercafe.ca and join in the discussion.”

So I did.

Here is my first post on their Bible forum:

This ad boils down to the question “Did God really say…?”

People have been asking this question for a long time. In fact, it is the oldest trick in the book. Literally.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1

Satan used this question to plant doubt in Eve’s mind about the authenticity of what God had said. “Did God really say??” She chose to believe Satan rather than God.. with disastrous results. This is a question of the authority and authenticity of God’s Word. Satan has been using this same trick throughout the ages, and now The United Church of Canada is now asking us.. “Did God really say?”

If the answer is yes:
then my disagreement is irrelevant. He is God and I am man. He is the perfectly loving and perfectly just Creator of me and everything else. If yes, then the Bible is God’s Word to man and we must accept the whole thing. If God said it, then our opinion must change to conform to His Word. We can’t change or disregard portions of His Word that do not conform to my opinion.

If the answer is no:
then the book is pointless and so is the church. Go find a secular social club to hang out in because the church has no authority and has nothing to offer but man’s opinions that are constantly changing. There are no real answers and everything truly is relative.

There can be no middle ground. No half and half. As unpopular as it may seem to this age of “tolerance”, it is either yes or no.

2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

I say yes, God really did say..

There have been a few responses and I have posted more replies to their forum over the last few days. I really don’t know why anyone would bother to attend a service at the UCC. It seems so… empty.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People… having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5

end rant.