Oh boy.
Chills, I tell you. I got chills.
Not really.
The UCC's campaign isn't a campaign and it isn't edgy. It's just blasphemy and biblical ignorance.
Here it is in the UCC's own language:
God is Still Speaking, the identity campaign that branded the United Church of Christ in a distinctive way and helped define its progressive voice in the faith community, is getting an upgrade/refresh in 2016. In fact, the UCC launched the pilot phase of Still Speaking 2.0 on Dec. 1 in anticipation of a full rollout after the first of the year.
“We are asking what the new edge is for the United Church of Christ,” said the Rev. John C. Dorhauer, UCC general minister and president. “It is clear that the brand still works, but we are all using the same language that we have used for 10 years. In addition, the edge 10 years ago was clearly built around commitments to ONA and marriage equality.” But since the world has changed and marriage equality is the law of the land, Dorhauer says the UCC is working to identify what now sets it apart. "So, what’s our new edge?"Jesus Christ. That's the edge. Jesus. He is everything and He is all you need. Jesus is the premier Person in the entire Universe, He is what sets anything apart. His Gospel is the edgiest message ever proclaimed on the face of the earth. The world hates it. Living for Christ and proclaiming His Gospel is the edgiest you can ever get. Unless it's blaspheming His word. [see below]. That's really living on the edge.
Here is an ad from the UCC campaign:
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. (Revelation 19:18-19)
But obviously the UCC does not read their Bible. Here is UCC's new, 2016, freshly edgy ad:
As my Twitter friend Tara at @AMamasWisdom said of the above ad, "sorta scriptura".
Tara nailed it. The above ad is blasphemous. What it's saying is that the Bible is nothing more than a flawed guide to life. By the way if it is occasionally wrong, who decides which parts are wrong and which parts are right in it? Man.
In my growing up days of the wild 1960s, there was a cultural revolution led by that generation's youth. Peace-love and all that. Their mantra was "Don't trust anyone over 30." It was a ridiculous statement but it made a crazy sense at the time.
Well it's another crazy time. There are so many fake "churches" calling themselves churches, it makes me want to say "Don't trust anyone calling themselves a church." Not really but, man, it's rough out there. If UCC leadership as a whole promotes these as their doctrinal statements regarding their denomination, (and they are) we can safely say that any Christian should stay away from the denomination as a whole. Erase them from your list as a church entirely.
My message to you is this: anything can happen regarding church life, and it will. Don't stick with a denomination just because it has been your family's tradition. Don't stay in a church that obviously points to man (like the one above) and does not point consistently and correctly to Jesus. When visiting churches, be very careful. Sentiments like the one the UCC expressed are more and more common now, not just uttered from a fringe guy marginalized through church discipline, but these heresies are mainstream and widespread doctrines held by entire denominations as their Church Distinctive. Or, "brand".
Hold your Bible in high regard and let your children see you studying it, quoting, it, and living it. In a crazy world, the word of God is the ONLY anchor that we can trust.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16)