The Berryville church of Christ is not the United Church of Christ
Recently many have seen in the media and other news outlets that the United Church of Christ denomination has openly endorsed homosexual marriage. There has been some confusion that the United Church of Christ is affiliated with the churches of Christ. The leadership and members of the Berryville church of Christ would like to make it known that we are in no way affiliated with the United Church of Christ denomination. The United Church of Christ was started in 1957 as the result of a merger between two previous denominations, the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Church.
In contrast, the church of Christ first started when Peter and the other apostles preached the first gospel sermon as recorded in the Bible in Acts 2; and 3000 souls were added to the church (see Acts 2:41,47). The beginning of the church was in fulfillment of the promise that Jesus made in Matthew 16:18 regarding building His church. Paul would later address all of these churches as the churches of Christ ( Romans 16:16). The Berryville church of Christ claims to be no more or no less, in doctrine, practice, and organization, than the churches that were established by the apostles as directed by Jesus in the first century. Our identity is firmly rooted in the pages of the Bible, not in a man-made creeds, confessions of faith, synods, conferences, or any other authority constituted by men. The Bible alone is the sole standard for Christian doctrine and conduct ( 2 Timothy 3:16,17).
Since our authority is God's word, the Berryville church of Christ upholds everything in God's word including God's teaching regarding homosexuality and marriage. In Romans 1:26-28, the apostle Paul teaches that those who practice homosexual behavior sin and do not retain God in their knowledge. Jesus taught in Matthew 19:1-12 that marriage was to be between one man and one woman for life. He said, "Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" ( Matthew 19:4-6). Moreover, the Bible teaches that those who behave otherwise will be judged ( Hebrews 13:4), unless they repent ( 2 Peter 3:9).
The members of the Berryville church of Christ also believe that while man's sins are terrible, that God desires man to repent and obtain forgiveness of these sins through Christ ( Acts 3:19). We would be happy to study with anyone regarding God's plan for man's forgiveness and salvation.
Posted in: Authority, Bible Lessons, Church, Sin