Beware of So-Called Inclusive Churches

by Matthew Pasalic

I recently received an invitational flier through the mail from Immanuel United Church of Christ in Catonsville, an “open and affirming congregation.” I read the brochure in its entirety and I would like to take this opportunity to provide some discerning analysis and reflective questions in response to what this church is affirming.

The emphatic question, “Are you looking for an inclusive church?” appeared in bold print followed by four declarative statements about the church. The first assertion indicated that the church welcomes and honors the “participation of all folks regardless of race, gender, economic status, and sexual orientation.” This is another unfortunate example of sexual orientation being amalgamated with the identity of race, gender, or economics. Perhaps this is a surreptitious invitation to homosexual offenders in the name of inclusion. Would this congregation eagerly extend the same invitation to persons of even more licentious lifestyles to include people who practice pedophilia and bestiality? What about persons who willingly engage in extramarital copulation or fornication? I certainly would not want to leave my children under the “child care” of any of the aforementioned individuals. The Apostle Paul exhorts believers not to associate with others who profess Christianity but willingly live in sexual immorality among other unrepentant sins (1 Corinthians 5). The fact that an increasing number of churches encourage people to come and be accepted for their sexual perversion sans true conversion is most repugnant to orthodox Christianity.

The second statement on the flier states that “we teach that the Bible is God’s holy, living Word that need not be taken literally in order to be taken seriously.” While I do not believe that every single word written in the Bible is to be interpreted literally, it should be understood that the very way it was written is how it should be deciphered. The Bible contains many parables, allegories, and metaphors and while this does not undermine the authenticity of the Word of God, it actually serves to strengthen it. Therefore, my response to the statement from the Immanuel United Church of Christ is: How can Scripture be taken seriously if none of it is to be taken literally?

“We think that good, faithful people can have honest differences with each other and still be united in Christ’s love” is the third tenet. This statement has some truth to it if it is referring to Christian people, however, denominations continue to develop and increase over differences in the faith regarding numerous, challenging issues. There has to agreement among Christians regarding the imperative doctrines of the faith to maintain unity. I do not fathom how Christians can disagree about an issue such as the ordination of homosexual clergy and still be “united in Christ’s love.”

The fourth statement declares that “we know that the church is not a perfect place, but we strive to practice God’s language of love in worship, service, and speech.” Many of the progressive churches of our era talk so much more about God’s unconditional love and compassion while conveniently forgetting about His wrath (Romans 5:9) from which His people are saved. A careful study of Romans 9 reveals that God chooses to have mercy on whom He wants to have mercy. He loved Jacob, but He did hate Esau. It is disillusioning that some professing Christians have the notion that God’s love is omnipresent and unchangeable, accepting everyone for who they are without any consequences for wrongdoing.
The brochure further indicates that “informal worship begins at 10:30” and that “dress is casual.” If the worship is informal, why have an official time to begin the service? Tragically, the liberationist movement has de-emphasized the necessity of formal worship. I prefer to dress properly out of respect and dignity when I attend church regardless if it is increasingly unpopular in America.

Finally, the flier contains the church’s contact information, including the female pastor’s name, who was surprisingly identified by the formal title of reverend. The ordination of women serves as another rebellion to God’s authoritative Word, the Bible ( 1 Timothy 2:12). In summary, I thank Immanuel United Church of Catonsville for the informative invitation to their inclusive church, but I tend to believe that my view of traditional Christianity would not be openly affirmed nor would I want to think of myself as included.