Vic Kubik has a message up to the faithful of UCG as they head into another conference where doctrines will be discussed and discussions on how to reinvent the UCG in order for it to be an effective and robust ministry.
What brings success, particularly in a world turned upside down by a pandemic? When businesses, organizations and even sports teams face dramatic change and upheaval, new opportunities appear. New strategies and focus are developed and put into action. Core principles remain unchanged, but tactics—how things get done—can be refreshed, re-energized and put forth with renewed power.UCG believes it has held fast to core principles that they have inherited from the mother church. Funny, I know!
We in the spiritual Church of God are no different. While holding fast to our core spiritual principles, we prayerfully and effectively use the tools that God gives us. We continuously look for ways to improve.
UCG believes that with the COVI-19 pandemic that people will soon be flocking to find faith. That may or may not be true, but they certainly have no need to look towards a COG for that.
This is even more so when we see dramatic changes in how people perceive the authority and relevance of the Bible. People who believe and follow biblical principles have declined, especially in the pre-COVID-19 times. As the Bible predicted, scoffers replace believers in greater numbers. As a result, what we teach and how we live will stand out more and more! (Matthew 5:14)UCG is looking forward to reshaping itself into something significant and impressive, something that 25 years has yet to accomplish.
What does this mean for us in the United Church of God? As we commemorate a quarter of a century of learning, growth and progress as a fellowship, it remains absolutely critical that we continue to individually and collectively surrender ourselves to God. As a body of disciples, we must continuously develop and lay our plans before Him (Proverbs 16:3). We must always be seeking to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) in the most effective way possible.
Now, as we move forward—as a fellowship humbly seeking to know and do the will of God—we have an opportunity to rededicate ourselves through God’s precious Holy Spirit living in us. It is time to deeply consider what Paul wrote: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2, New Living Translation, emphasis added throughout).
UCG loves to look back in awe at the past when they were part of the mother church. The church was growing, millions reached through literature and the voice of the church "thundered across the globe." Yet in 2220, UCG is a little blip in the grand scheme of things. No one seems to know who they are, no matter how hard they try.
People wanted answers, and many believed that they could be found in the Bible.
In those days, the Bible widely held deep respect. And the voices of the Church of God thundered across the globe in multiple languages. Millions listened. Some took it to heart.
But then events changed. Fear of nuclear war faded. Today, even as we deal with a globe-girdling pandemic, leaders foolishly dare to mock God openly. As deadly COVID-19 cases begin to decline, we heard a major American governor presumptuously declaring, “God did not do that. Faith did not do that.” An astonishing indifference toward the Bible has grown.
It is in this world that we must do the work that God has given us.
UCG hs suffered horrendous upheavals in the church, thousands left to join other groups and people still are leaving today. Yet they consider themselves a "vibrant" fellowship. A fellowship that began with deception with power-hungry men eager to maintain their paychecks.
As we collectively look forward beyond our first quarter of a century as a vibrant fellowship, what is next? We know that God has blessed us, and that God is with us.They equate their apostasy from the mother church and the current upheavals in the church as "spiritual" growth into unity.
Throughout the nearly 2,000 years of the spiritual Church of God, disciples of Jesus Christ have experienced the full spectrum of highs and lows, growth and apostasy, division and unity. But thank God that Jesus Christ, our Standard and the living Leader of our fellowship, is “the same yesterday, today, and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8). When we follow God and put Him first, we grow together in unity
In the immediate days ahead, this world faces tremendous uncertainty about national economies, about the potential lasting impact of the coronavirus, about increasing tensions and conflict. This world needs the truth of God more than ever!
With that in mind, consider this fact: in the days before A.D. 70 and the calamitous destruction of the Second Temple, the 1st century Church of God faced tumultuous times.
Back then, Jude, a younger brother of Jesus Christ, had to warn brethren “to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people” (Jude 3, NLT).Even though it is just one more wimpy Church of God, blinded by the dream that they are doing some fantastic work.
Toward the end of the first century, the multi-national assembly of God shrank to small groups, but—as Jesus prophesied (Matthew 16:17-19)—the spiritual Church of God continued, as it will until the day Jesus returns to this earth!Kubik then makes this astoundingly absurd comment:
So, fast forward some 1,900 years. To the shock of thousands in the early 1990s, belief and teachings that had been carefully researched, gleaned, recovered and restored from the Bible and safeguarded for decades AGAIN came under attack.Carefully researched? Six months in a public library with "theology" books from the late 1800's to around 1930 by a man who was not working to support his family does NOT produce a sound theological system or understanding. UCG has NOT safeguarded anything. Seriously, how absurd is that?
The United Church of God, an International Association, was then humbly founded as a fellowship to follow and safeguard these teachings, holding high the banner of the Bible. Today we are linked together in unity, bonded by these precious truths.UCG also believes they are the only ones "holding high the banner of the Bible." Apparently, the millions of Christians around the world who take scripture seriously and are doing wonderful things for the world around them and ignorant fools. UCG believes the work these people do is insignificant to the amazing work UCG does.
Now, as we look forward, as much of humanity turns its back on the precious truths of God—even in the midst of pandemic—we all need to be filled with zeal for God’s truth. We must again yield ourselves to God and renew our choice to “think differently,” to repent, to be zealous and on fire for the truth of God. It is time to renew and re-energize ourselves.UCG members have been lackadaisical over the years in supporting the work of UCG, but now they have a renewed chance to make a difference as they give more money.
Even better, since they are the most amazing Church of God ever, they stand out for all the world to see.
Think on this! Each one of us holds personal responsibility in supporting and fulfilling the Great Commission. Because of who and what we are, we will naturally stand out. Sometimes that can make us uncomfortable—but we must courageously embrace that feeling of discomfort!
We understand the incredible human potential of God and Jesus Christ bringing sons and daughters to glory in the Kingdom and family of God! (Hebrews 2:10)Kubik then goes on to list articles of faith for UCG members.
The first true article of faith is to believe that God exists, and that God rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). We in the Church understand that salvation is a gift, that by grace we are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8). But we also hold the enlightened understanding that real faith energizes and produces good works! (James 2:21-26)Most of Christianity understands this. Kubik is now coming to this understanding?
These good works must include fulfilling the Great Commission, with our deeds being a living example of God’s way of life in action.After 25 years, UCG is finally realizing that the methods that they have been using to get their word out have not been working. It is time to reinvent themselves and impress us all! No one has been paying them any attention. Boring programs on cable. Boring canned sermons in church and yet they think they are marching forward with an effective and decisive gospel to preach.
As we seek to rededicate ourselves, we must honestly examine how we can do things better. As an organized fellowship, we must examine the formats and platforms that we use to teach. Our messages—from personal example, to television, to the pulpit—need to be convincing, compelling and challenging. While our core truths cannot and must not ever change, we can change how we conduct our lives and our outreach to effectively and decisively preach the gospel.The world has gone mad and the UCG thinks they are going to fix it. They need to start with the Church of God that has gone mad, across the board, with one self-appointed upstart after another. They will never have an effective message until they clean up their own cesspool.
We must proclaim the truth to a world going mad, and we must ask for the strength and insight to do it boldly with conviction, commitment and courage!
