The United Church of God is a very legalistic non-Christian cult. It is an offshoot of the Worldwide Church of God founded by Bob Dick and David Hulme in 1995 with headquarters in Milford, Ohio. An unknown number of members form this church. They claim to base their teachings on the original church that “Jesus founded in the first century.” But no further information is given on what this means or how they can base their teachings on such an assertion.

Like many other cults this one denies the Trinity and the true divinity of Jesus Christ, requiring baptism and strict adherence to the commandments in order to be saved. Another serious unscriptural teaching is that the wicked unsaved are not alive in hell but are annihilated. The Bible clearly teaches that there is a literal hell.

The predominant teaching of the United Church of God is that there is a “God family” which anyone can become a member of by keeping the Law. Jesus considered one of two divine beings and the Father is the second being. The Holy Spirit is considered only a force or power of some sort, but not the third Person of the Trinity and by their beliefs can only be received by the laying on of hands.

Members of this church are required to keep the Sabbath and observe certain festivals. Eating any type of  “unclean” meat is forbidden. The rejection of military service is also a basic tenant of the church and idea of bearing arms for any reason is rejected. Conscientious objections to refuse military participation, is encouraged.

The one thing that they do understand is the pre-millennial teaching of the Bible. The United Church of God believe and teach the personal, visible, pre-millennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule the nations on earth as King of kings and will continue His priestly office as Lord of lords. At that time, He will sit upon the throne of David. During His thousand-year reign upon the earth, He will restore all things and establish the Kingdom of God forever. But since they convolute who God actually is, one is left wondering how they think this accurate pre-millennial teaching really fits into their warped requirements for salvation and living.

It is important to keep in mind that very often within cults, some true biblical doctrines can often be properly adhered to, but then a whole slew of untruths are also mixed. This is very common and one should be very careful and mindful that just because a few teachings jibe with Scripture does not mean the rest of the group’s doctrines are correct. In fact they are usually very far from true biblical doctrine.

Resist any involvement with the United Church of God. It is a church that has reinvented most of the Bible’s teachings and added their own ideas. This method of worshiping a fictional god will leave members confused and suffering from an unattainable salvation by works. Only Christ’s blood atoning sacrifice can cover sin and fully redeem us. This church teaches a false God, a false Christ and a false gospel.

The United Church of God has a media presence on the Internet, television, facebook and promotes these publications: World News Prophecy, Vertical Thought Magazine and  The Good News Magazine.

“Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”  –1 Timothy 4:1

A Christian Scientist is a member of The Church of Christ, Scientist (also referred to as CCS). The church is also recognized by the term: The Christian Science Church as its original title and is not in any way associated with the Church of Scientology. CCS has a Board of Directors with headquarters at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, also often called, the Mother Church. The CCS has approximately 2,300 churches in 68 countries. [1]

Mary Baker Eddy is the founder of this controversial religion and church (1879). In her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, she wrote, “The material blood of Jesus was no more efficacious to cleanse from sin when it was shed upon ‘the accursed tree,’ than when it was flowing in his veins as he went daily about his Father’s business.”

Christian Science teaches that the death of Jesus Christ for sin was a “man-made” theory, and that Jesus was alive in the tomb, demonstrating the “power of Spirit to overrule mortal, material sense” (Science and Health, p. 44). Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Christ was not crucified … Jesus, being the man who possessed the Christ consciousness, was the one who went to the cross and who appeared to die.” [2]

According to the theology of Christian Science, the Bible only appears to say that Jesus died on the cross and His body was laid in the tomb. The Christian Scientist dogma teaches that Jesus actually never died, but was in the tomb denying death’s reality. Confusing, to say the least. This metaphysical interpretation of Christ’s true identity and sacrifice is a core teaching.

Another example: “Adam was not an actual person who was created by God and fell into sin. “Adam” means error; a falsity; the belief in “original sin,” sickness, and death; evil; the opposite of good.” [3]

Since Christian Scientists do not believe that sin is real, and see no need for salvation in Jesus Christ. But then they create a Christian teaching of salvation based on works – and totally contrary to even their own teachings, a salvation through victory over suffering and temptation.

Are we confused?

The quotes cited are only one brief examples of how Mary Baker Eddy grossly twisted biblical truth to create a nonsensical diametrically opposed movement — that to this day takes hundreds of thousands of followers away from the God of the Bible and into the realm of dark forces. Her book,Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures continues to be used as the group’s textbook.  She also founded the Christian Science Publishing Society (1898), which continues to publish numerous periodicals including The Christian Science Monitor(1908) with Christian Science Reading Rooms around the world where one can read the deceptive teachings of Mary Baker Eddy.

The same dynamics are prevelant in this organization as in most other cults. The Deity of Christ is denied, as well as every other basic tenant of true biblical Christianity. The Word of God is rewritten and spiritualized into something that is as far from biblical Christianity as you can get. There is nothing Christian or scientific about the claims Christian Science adherents make. Christian Scientists have created biblical interpretations that are allegorical, metaphysical, completely opposite of the true Word of God. Yet they tell the world that they are Christians and that they use the Bible as a basis for their theology. That extreme misnomer is exactly what causes the biblically illiterate to engage in biblical corruption.

Their teachings are spiritualized to the point that the physical realm no longer exists. A basic teaching within this religion discourages medical treatment as illness is considered an “illusion.” Ironically, Mary Baker Eddy suffered from chronic illness throughout her life. One must ask, was it an illusion when she was suffering from pain? .

As with all cults, there is usually one person who claims to get a special revelation from “God,” in this case, Mary Baker Eddy, and then a new gospel very different from the biblical gospel is created and the claimant of these revelations becomes the leader of the group attracting members to spread a new gospel “truth” which is always a bundle of attractively packaged lies that appeal to human pride.

Satan’s inscriptions are all over this movement. The details of the doctrine may differ from other cults, but the same message prevails that the God of the Bible is a fraud and the teachings of people like Mary Baker Eddy are superior.

Stated on a Christian Science website, notice the incredibly misleading introductory greeting:

“We are a global family committed to following the inspiring, practical, healing, and transforming Christianity which Jesus taught. This includes embracing the world, each other, and you.”

It is evident that Jesus did not teach what the Christian Scientists teach. If a person is seeking to learn about Jesus, the statements above could be the very hook that reels someone in to learn the false teachings that are presented in such a friendly and innocuous way.

The Christian Science group denies every basic Christian teaching. On a positive note, some former Christian Scientists are making great efforts to educate those who are entrapped in the cult. They have a website dedicated to this endeavor: Christian Way – Former Christian Scientists for Jesus Christ: http://www.christianway.org/.

Endnotes

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Baker_Eddy

[2] Christian Science, Craig Branch, Watchman Fellowship Profile, 1997

[3] Funk & Wagnall’s Encyclopedia;