November 30, 1997 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - Bill Phipps, new moderator of the United Church of Canada since August, denies that Jesus Christ is God. The denial, first published in the Ottawa Citizen, October 23, has been given wide publicity in Canadian radio, television, and newspapers. In a discussion with the Ottawa Citizen’s editorial board, Phipps made the following statements:

"I don't believe Jesus was God, but I'm no theologian."

"I have no idea if there is a hell. I don't think Jesus was that concerned about hell. He was concerned about life here on earth ... Is heaven a place? I have no idea."

"We've got enough problems trying to live ethically and well here, to have any knowledge of what happens after we die."

"Your soul is lost unless you care about people starving in the streets."

"I don't believe Jesus is the only way to God. I don't believe he rose from the dead as scientific fact. I don't know whether those things happened. It's an irrelevant question."

"…the bald statement that Jesus is not divine gives the wrong impression. I believe that Christ reveals to us as much of the nature of God as we can see in a human being ...The whole concept of the nature of God is broader and wider and more mysterious and more holy than could be expressed in Jesus."

The previous United Church of Canada moderator, Marion Best, applauded Phipp’s remarks, stating, "It's quite exciting to hear the United Church think like this." The church had always been a diverse denomination, she said. "He [Phipps] is moving us into a serious discussion of who Jesus Christ is" (Ecumenical News International, Nov. 26, 1997).

On November 10, Phipps "publicly apologised to church members who might have found their faith undermined by his comments, but he repeated his personal beliefs." He brazenly claimed that his faith is "well rooted in Scripture and Christian tradition" and added that "the strength of our United Church is its acceptance of wide-ranging viewpoints and encouragement of the lively exchange of ideas."

On November 22-23, the United Church of Canada’s 85-member general council discussed the matter and issued a statement expressing support for Phipps and rebuffing calls for his removal from office. The council urged church members "to listen to and respect the varying understandings of the faith within this United Church of ours" (Ibid.).

At a news conference on November 24, Phipps said that his views "are well within the theological mix of the United Church and have been for some time." He is correct in this. From its inception the United Church of Canada has been filled with "ministers" who deny or question the doctrines of the Bible, yea, who deny the very Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, by questioning His Deity, Virgin Birth, Miracles, Atonement, and Resurrection.

Mr. Phipps, and his many modernist friends in the various apostate denominations, pretend to be very pious, claiming that the truth of God’s Word cannot be sufficiently expressed in simple doctrinal statements. "The whole concept of the nature of God is broader and wider and more mysterious and more holy than could be expressed in Jesus," says Phipps. That is nonsense. The Bible says, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9).

WHO SAYS JESUS CHRIST IS GOD?

David called Him God (Matt. 22:43-45).
Isaiah called Him God (Is. 7:14; 9:6).
Jeremiah called Him God (Jer. 23:5-6).
Matthew called Him God (Matt. 1:23).
Christ called Himself God (Jn. 5:17-18; 8:58-59; 10:30-33; Rev. 1:8).
The angels called Him God (Lk. 2:11).
John called Him God (Jn. 1:1; 1 John 3:16; 5:20).
The blind man called Him God (Jn. 9:35-38).
Thomas called Him God (Jn. 20:28).
Peter called Him God (Acts 10:34-36).
Paul called Him God (Acts 20:28; Phil. 2:5-6; 1 Tim. 3:16; Titus 2:13).
God the Father called Him God (Heb. 1:8-10).

This study is from the Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity, copyright 1994, David W. Cloud, 1701 Harns Rd., Oak Harbor, WA 98277.