Teachings of Bebington ULC

The Apostles' Creed

The beliefs of Bebington ULC are based on the Apostles' Creed. The Apostles' Creed The basic creed of Reformed churches, as most familiarly known, is called the Apostles' Creed. It has received this title because of its great antiquity; it dates from very early times in the Church, a half century or so from the last writings of the New Testament. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. *The word "catholic" refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Difficult Questions

It is clear that no one interpretation of the scriptures has enjoyed universal support over the 2000 years since the birth of Jesus. The teachings and practices of the early church, the Catholic Church, the various Orthodox Churches, Celtic and Coptic Churches, the Anglicans, Calvinists and modern Evangelicals have offered a very wide and often bafflingly various number of routes to God and we consider it unlikely that any one of these has a monopoly on the truth. We assume that all these traditions have something of value to offer (perhaps some more than others) and that different approaches may be able to appeal to different individuals. This does not mean that there is no objective truth, only that humans may be too limited to attain it in its purity.


One reason to believe that we have not yet reached a full understanding is that there are so many difficult questions of doctrine and apparent contradictions in the Bible. A full understanding would leave no room for such difficulties and doubts. As in science, where unresolved issues can be the key to advancing our knowledge, so in religion it seems likely that the resolution of these contradictions will reveal a greater appreciation of the truth in the process.


Some difficult questions on which Bebington ULC is reluctant to pronounce with any certainty include:


How much of the Bible is LITERALLY true?

How much is it necessary to believe to be saved?

What is the status of Old Testament teaching?

What is the relationship between works and faith?

What is the fate of babies who die young?

What is the fate of people of other (monotheistic) faiths who have lived good lives?

Are the works of unbelievers of no value to their salvation?

Will there be any judgement for believers?

How can original sin be explained?

Did God foresee the fall of mankind?

What is the origin of evil?

What is to be understood by Hell?

Are some people foreknown to damnation?

What is the correct teaching on predestination and grace?

Can personal responsibility be reconciled with psychological and genetic determinism?

Why are Christians not always qualitatively more moral if you can 'tell by the fruits'?

Visitors to our on-line ‘congregation’ may wish to use the Message Board to share their views on these issues.

Personal Morality

Moral Teaching The ULC teaches that it is up to each person to decide for themself what is right. At Bebington ULC we acknowledge that on many issues it is impossible to be dogmatic but we believe that there are objective moral standards (however difficult at times to be certain of what they are) and that we have been provided with guidance in the form of the Bible. The Ten Commandments offer an excellent guide to living a moral life: Have no other gods Do not make idols Don’t take God’s name in vain Keep the Sabbath holy Don’t murder Don’t commit adultery Don’t steal Don’t give false evidence Honour Parents Don’t covet Jesus summarised these in the form of Love God Love thy Neighbour Further guidance on personal morality is provided in passages such as ‘Neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God’. (1 Cor 6.9) ‘But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’ (Rev 21.8) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Gal 5 18-24) It is vital to remember that when we disapprove of some one’s conduct we should condemn the sin and not the sinner. Any reproof should be offered in a spirit of humility and love. we should recall the warning - ‘Judge not that ye be not judged’ and the admonition that ‘he who is without sin’ should ‘cast the first stone’. A scene from Dante's Vision of Hell

Beliefs of the ULCCF

The following is a basic statement of beliefs and principles of the Universal Life Church Christian Fellowship.

We believe that there is one God, whose nature is love; revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy Spirit of grace; that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. He came in the flesh, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.

We believe the authenticity, genuineness, and inspiration, of the Holy Scriptures; that both the Old and New Testaments contain the revealed will of God and that the Bible is the supreme written authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

We believe that holiness and true happiness are inseparably connected, and that we should do that which is right, and strive to maintain order, and practice good works, for these things are good and profitable to all people.

We believe that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.


The ULCCF has the following to say about the ULC itself:


“It should be noted that while the ULC is not strictly a Christian ministry because of the non-restrictive nature of the two tenets, nevertheless, the ULC has done, and is still doing, a great service for Christian ministers.

Note too, that because of the non-restrictive nature of the two tenets, the newsletter which the minister may periodically receive from the ULC, may contain viewpoints, in expression of the freedom of religion, that may be considered non-Christian. These should be taken positively for what the actually are; expressions by an individual (regardless of who the individual is) and not negatively as the viewpoints of the ULC itself, as a whole. These expressions can be used as a learning tool to test and increase the Christian faith and virtues in that they show how one can go far and yet be far wrong ... according to Christian doctrines. These viewpoints should be taken in this respect and not as an opportunity to lash out at the individual or the ULC. The benefits of legal ordination for the minister far outweigh such individual viewpoints.”