American Council of Christian Churches
82nd Annual Convention, October 24–26, 2023
Faith Baptist Church, Kittery, Maine
Resolution on the Convention Theme: “A Holy God, A Holy Church”
The Lord God is holy, majestically transcendent above all He created (Isa. 57:15), pure and righteous in His nature and works (Hab. 1:12-13). Because there is none like Him (1 Sam. 2:2) and His name is holy and revered (Ps. 111:9), angels continually confess and praise His holiness with awe and reverence (Isa. 6:1-4).
If one truly sees the Holy One, he will bemoan his sin and recognize his woeful standing (Isa. 6:5). Most of humanity, however, reproaches and blasphemes the thrice-holy God through their idolatry (Hab. 2:18-20), immorality (Amos 2:7), rebellion (2 Kings 19:22), and dependence on material strength and numbers (Isa. 31:1).
Sadly, much of Christ’s church refuses to reflect God’s holiness. Professing Christians are conformed to this world. Church leaders desire honor and glory for themselves and their organizations. Some tolerate, promote, and partner with sin and false teaching. Worship services are oriented toward entertainment and mindless repetition or are characterized by inattention and irreverence. Churches have many programs but little prayer; much human effort and innovation, but not true revival. Faithful gospel ministry is supplemented with or replaced by social effort. Unholy churches profane the Lord rather than revere Him, compromise His truth rather than contend for it, and defy His commands rather than obey them.
The Lord Jesus Christ—who is holy and true—exhorts, rebukes, warns, and encourages His churches (Rev. 3:7). Christians must perfect and pursue holiness (2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 12:14). Believers must have a reverent faith in Jesus Christ, exclusively loving, obeying, and worshiping the Holy One, to whom they will give an account (Prov. 9:10). Churches must glory in His holy name (1 Chron. 16:10), worship Him in the beauty of His holiness (Ps. 29:2), declare His truth (Ps. 43:3), expose and be separate from evil deeds and teaching (Eph. 5:11; 2 John 7-11), and offer prayer through their holy High Priest (Heb. 7:26) accompanied by holy lives (1 Tim. 2:8).
Therefore, the American Council of Christian Churches at its 82nd annual convention, October 24-26, 2023, at Faith Baptist Church, Kittery, Maine, resolves to reverently bow before our holy God, grateful for the blood of Christ that enables us to stand in His presence (1 Pet. 1:17-19; 2:5). With Moses and the children of Israel, we confess, “Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exod. 15:11). We determine to be holy as God is holy in our individual lives and public worship (Ps. 96:9; 1 Pet. 1:13-16). We will be separated to our holy God and from alliances with unbelief and compromise (2 Cor. 6:14-18; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14). We urge churches to trust only in the Lord, obeying His holy commands (2 Tim. 3:14-15). We warn those who deceive and defile Christ’s holy church that God will destroy them (1 Cor. 3:17). We ask those who deny and disdain the Holy One, “Shall not His excellency make you afraid, and His dread fall upon you?” (Job 13:11), warning them of their coming judgment from a holy God if they do not repent (Rev. 15:4). Finally, we rest on and find our confidence in the Lord God, the Holy One, our Redeemer (Isa. 30:15; 41:14).
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