Bible-believing pastors and churches organized the American Council of Christian Churches (ACCC) in 1941, with Jude 3 as its theme text. Jude’s initial desire was “to write…of the common salvation,” but something else was required: “. . . it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (verses 3 and 4).
The ACCC was formed to be a voice of Biblical Christianity and to encourage and strengthen believers in their stand for the Truth. Churches, organizations, and individuals wanted an organization that was completely separate from all trends and tenets of liberal (apostate) theology. No church or individual can be a part of the ACCC and at the same time be connected in any way with the National Council of Churches (NCC) with its liberal theology, ecumenical apostasy, and leftist socio-political agenda. Neither can one be a part of the ACCC and be associated with the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), which is noted for its compromise, confusion, and inclusion of Charismatics.
The ACCC is multi-denominational—not inter-denominational. Accordingly, one of the wonderful things about the ACCC is that no one surrenders his distinctives when he identifies with it. All true Bible-believers can in good conscience stand together in the ACCC for the historic Christian Faith.
The ACCC is a council and not an association. This means it is issues-oriented. We come together as a multi-denominational group to deal with issues that affect all of us who are Bible-believers. We gather around common causes, and we join to battle common enemies of the Truth.
The apostle Jude mentions “the faith.” This term refers to the Faith as a body of revealed truth from the Lord. Among the fundamental doctrines of the Faith are: the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture; the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, substitutionary blood atonement, His literal bodily resurrection, and His Second Coming “in power and great glory.” We as Bible-believers also affirm that the Scripture teaches separation from unbelievers and erring brethren. Doctrinal purity is critical to the work of God. Therefore, when we see error we must draw attention to it. That is what the ACCC has done and continues to do. As changes come in church groups, educational institutions, and mission agencies, we must expose error and compromise—even if it is not the popular thing to do.
It is easy for individuals and churches to think they stand alone in the battle for the Faith. We must understand that there are churches and individuals all across our land that have not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). The ACCC exists to encourage Bible-believers to obey Christ. We need to stand together to expose Liberalism, New Evangelicalism, the Charismatic movement, and compromise in all areas of life and ministry.
Since 1941, the ACCC has held tenaciously to the historic Christian Faith. With God’s enabling strength, we shall continue to stand “for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9).