Unitarian Christian Church of America
We warmly welcome you to the UCCA. We believe we are a “faith whose time has come, indeed a faith for today.” Our aim is not to impose a specific belief but to unite with others to promote, educate, and improve a “way of living” in harmony and peace with everyone.
The world we live in is not what God intended for it to be. The old ways no longer work, nor are they relevant; it is time for an “awakening.” Our spiritual needs are unmet as we have evolved, creating a growing spiritual and moral void that must be addressed.
We invite you to join us in becoming the revival that awakens humanity into the next century and beyond. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. The time is right, the need is clear, and the answer is waiting.
Our Purpose:
Our Church is centered in our “Universal Principle”, thus, the UCCA declares and proclaims: “There is only one God, creator and sustainer of all existence, giver of life to all that lives. As God’s creation, we are to love and honor our God with every ounce of our being. When we purport to behave in a manner consistent with that belief, it is manifested by the unconditional love we have for, and the compassion we demonstrate to, all humankind and all creation.”
(Ref. Gospel of Mark 12:28-34)
Our Mission:
It is intended that the UCCA will become a common gathering place and a source of information, inspiration, and support for those who are considering or choose to become modern-day Unitarian Christians.
A Message for Today's World
We sincerely hope you'll find a comfortable and welcoming environment and new home here with us. When we come together, our goal is not to impose personal faith or judge honest individual differences. Instead, we strive to unite through our love for God and to live in truth, peace, and love for all humankind and all of God’s creation.
As our Platform may be unfamiliar to you, we invite you to take this opportunity to learn more about who we are and what we believe. The UCCA is genuinely committed to a “faith whose time has come, indeed, a faith for today.”
We welcome everyone who chooses to participate in living our Platform. Those who actively practice our Universal Principle embodied within our Foundational Beliefs and to the best of their abilities, live the faith we share as a way of life, not just a statement made when convenient or appropriate.
WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU
January 18, 2025
Matthew 4:4, But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
In this allegory about Jesus being tempted, we are too often caught up in the myth and awe of the story to do what Jesus and his followers would have done. They would have seen such a story for what it was, an example for all our lives as we face the temptations of evil and sin that surround us and fill our lives. Just as Jesus looked to God and his faith to guide his life, and, in the story, rebuked those temptations, we are to do the same. If Jesus can do it, so can we, if we don't see him as a supernatural "god-man" but instead as he was, just like any human being. He was an example for all to follow. Wasn't he?
In our story, we see Jesus tempted not just once but three times, and each time he stands on the teachings of righteousness that are the foundation of his message and should be ours as well. He faces the reality of what life is, or, if you prefer, how the story goes, as the devil offers it, and he sees it for what it is. He rejects it and replaces it with proper teachings, refocusing his direction to walk in "God's Way" rather than the temptations of the world. Do you?
Jesus is focused on living a life pleasing and acceptable to God, and in doing so, he gains the strength and wisdom to know when to say, "Get thee behind me, Satan," or, more correctly, "that is not the Godly way I choose." He rejected material goods and wealth to walk with God. He turned the world he lived in, marked by greed, selfishness, and the lust for wealth and power, around and said, "There is something more precious than gold, more needed than things; the choice is yours." Have you made it?
When I look at the world we live in, I envision us all wandering in a wilderness. Lost in our mad rush to the top of the ladder, the best neighborhoods, the next promotion, and the ever-lustful desire to get more and more, we don't stop long enough to look around and see the reality of how truly pitiful our lives are. We let go of our humanity, morals, ethics, and God-given compassion for others to feed our egos, satisfy our “wants,” and walk away from Godliness. And we learn nothing from the stories of old or the lessons Jesus and others taught because we choose not to. What choice will you make?
Like Jesus in the wilderness, each of us is wandering, lost, tempted on every hand, and faced with decisions. As you face yours, what will you do? Will you feed your greed, selfishness, and lusts? Or will you remember a story from long ago about a man offered the world and its rule, who said, “I will choose God’s Way instead?” He set himself aside, took God’s hand, and walked forward as an example for you to follow. That is a choice we each face: God’s way or your way. What will your choice be?
Matthew 6:33, But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
This is what Jesus did. Like others, he chose to live in a righteous way, in God's Way, rather than the way of the world. We spend our lives thinking that if we do this or that, we will have more, when all along, the first and most important possession a human can have is found within their heart. It's there from our birth, waiting for us to let it show us the way and awaken us into "God's Kingdom," into a life filled with unspeakable love and glory beyond our wildest dreams. If you want what God has for you, put that first and see what He has to offer. That's your choice to make. What will it be?
Romans 15:33, “May the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.”
Unless noted, Bible Quotes are from "New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition" (NRSVUE)
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
