by Brad Gsell, President

May 2023

The International Council of Christian Churches (ICCC) came into being in 1948, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, as a council of Bible-believing churches which stands without apology for “the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9). In that same year, in the same city, the World Council of Churches (WCC) began, but it had a far different agenda. It was comprised of many churches that had long forsaken the faith of their fathers, for a new Modernistic gospel, which was in direct conflict with the Scriptures. The stark difference between these two organizations has become abundantly more clear in the intervening years.

The ICCC has proved to be a wonderful expression of Christian unity, cooperation, love and fellowship among many Bible-believing churches and Christians around the world. Particularly at the world congresses, held every three to five years, the sweet fellowship has been described by some as the closest thing to heaven they have experienced on this earth — as Christians gather in one place, from every part of the globe! The love of the brethren, based on the truth of the historic Christian faith, is a wonderful thing, and is described in the Scriptures. The ICCC also gives faithful churches around the world a platform to stand united for the truth of God’s Word, and to declare it to the world. Indeed seeking to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission to preach the Gospel to every creature is our common joy and focus.

However, not all that are called “churches” are faithful and true. As stated in the Preamble to its Constitution, the ICCC affirms that “the commands of God to His people to be separate from all unbelief and corruption are clear and positive.” Such passages as 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1 present this very clearly:

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Jude 3 tells us: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, 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.” The ICCC and its member churches take the Scriptural commands to warn of error and to defend the faith as part of every Christian’s duty.

The ICCC View of the Church

The ICCC is NOT a church. It has no authority to administer baptism or the Lord’s Supper, or to conduct church discipline. Each member denomination handles all of these matters in accordance with Scripture. Of course, the ICCC has a duty to make sure that all member churches and organizations adhere to its Preamble and Doctrinal Statement, and conform to the Scriptures in practice.

There are many, many blood-bought Christians and faithful churches around the world which do not belong to the ICCC or its respective denominations and their congregations. The ICCC stands in opposition to any move to try to build a one world church, and any attempt to dilute doctrine for the sake of physical unity. We reject any grandiose aims of such groups as the World Council of Churches to be “THE voice” of global Christianity. No earthly organization may arrogate that claim to itself.

The ICCC is a multi-denominational organization, which includes Bible-believing Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists, Lutherans, Anglicans, independent churches, and others. Those in each respective denomination must adhere to the ICCC Doctrinal Statement, but are free to hold and teach their fuller particular systems of doctrine with complete conviction and sincerity.

The church is not the arbiter of truth. That authority is reserved to the Word of God alone. In Christ’s high priestly prayer, He says to the Father: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). 1 Timothy 3:15 tells us that “the church of the living God, [is] the pillar and ground of the truth.” The church is not the truth, but is to uphold and obey it. Instead, many churches and their leaders have placed themselves above the Scriptures, making their own decrees and tradition to be preeminent. 

What churches belong to the ICCC

The ICCC stands upon the Scriptures, including the great doctrines brought into high relief in the Protestant Reformation. It rejects Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and all such churches which depart from Biblical Christianity.

The ICCC also has never included Pentecostal or Charismatic churches, because these groups often hold that there is extra-Biblical revelation in prophesying, speaking in tongues, and so forth. The Reformation principle of sola Scriptura is adhered to by the ICCC — that all that is needed for faith and practice is to be found exclusively in the Scriptures.

Evangelical Disobedience and Compromise

Sadly, some evangelicals in the United States and elsewhere have taken a different position. Using human reasoning, they have decided that it is better and will bring more influence if they “infiltrate” the churches and other so-called Christian institutions, instead of separating from unbelief, as the Scriptures command. Men such as Billy Graham, Harold John Ockenga, Carl Henry, among many others, started such organizations as the National Association of Evangelicals, Fuller Theological Seminary, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Christianity Today.

When men and churches start to compromise, they very rarely move closer to the Truth. This can be seen in much evangelical compromise and capitulation. Today such groups as the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) work very closely with the WCC, and even have WCC leaders on their important committees and commissions. Likewise, WEA leaders serve on committees and commissions of the WCC — together with Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox leaders. The ICCC asks these evangelical leaders the simple questions of Scripture: “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” and “What part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”

Instead of taking a clear, separated position for the Scriptures, many “evangelical” churches and charitable organizations maintain membership in the WEA, through regional associations, and such organizations as the World Reformed Fellowship. The fact that some of these organizations are said to “do so much good” is not a Scriptural justification. Psalm 127:1 tells us: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” In 2 Chronicles 19:2, Jehu boldly asks King Jehoshaphat “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD?” Sadly, these disobedient brethren, in their violation of the Scriptures, prevent us from being able to join in working with them. We recognize them as brothers in Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:15), yet call on them to reverse course. The ICCC longs to see the day when such should take place and we can fellowship and serve closely together with them in obedience to Christ.

The words of the great missionary Hudson Taylor are never more true than they are today: “Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” Someone else has said, “God’s work must be done in God’s way in order to receive His blessing.” Human reasoning and pragmatism, with their resultant compromise, are a tragic substitute for obedience to God’s Word.