Let’s get something clearly understood now. So-called “progressive churches,” and “progressive Christians,” are NOT Christian. They may take that word and apply it to themselves, but they do not abide in or align themselves with God’s Word.

Let’s stop pretending such churches and individuals are disciples of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Hamashiach, and discern well and wisely. Rightly dividing the Word of God and judging all things. Yes, judging is required and needed. Stop being so accommodating of sin and false doctrines, false teachers, and the corruption of the church.

So-called churches may be open and have people attending them, but what takes place in these places, and in the hearts, spirits, souls, and minds of those in attendance, is alien, against, at enmity with the contents of the Holy Bible, the inerrant, infallible, UNCHANGEABLE, eternal, living and active Word of God.

Wake up. Speak up. Discern well and wisely. Get spiritual wisdom and understanding, and stop fearing, judging what is of God and what is of Satan, and call things as they truly are. Stop adopting, accepting, and accommodating sin and calling it “Christian.”

What has transpired within the so-called church in decline in these last of the last days, turned to the world, worse than Laodicea, is not the exclusive domain of the so-called United Church of Christ. What has been taking place, the wolves entering in and these places becoming anything but holy, reverent, born again, teaching the whole Word of God is now the norm in America, throughout Western nations.

The end is near.

if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 Timothy 4:1-5

And certain women have crept in…

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:4

Read on…

Ken Pullen, Sunday, May 17th, 2026

Welcome To Progressive Worship & The Gospel According To Abba

May 16, 2026

By PNW Staff

Reprinted from Prophecy News Watch

VIDEO LINK

There was a time when churches trembled at the thought of mishandling worship. Pastors debated hymns, liturgy, and doctrine because they understood something modern churches increasingly seem to forget: worship is not primarily about creativity, relevance, or emotional experience. It is about the holiness of God.

That is why many Christians were stunned to learn that Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ recently hosted what it called “The Gospel According to ABBA Worship” on May 3 — a church service built around the music of the Swedish pop group ABBA.

According to reports and clips circulated online, the service featured ABBA songs woven into what church leadership described as worship. Even more troubling to many believers was the reported language used during prayer, invoking both “holy father” and “holy mother,” reflecting the increasingly gender-fluid theology embraced in many progressive denominations.

Pastor Megan, one of the church leaders associated with the event, reportedly mocked critics who questioned whether secular disco music should be used as worship music at all. Rather than expressing concern over backlash from Christians, she stated she took pride in receiving such protest letters.

That response reveals something much deeper than a disagreement over music style. This is not really about ABBA.

It is about what progressive Christianity increasingly believes worship actually is.

Can Christians enjoy ABBA music? Of course. ABBA produced catchy songs that millions around the world have enjoyed for decades. There is nothing inherently sinful about listening to such music, provided the lyrics don’t promote unbiblical values.

But entertainment and worship are not the same thing.

The Bible consistently presents worship as something sacred, reverent, and God-centered. Scripture warns repeatedly against blending the worship of God with worldly practices designed to entertain human desires. The issue is not whether ABBA songs are pleasant. The issue is whether secular disco hits about romance, heartbreak, and dancing are appropriate vehicles for glorifying a holy God during gathered corporate worship.

Many churches today seem unable — or unwilling — to distinguish between emotional stimulation and biblical worship.

And this latest controversy did not emerge in a vacuum.

The church is part of the United Church of Christ’s “Open and Affirming” movement, a denomination-wide initiative fully affirming sexual deviancy, sexual perversion, and sexual immorality ideology, same-sex marriage, and gender identity doctrines that directly conflict with historic Christian teaching.

The broader United Church of Christ has long been at the forefront of progressive theological activism. In 1972, it became the first Christian denomination in America to ordain an openly homosexual minister. In 1985, the denomination formally called for non-discrimination policies regarding homosexuality, and by 2005, it became the first major Protestant denomination to endorse same-sex marriage nationally.

But the theological drift did not stop there.

Across the country, numerous UCC congregations have embraced practices that many traditional Christians view as fundamentally incompatible with biblical Christianity. Some churches have hosted drag performances in sanctuaries. Others have replaced traditional biblical language for God with explicitly gender-neutral or feminine terminology. Still others openly question foundational Christian doctrines surrounding sexuality, sin, repentance, and even the authority of Scripture itself.

In recent years, examples have multiplied.

Some UCC congregations have celebrated Pride Month with drag worship services and “queer theology” events. Others have displayed pride flags prominently over crosses and communion tables. Certain pastors within the denomination have publicly argued that biblical teachings on sexuality are outdated cultural relics rather than divine revelation.

Again, this is not merely a debate about style.

Church history is filled with disagreements over instruments, hymn styles, and musical traditions. Christians can reasonably disagree over whether worship should feature organs, guitars, or modern worship bands.

But transforming worship into themed entertainment centered around secular pop culture is something fundamentally different.

The danger is not simply that churches become “too modern.” The danger is that worship ceases to be about God altogether.

Progressive churches often defend these events by claiming they help make Christianity more accessible, inclusive, or culturally relevant. But relevance has become a kind of false gospel in many churches — a constant pursuit of cultural approval at the expense of biblical fidelity.

The irony is painful. In trying so desperately to appeal to the world, many churches end up offering the world nothing different from itself.

If church simply becomes another concert venue, another social activism hub, another affirmation center, or another entertainment experience, then why would anyone seek it out for spiritual truth?

The early church transformed the world not because it mirrored Roman culture, but because it stood apart from it.

Christians should absolutely engage culture. They can appreciate art, music, literature, and entertainment without fear. But the gathered worship of the church is supposed to be set apart. Scripture describes worship with words like reverence, holiness, repentance, truth, awe, and glory — not irony, parody, or performance art.

What happened at this ABBA-themed service may sound amusing to some observers. But for many Christians, it represents something deeply sobering: a visible picture of how far parts of the modern church have drifted from historic biblical worship.

Because once worship becomes centered on pleasing people rather than honoring God, there is virtually no limit to where the church may eventually go next.

You can watch parts of the unfortunate service here to get a taste:

Watch the 2-minute and 39-second video here.