In an era when the world desperately needs clarity, conviction, and the uncompromising truth of the gospel, it is heartbreaking—and infuriating—to see men entrusted with shepherding souls turn the sacred pulpit into a platform for political theater. Such is the case with Caleb J. Lines, Senior Minister at University Christian Church in San Diego, who recently delivered a sermon dressed as Robocop in protest of the so-called “militarization” of federal immigration enforcement.

No, this isn’t a joke. It’s not an edgy skit from late-night TV or a satire piece from the Babylon Bee. It is a grown man—ordained and employed by a church—mocking law enforcement while preaching in a robot costume. The message? That ICE agents and federal border enforcement officers are somehow unchristian for doing the job our laws, and Scripture, clearly authorize them to do. And this isn’t just a silly stunt. It’s a tragic reflection of a church culture that has lost all reverence for God’s holiness and truth.

Caleb J. Lines is not some fringe outlier. He represents a larger trend of apostasy within the United Church of Christ (UCC), a denomination that long ago abandoned biblical orthodoxy in favor of progressive ideology. Lines proudly identifies as pro-choice, openly affirms every letter of the LGBTQ agenda, and denies the very foundation of the Christian faith. He has said the Bible is not divinely inspired. He’s denied the atoning work of Christ on the cross. He even dismissed the virgin birth as a myth.

In one sermon, he portrayed Jesus as a flawed man in need of correction—painting the Son of God as xenophobic and misogynistic until rebuked by a Canaanite woman. Another message painted Mary, the mother of Christ, as a pro-choice icon. These are not differences of interpretation. These are not theological gray areas. This is heresy. Open, unapologetic rebellion against the gospel once delivered to the saints.

And yet, this is what passes for ministry in some circles today.

Lines’ Robocop performance is more than embarrassing—it’s a window into a mindset that has inverted biblical justice entirely. Scripture is not unclear on matters of law and order. Psalm 33:5 declares, “The Lord loves righteousness and justice.” Romans 13 affirms that God established governing authorities to maintain peace and punish wrongdoing. Justice and order are not mere societal conveniences—they are reflections of God’s holy character.

Yes, Scripture commands compassion for the stranger and the foreigner. But that compassion is never divorced from truth. It is never a blank check for lawlessness. It does not excuse rebellion, and it certainly doesn’t justify turning the pulpit into a prop for political cosplay. Mercy without truth is just sentimentality. Compassion without justice becomes chaos.

Pastor Lines seems to have little regard for this biblical tension. In his world, justice is cruelty. Law is oppression. And love? Love is nothing more than tolerance for whatever sin the culture demands be affirmed next.

His sermon mocks federal agents—many of whom are fellow believers—who risk their lives daily to enforce our laws and protect the vulnerable. He offers no real solution to the pain and complexity of immigration—only theatrics, cheap applause, and a costume meant to stir emotions instead of hearts.

Let us be clear: this is not the gospel. This is not Christian love. This is the false gospel of cultural accommodation dressed in faux-compassion and political outrage. This is a wolf in shiny silver armor, preaching rebellion from the pulpit while masquerading as a messenger of light.

The Church must wake up.

We cannot afford to be passive while men like this desecrate the gospel and confuse the sheep. We cannot keep handing pulpits to those who deny the authority of Scripture, twist the teachings of Christ, and turn the message of salvation into a shallow activist slogan.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And yet, we see a growing number of so-called ministers with no fear of God, no reverence for His Word, and no desire to preach repentance or righteousness. Instead, they aim to entertain, to placate, and to reshape the gospel into something acceptable to the world.

But we were never called to be acceptable to the world. We were called to be faithful to the truth.

There is a time for compassion—true, Christ-centered compassion. There is a time for mercy—rooted in justice and truth. But there is also a time to draw a line. To say, “This is not of God.” And that time is now.

The gospel is not a gimmick. The pulpit is not a stage. And the Church must not be silent.