GodReflection: I Believe.
In a previous post on I Believe, I looked at the concept of a creed, not from its “churchy” usage, but rather as a memory tool to help us know The Holy and how we are to relate to Father, Son, and Spirit. Although some fellowships of Christians post formal creeds. Many groups of believers are less formal. You can find their belief statements which declare commitments to Jesus, to Scripture, and to each other on their websites, in church bulletins and other spoken and written formats.
I have a bias toward the informal. I want to use creed in my vocabulary as a helpful tool to keep Holy values and expectations close to my heart. So here is what I think. A creed is nothing more than a statement of belief.
In a very personal sense, my view of creed is an aid to declare my own belief and commitment to The Holy—I believe. Therefore, my credal statements are directed by me toward me, rather than to determine who is in and who is out. I like to think of it as a self-directed elevator speech rather than as a formal document.
Mine might read like this:
I believe Jesus to be the risen son of Almighty God. Through faith repentance and baptism, I accepted his blood as cover for my sin so that I live restored to fellowship with God. Jesus fulfills his promise as he empowers me with his Spirit to be his light and salt in my world. I am no less than the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus to those whom God places in my path so that we all can live within His eternal kingdom.
I can use this credal statement as a compass to help me move toward The Holy. What would yours look like? How would you describe your own compass?
Mine takes every ounce of faith and humility I can draw from my soul to fulfill—obviously, I am not always successful. Often, after a display of arrogance and a lack of faith, I know immediately that I failed to live up to my belief. Worse yet, I fail the one in whom I believe. However, like the loving Father God is, He hurts when I fail, smiles with joy as I try again, and is proud when I conquer, and success is my lot.
When I get out of the way and let Jesus shine through, I suspect God smiles as I live by my creed. So, I return to where I started. Is it possible for creed to not be thought of as a “churchy” word but as a memory tool to help us know The Holy and how we are to relate to Father, Son, and Spirit?
Perhaps it can—if it is not used as a document of division and defense—but rather as a belief statement to recall who we are and more importantly, who HE IS, so that we can proclaim with confidence I believe!
How about it? Will you join me and write out your creed—remember it doesn’t have to be “churchy” rather it must come from your heart as you too declare I believe!
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on Thoughts on I Believe and My Creed.
God Reflection 
Thanks Gary for this reflection. I like your view of a creed as something to help me remember who I am, who God is and what I believe, rather than as a tool to decide who is “in” with God and who is “out”. I also though your own creed was well written and thought out. Thanks for sharing it. Que Deus te abençoe.
LikeLike