I was listening to a Rich Mullins song posted by my friend Kristine, based on the Apostles Creed. I remembered the great pride I had as a girl when I could, during the service at St. Andrews Episcopal Church at Ludwig's Corner in PA, recite this passage -- just like my grandma -- without looking at the prayer book. And the joy I felt when I truly understood the prayer, every word of it, particularly the catholic word which was a totally new concept for me, that of being one church not divided into denominations by God.
This prayer or recitation of faith has been around since Christianity was just emerging from the revelation of Messianic Judaism.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
these words from the song grabbed my attention
I did not make it, though it is making me.
And I took that as:
I did not write the creed but the truths contained in it are molding and developing me to be who God wants me to be.
I responded to a comment my cousin said to me
Faith is wonderful. Glad yours is strong even when tested.
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
these words from the song grabbed my attention
I did not make it, though it is making me.
And I took that as:
I did not write the creed but the truths contained in it are molding and developing me to be who God wants me to be.
I responded to a comment my cousin said to me
Faith is wonderful. Glad yours is strong even when tested.
I responded....I don't feel like it has been tested ...more like it has been strengthened.
And part of that strengthening comes from DEEP seated faith that was taught to me
looooonnnngggggg before I accepted Christ as my personal savior. I had no understanding
of that but I knew who Christ was.
I am.....Thankful Every Day that even people who didn't understand salvation on a personal
level still taught me biblical truth.
2 comments:
That is a powerful statement, which I recited in the Lutheran church, where I grew up. Funny how the modern evangelical church does not teach it or use it.
While I don't see myself returning to the Lutheran church, that was where I learned many of the basic doctrines of Christianity. Certainly there are gems to be found there even if we no longer consider ourselves part of the traditional denominations.
i love that we say this before communion at my church. and i love that we sing some of the old, rich hymns too. there is so much depth to some of the things that are considered "old". precious and very good food for thought!
*also, rich mullins did an amazing job on that song:)
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