The Creed
I am often asked what drives my faith. I love to listen how others profess theirs. I try not to judge or determine a right or wrong with how they do it. I mean, if it works for them, well..... GREAT!! I mean isn't that kind of what the Pentacost was all about?? People speaking in different tounges to proclaim what the Lord is about. Personally, I believe thats why there is so many denominations. If one thing fit all, we'd all be democrats, or republicans. But one thing doesn't fit all, so were Baptists, or Church of Christ, or non-denominational, or Catholics.
My family is Catholic. Me, I'm a non Catholic. Now don't get me wrong, I go every week to St Pauls Catholic Church and listen to the sermon and pray with them. I've been doing it for 16 years. We just don't see eye to eye on a couple of things thats all. My friends ask why I don't go somewhere where I can be a member? Well being a member of a denomination is not important. Loving Christ is!!
So why do I go there every week. Well, my family goes there for one, but the most important reason is after the sermon, or Homily for all you Catholics (see, I don't fall asleep....), the congregation stands up and says the most beautiful and complete summary of how we should live our Christian life. If I could pick one small summary of faith, this would be it. Its called the Nicene Creed, and it goes like this:
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father. God of God, light of light, true God of true God. Begotten not made, one in being with the Father, by whom all things were made. For our sin and for our salvation he came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Sprit, he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man; for our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered, died and was buried; on the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the Prophets. We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."
Now before people say "We don't believe in one Catholic church!!". Note that catholic is not capitalized. Before it became associated with a denomination catholic meant universal, as in "We believe in one holy universal and apostolic church". Try that.
I love this creed. It's a simple summary of what the Christain belief is. And Lord knows..... I need simple.
My family is Catholic. Me, I'm a non Catholic. Now don't get me wrong, I go every week to St Pauls Catholic Church and listen to the sermon and pray with them. I've been doing it for 16 years. We just don't see eye to eye on a couple of things thats all. My friends ask why I don't go somewhere where I can be a member? Well being a member of a denomination is not important. Loving Christ is!!
So why do I go there every week. Well, my family goes there for one, but the most important reason is after the sermon, or Homily for all you Catholics (see, I don't fall asleep....), the congregation stands up and says the most beautiful and complete summary of how we should live our Christian life. If I could pick one small summary of faith, this would be it. Its called the Nicene Creed, and it goes like this:
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father. God of God, light of light, true God of true God. Begotten not made, one in being with the Father, by whom all things were made. For our sin and for our salvation he came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Sprit, he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man; for our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered, died and was buried; on the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the Prophets. We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."
Now before people say "We don't believe in one Catholic church!!". Note that catholic is not capitalized. Before it became associated with a denomination catholic meant universal, as in "We believe in one holy universal and apostolic church". Try that.
I love this creed. It's a simple summary of what the Christain belief is. And Lord knows..... I need simple.
posted by Brad Bachelor at 4:02 AM
2 Comments:
You are right, catholic was in lower case letters until the church began to be challenged about being authentic over the years by who we call heretics or what became Protestant churches. It still means universal - open to all people based on the holiness of the Holy Spirit and grounded in the Apostles and Fathers of the Church, whose teaching authority is passed through the bishops and the pope - whether they are good or bad in their actions.
I'm glad you attend Mass and whatever other activities your family goes to. I know you have a prayer life. The point of the whole thing is not just to believe in God or loving Christ. That's just basics. Being part of the group is like being part of a family - you give life and receive life from the members and bring the family's presence in the world according to the family values. You represent the family, church, group and use the strength of the group for your life and the life of others. Believe as you will, I'm glad you are attending with your family. That Creed is part of our backbone. We preserve those beliefs as imperfect as any one of us are or any of our leaders are or have been. The real power and life comes when you are part of it all. Blessings on you.
Well Brad,
I just discovered that your name on my blog is link underlined and I said "WHAT THE....."
I'll be around here all the time because I so much enjoy you over my way.
I gotta run to church now!
Take Care!
YEE HAW !!!
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