Midweek Musing- 11/6/24

Recently an online worship visitor asked me about the use of the Apostle’s Creed in our church service. They had grown up in a tradition that did not use creeds and frankly had little structure or liturgy in their services at all. This conversation gave me the idea of doing a series of Musings that focused on some of these creeds and confessions.

Now creeds and confessions are intended to serve as foundational elements in the life of Reformed churches, including the Presbyterian Church (USA). These documents do more than articulate a set of beliefs; they knit a theological and historical tapestry that informs, shapes, and sustains the community's faith across time and generations.

At their heart, creeds and confessions serve the purposes of clearly defining and uniting the community of faith. They define and sometimes push the theological boundaries within which the church community operates, clarifying doctrines and summarizing essential beliefs that differentiate their understanding of God, the church, and its call to the broader world.

For example, a creed like the Nicene Creed (which we will look at deeply in this musing) captures basic Christian doctrines that are accepted across denominational lines, emphasizing the church's universality. 

Confessions, such as the Westminster Confession of Faith, delve deeper into specific theological nuances, offering a detailed map of Reformed theology that addresses issues such as church governance, the sacraments, worship, and how we are to live.

These texts also unite the church by providing a common language.

In the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Book of Confessions, which houses multiple creeds and confessions, functions as a living document, reflecting the church's ongoing dialogue between past wisdom and present context. This collection allows for a plurality of voices from different times and places, all contributing to a vibrant, ongoing theological discussion that helps the church navigate contemporary issues in light of scriptural truths.

 Denominations like the Presbyterian Church (USA) uphold creeds and confessions not as required rules but as tools for learning, worship, and service.

Creeds and confessions are educational in that they help congregants understand the biblical foundations of their faith, providing a framework for teaching and discipleship. 

In worship, these texts are often recited communally, reinforcing the shared faith experience, and reminding each member of the wider body of Christ to which they belong. 

Regarding our service through outreach and mission, creeds and confessions guide the church's actions and stances in the world, helping to guide its work based on theological understandings.

As we take a few weeks to look at some of these creeds and confessions, my hope is you will see how these documents have not only formed the Presbyterian tradition but also how they continue to inspire, challenge, and equip believers to live out their faith by helping to point people to the Kingdom of God in ever-changing world.

The first creed I want to explore is the Nicene Creed. It is one of the most influential statements of the Christian faith. The creed was created from the work of the first two ecumenical councils of the Church: the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and the First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD.

And this particular creed, like many we will be examining, was really a response written to address early church controversies that threatened the unity of the early Christian Church, most notably Arianism.

Now if you are like me and had forgotten about Arianism, here is a brief history. It is named after Arius, a priest from Alexandria, who disputed the nature of Christ's divinity. Basically, Arius argued that Jesus Christ was not co-eternal with the God (the Creator) but was a minor subordinate being (sort of a minor god.)

This view challenged the accepted understanding of the Trinity and the full divinity of Christ. This argument raised fundamental questions about the Christian faith.

Because of this heated argument, Emperor Constantine called the First Council of Nicaea to address this growing dispute. Constantine feared a split in the church. The resulting creed affirmed the full divinity of Jesus the Son of God, stating that Jesus Christ is "of the same essence" with the Father, directly countering Arianism by emphasizing the eternal, nature of the Son of God and affirming the trinity.

But it didn’t end there…

The creed was later expanded at the First Council of Constantinople to further develop the sections on the Holy Spirit and the Church, responding to ongoing debates about other heresies. This final version is today’s Nicene Creed.

The Nicene Creed serves as a foundational expression of the Christian faith. It summarizes key doctrines about the Trinity, affirming the divinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons of one substance—this theological mystery is fundamental to the Christian faith. It also affirms the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, laying a doctrinal foundation for understanding God's plan for the redemption of humanity all while pointing to the promised day of God.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets.

And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Friends, this short 5 paragraph document helped form the earliest beliefs of the growing church. And even to this day it remains a vital part of worship in many Christian denominations where it is recited as the confession of faith each week. Yes, even a few Presbyterian Church do it weekly instead of the Apostle’s Creed. Perhaps, I might do that one Sunday and really wake you up.

Either way, this statement is a gift from the Great Cloud of Witnesses who came before us, and I give thanks both for them and this statement that helps folks see God and God’s love.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Alleluia Amen.