CREEDS, Creeds, and creeds...

I never knew that there were so many creeds in Christendom. I grew up reciting the Apostles' Creed, and frankly, I tend to like that one quite a bit. It is concise, hits all of the major points (IMO), and has a beat so I can dance to it:) The Nicene Creed seems to get a lot of air time these days, but by the time I started hearing a lot about the NC, the AC was pretty well cemented in my thoughts and it was hesitant to any other creed that may usurp its place in my thoughts.

A couple of years ago in a burst of enthusiasm for all things traditional, I accepted copies and study guides of the Westminster and Heidelburg catechisms. I was going to work my way through one or the other catechisms and the Apostle's Creed with my children. After reading through the long and the short versions of the W & H, I decided to take another route.

Please do not take my irreverance in my tone as disdain for the content. I think that both catechisms and creeds can serve a wonderful purpose. My dislike comes when the content, which is systematically put together by man (or men), subjugates God's Word. I tend to think that if God wanted a catechism or creed, then that is what He would have given us. He did not, so I think of them more like Cliff Notes, not the actual Work.

What happens when the answers to the catechism questions are just answered by rote or the creeds are being recited in the same fashion week after week without any heart knowledge of what is being said?

It was in this environment that I came across the Athanasian Creed while studying the Trinity. I really like this creed. Do I know it by heart? Nope. Will I recite it every Sunday, looking to it for truth and answers? nope, Nope, NOPE! But I will read it and see how beautifully the Trinity is expressed in the written word.

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Athanasian Creed

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance.

For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one Eternal.

As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one Uncreated, and one Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three gods, but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord. And yet not three lords, but one Lord.

For as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge each Person by Himself to be both God and Lord, so we are also forbidden by the catholic religion to say that there are three gods or three lords.

The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits.

And in the Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another, but all three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

He therefore that will be saved must think thus of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man; God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of the substance of his mother, born in the world; perfect God and perfect man, of a rational soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching His godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching His manhood; who, although He is God and man, yet he is not two, but one Christ; one, not by conversion of the godhead into flesh but by taking of the manhood into God; one altogether; not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ; who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, He sits at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the quick and the dead. At His coming all men will rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

I really like Keith Giles' blog. Not a day goes by that I do not want to link to his newest post, but I restrain myself because I figure that I should at least publish a few of my own thoughts on my blog from time to time. Well, that is not going to happen today.

Check this out: What If Jesus Could Be You For 24 Hours?

If you get a chance, check out some of his archived articles as well. I mean, the site's name is Subversive, for goodness sake. How can you go wrong with a blog title like that:D

Jesus and Politics...

I am all for political activism, but where are our priorities? This is a great article that addresses the issue...
The End of My Political Career by Matthew Raley

An Irish Blessing...

The wind is blowing, and it looks like it is going to rain. While playing around on Facebook I began adding Flairs to my current collection. I started with C.S. Lewis flairs, looked for Ravi Zacharias, and began pondering what unique flair I could find. I remembered the Irish Blessing that my mother-in-law really loved. She had a plaque that was painted by my sister-in-law, and I thought that would be a nice one to have. I was unable to find it on a flair, but I thought it would be nice to post here.

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you:
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

Dealing With Stuff...

I am dealing with stuff. I do not need to get into the specifics here on the WWW, but suffice it to say, it has been one interesting week. The weird thing about it is that I keep coming across things, articles and such, that seem to be appropriate to my current situation. As a for instance, just check out the following from Heartlight

May 21, 2009


VERSE:
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
-- 1 Peter 5:7
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+Peter+5:7

THOUGHT:
So often our worries are so heavy because we refuse to put them down. Let's cast our burdens on the Lord. Let's consciously put our future in his hands. Let's trust our worrisome fears to his care.
We know he loves us and longs to sustain and comfort us because of what he has done to save us.

PRAYER:
Holy God and loving Father, I consciously place my fears, worries, anxieties, and burdens in your hands. I know that I have so little power to change the outcome of these events and situations that can cause me to have these anxious feelings.
However, dear Father, I trust that you will work what is pleasing to you, and best for me, out of these situations. Forgive me for my anxious thoughts and for letting my own worry become an idol that robs you of my full trust. Strengthen and empower me to trust you more by the power and presence of your Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20090521

Now to add irony to irony, I had just written this verse in my journal, and then my prayer partner quoted it in prayer to me this morning. Then I opened the email. So, okay, God - I'm listening (nod to Frasier:)...I am casting all my cares and anxieties and burdens on my heart upon you.