What We Believe
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
– Hebrews 10:19-25
What do we believe? This summer we have preached through our Book of Confessions. The creeds and confessions, statements of faith, and catechisms teach us how God’s people addressed problems in the world through their faith. In crises such as persecution of new Christians under Roman rule, the early church affirmed their faith through the Nicene and Apostles Creeds. In the 1500’s, during the time of the Protestant Reformation, the statements spoke about the true church, the sacraments, and God’s presence in global conflict. The statements of the 20th century addressed the idolatry of Christian Nationalism, racial reconciliation, and justice throughout the world. These statements remind us of God’s work in the world and our high calling to strive with God for righteousness, justice, and mercy.
The Latin word, “Credo” (belief) comes from coeur doux (soft heart). Our creeds and confessions are the things we “give our hearts to”. As we wrap up our series, “I Believe”, we will consider personally and corporately what we give our hearts to. I encourage you this week to take some time thinking about your own statement of faith.
This Sunday in worship there will be posters around the sanctuary for us to share our own collective “statement of faith”. As we have worked through the Book of Confessions this summer, we learned of many important theological topics. What do we believe those ideas mean for us in our own particular moment in history? Please be prepared in worship to walk around the sanctuary and write a word, a sentence or two about each theological topic:
1. God the Father
2. Jesus Christ
3. Holy Spirit
4. The Church
5. Scripture
6. Baptism
7. Lord’s Supper
8. Sin & Reconciliation
9. Death & Resurrection
10. Justice
We believe in God: omnipresent, in every time, and in every place, generating and sustaining all life, nurturing relationship with Creation.
We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who lived and loved, taught and died; the One who conquered death and who surprises us with grace, when we least expect or deserve it.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who journeys with us and makes our faith possible, in every situation and every circumstance.
We believe that God’s grace is sufficient to reconcile us to God. Lord, forgive us for our sins, our unbelief, and our failure to follow you.
Surely, God is with us in every time and in every place, and we are grateful. Amen.
