I tried to come up with a catchy title for this post, but “Believing the Apostles’ Creed” is how I am feeling.
The Early Days
I was raised in a southern Christian home. We attended church every Sunday morning and evening. I am a baby boomer so the early days are a while ago 🙂 We went to the small hometown United Methodist Church where my Daddy attended all his life. Actually, I think I was somehow related to most of the congregation!
Fond memories flood my head as I write this. Many wonderful people influenced my life from this church. It is where I was in Christmas plays, attended Vacation Bible School and was baptized. I learned Bible stories I think about even today. The church is still there and thriving, although my parents and several other relatives and friends are no longer there. I look forward one day to reunite with them and some of the great Sunday School teachers I had.
Traditional Beliefs
During my childhood, the church was still very traditional. We used the hymnal to sing by instead of projectors and the offering was taken up with an offering plate and not submitted online. (There was no online!) I think this is one reason I still prefer traditional services – except that I do wear pants – which would never have happened back then!
A few things still give me hope and a feeling of nostalgia. I’m afraid the younger generation today is missing out on some special things.
The Lord’s Prayer
One tradition was that we always recited the Lord’s Prayer as a congregation. So, as kids, we learned it fairly young.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11Â Give us today our daily bread.
12Â And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”‘
This is what Jesus taught us to pray and if you consider all the words, it pretty much sums up what prayer is all about.
If someone was to ask me what I believe, it can be summed up in the Apostles' Creed. #Faith #ChristianFaith Share on XThe Apostles’ Creed
Another tradition is the focus of this post. The Apostles’ Creed. If someone was to ask me what I believe, it can be summed up in the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at 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 Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Apostles’ Creed, though not written by the apostles, is the oldest creed of the Christian church and is the basis for others that followed. Early church leaders used the Apostles’ Creed to sum up their beliefs and I think it is just as appropriate today. It is not Scripture but based on a summary of the apostles’ faith.
It affirms the Holy Trinity, Jesus as human AND divine, Jesus as virgin born, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and everlasting life! Pretty much says it all!
So, if you are a Christian and are asked to explain what you believe, recite the Apostles’ Creed.
I created a FREE printable of the Apostles’ Creed and you can download it here.
Enjoy and have a Blessed day!
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