Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Clint Schnekloth

Home
Progressive Christian
A brief but lovely addition to the Apostles’ Creed

A brief but lovely addition to the Apostles’ Creed

Last updated on: February 5, 2021 at 7:37 pm by Clint Schnekloth

A brief but lovely addition to the Apostles’ Creed 2021-02-05T19:37:08-05:00 Clint Schnekloth

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Here’s an interesting proposal, and something we’re going to begin incorporating into Sunday worship.

For quite a while now, theologians have noted that a basic problem presented in the historic creeds (Athanasian, Nicene, Apostles’) is the absence of any content related either to a) God’s life with Israel, and b) the life of Jesus between birth and crucifixion.

One of the most concise and lovely proposals for what to insert into the creed comes from Jürgen Moltmann. He suggests adding the following to the creeds:

“Baptized by John the Baptist, filled with the Holy Spirit: to preach the kingdom of God to the poor, to heal the sick, to receive those who have been cast out, to revive Israel for the salvation of the nations, and to have mercy upon all people”

I appreciate this proposal on many levels, not least of which because it strives to maintain the delicate balance Paul works out in Romans about the continuing covenant of God with Israel, a covenant Christians see enlivened in Christ but not exclusively so, and it also gets the life of Christ into the creeds.

I honestly fear one of the most damaging things in the history of the church has been a lack of focus on the life of Christ, and this has been accentuated, and perpetuated, by the lack of mention of it in the creeds.

This proposal has ecumenical resonances as well. Roman Catholics will remember that Pope John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002), recommended an additional set called the Luminous Mysteries (or the “Mysteries of Light”). They are luminous because they invite those who pray the Rosary to meditate on the light from Christ’s own earthly life. Like the creed, prior to the luminous mysteries the mysteries of the rosary were focused on incarnation, death, and resurrection, basically eliding over Christ’s life.

We are going to include this new section in our creed beginning Sunday, so the entire creed will read:

“I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,

Baptized by John the Baptist, filled with the Holy Spirit: to preach the kingdom of God to the poor, to heal the sick, to receive those who have been cast out, to revive Israel for the salvation of the nations, and to have mercy upon all people.

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified died and was buried; he descended to the dead.

On the third day, he rose again; he ascended into heaven;

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come again to judge the living 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.”

One thing I love about this proposal: it adds but doesn’t change. Of course there are and have been ongoing debates about all kinds of content in the creeds. With our modern cosmology, we might wonder where heaven is, or we might discuss whether “lord” and “almighty” language comports with our current understanding of Scripture and faith.

But we can leave the full text of the creed as it stands, therefore continuing to participate in the confession with the majority of the Christian world, while also adding something that clearly articulates what already stands in Scripture as so very central: God’s life with Israel, and Christ’s life here for us, and in particular for the poor.

Happy Friday y’all.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 31, 2021

A Sermon For Reconciling In Christ Sunday At Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fayetteville Arkansas

Next Post

February 11, 2021 The Transfiguration Of Jesus and Chiastic Structures

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #blacklivesmatter advocacy Avengers baptisms Capitalism church growth clergy silence corporate ethics Creation Care Donald Trump elections Evangelicals Evangelism Friendship hermeneutics Immigration Intersex introverts Jesus Labor Liturgy Lutheran MLK Jr. New urbanism Pentecost philanthropy Poem political theology Post-program church Prayer private devotion Reformation Refugees sacraments Scripture Secularity Sin small church social media Sovereignty Trauma-Informed Theology travel Trump Uncategorized wealth white supremacy Workers worship Youth

Select a Month January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 January 2016 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 May 2014 March 2014 June 2013 January 2013 December 2011 December 2010 February 2005 February 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: The parable of the Good Samaritan is found in all four Gospels.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE

Books by This Author Books by Clint Schnekloth

See All Titles »