Since church was snowed out this past Sunday, I briefly watched a televised service from another, more liturgical church in our area (they cancelled for 12.26 as well; this was a re-broadcast from back on a snow-free day in November).
As part of the liturgy, the congregation stood and recited the Apostles’ Creed together.
Three thoughts came immediately to mind: 1) thank God for the brave and wise souls who compiled the creed in antiquity; 2) this is really the Christian Pledge of Allegiance; and 3) we need to use it more in our services and sermons.
In terms of the translation to use, the Creed is much like the 23rd Psalm: the older, the better. It’s one of those pieces that sound more majestic and poetic in the king’s English. So here goes:
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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on 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 Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.
There are 3 comments
Awesome!
I agree! Each time I recite the Apostles Creed, I publicly and profoundly state: “Who I am, what I believe, and most importantly, to Whom I belong!”
Would love to see it integrated into our Worship service.
I’m curious as to why Wesley, when he passed on his revision of the Anglican articles of Religion to the Methodist Episcopal Church chose to remove the Article regarding the Three Ecumenical Creeds. Granted, the Articles, and later the Confession of Faith from the EUB contains all that the creeds do, but the AR and CF just don’t have the style of the Creeds. You’re right; the older, the better.