I Believe in Jesus Christ ...

This past Sunday we had our first installment about “God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth” in our 6-week series, “The Apostles’ Creed – What do we REALLY believe?” This Sunday we explore the meaning of what we say when we recite together, “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord.”

I think that in our individualized, compartmentalized, and consumeristic culture, it’s easy to fall into the trap of “I” and what “I” want to believe; what I want for “me” and “my” salvation. This starts from the wrong side of salvation. Salvation begins with God and God’s grace upon each one of us, and us collectively as God’s people. As I often say, the Bible knows nothing of “Lone Ranger Christianity” (or Judaism, or Islam). “I” am understood by God to be part of a greater “we.” This has important implications for us and for the world.

Our prayers can unconsciously become focused on what “I” need God to do for “me.” But what Jesus of Nazareth’s prayers witnessed in his 3-4 year ministry was a focus on others’ needs first and what he could do for them (Matthew 9: 18-26, John 17:9, Hebrews 7:25). When this stance increasingly becomes the stance of a congregation, then mountains start moving; healing of wounds and transformation of lives begin to happen; hope is created and restored. Jesus told his disciples (i.e., us) that they would do what he did and greater things still (John 14:12).  This becomes the progressive effect of us saying individually and collectively, “I believe in Jesus Christ.”  

Upon finishing an Emmaus Walk – a retreat short course on the Christian faith – participants are given a medallion which reads, “I am counting on Christ, and Christ is counting on me.”  The writers of that curriculum and process got it right. See you Sunday; Christ is counting on you for what Christ wants us to do in the world.  

Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,