Creeds Compendium Volume 2
introduces two more very different views of Christianity … I believe in a God who created me, and a communion with others who do believe: I believe in a God who so loved the world, that he sent himself in human form: I believe in a God who runs to those who are dead, who fills those who believe to the full I believe I owe you all I have, for You did give me my free life. I want to believe that this world did not happen by accident, that it was created by a God who loves it. I want to believe that my God will not abandon me even when I cannot believe in Him. I want to believe that I am not as truly alone as I feel. The Creeds Compendium returns for its second outing with two creeds (as ever published anonymously) that again show both the diversity of Christianity and the ways in which subtle shifts in emphasis and attitude can transform the overall meaning of belief. The first one appears confident in the basic “facts” of belief, strongly emphasising a salvation from ultimate sinfulness that is very Protestant in character, mainly concentrating on the figure of God as a sovereign, controlling force. In contrast to those in the last issue, the Trinity doesn't preoccupy the writer, despite fleeting mentions of Jesus and the Holy Spirit - this most complex and sophisticated aspect of “everyday” Christianity appears almost merely an agency for the power of God in the world, rather than being dwelt upon and spelt out in great detail (in contrast, in last issue's instalment, one writer took it to heart enough to try to arrange most of their statements in groups of three). The second writer is obviously more confronted with the problems of belief, shown in the constant refrain of “I want to believe”. Here, “sinfulness” is not an issue so much as Humanity's seeming inability to love or communicate selflessly: there is a very real, visceral, need for what Christians say about a God of love to be true, as well as a fear that it may not be. I hope that I'm not insulting the first writer by suggesting that it is this second voice that many of us, Christian or non- Christian, can associate with more — here, the Creed is not just a recitation of factual belief, but a prayer, one that at times is quite desperate. This is not to say that the second is more valid than the first: a crucial part of the first creed points to something that, because of its early statement, must be very important to the writer. “I believe in a … communion with others who do believe”. This perception that, in faith, God may bind us to each other and not just to him, is something that the bleakness of the second writer's view of the world seems to miss … Anyway, please do continue to write in with your creeds: I personally would be fascinated to see one that spelt out an individual Christian's struggle with the Bible, that crucial book for the formulation of Christian belief, that as yet has received no direct mention. Here's hoping that these two different ways of looking at a shared faith may help you or prompt you, whatever your belief … The Creeds Compendium returns for its second outing with two creeds (as ever published anonymously) that again show both the diversity of Christianity and the ways in which subtle shifts in emphasis and attitude can transform the overall meaning of belief. The first one appears confident in the basic “facts” of belief, strongly emphasising a salvation from ultimate sinfulness that is very Protestant in character, mainly concentrating on the figure of God as a sovereign, controlling force. In contrast to those in the last issue, the Trinity doesn't preoccupy the writer, despite fleeting mentions of Jesus and the Holy Spirit - this most complex and sophisticated aspect of “everyday” Christianity appears almost merely an agency for the power of God in the world, rather than being dwelt upon and spelt out in great detail (in contrast, in last issue's instalment, one writer took it to heart enough to try to arrange most of their statements in groups of three). The second writer is obviously more confronted with the problems of belief, shown in the constant refrain of “I want to believe”. Here, “sinfulness” is not an issue so much as Humanity's seeming inability to love or communicate selflessly: there is a very real, visceral, need for what Christians say about a God of love to be true, as well as a fear that it may not be. I hope that I'm not insulting the first writer by suggesting that it is this second voice that many of us, Christian or non- Christian, can associate with more — here, the Creed is not just a recitation of factual belief, but a prayer, one that at times is quite desperate. This is not to say that the second is more valid than the first: a crucial part of the first creed points to something that, because of its early statement, must be very important to the writer. “I believe in a … communion with others who do believe”. This perception that, in faith, God may bind us to each other and not just to him, is something that the bleakness of the second writer's view of the world seems to miss … Anyway, please do continue to write in with your creeds: I personally would be fascinated to see one that spelt out an individual Christian's struggle with the Bible, that crucial book for the formulation of Christian belief, that as yet has received no direct mention. Here's hoping that these two different ways of looking at a shared faith may help you or prompt you, whatever your belief …
A God pleased with His creation of man,but heart-broken by our fallen nature.
To carry my cross painstakingly up a hill,to suffer with humiliation my death.
With His Spirit, so that we as man can strive to live a sinless life.
I want to believe in a God who loves me when I cannot love myself.
I want to believe in a God who helps others when I cannot help, or even pray for them.
I want to believe that I am here for a purpose, that my life has a meaning.
I want to believe that pain is not the way life is supposed to be.
And more …
And more …