Being from a noncreedal tradition, I've always been suspicious of concise statements of faith. Their conciseness usually means something is left out. Additionally, being from a Christocentric tradition, I usually find that I have trouble with many of the creeds because they leave out the life of Jesus. They're usually good about the death, but that's it. So I was delighted to find the Jesus Creed on Brian McLaren's blog. The creed seems to be written by McLaren himself. I don't know if it counts as a creed because it's not been used for centuries by a community of followers of Christ I tend to give more credence to tradition then something someone just made up yesterday. At the same time, as an artist, I recognize the divine inspiration that can come to one person with a pen or keyboard. And new things can serve as correctives to what the old left out or got wrong. This creed seems to help with that. Of course there are parts left out--like the Creator and Holy Spirit, but this is the Jesus Creed, so I can give it a good bit of slack. So, for what it's worth--and I think it's worth a good deal--here's the Jesus Creed:
We have confidence in Jesus
Who healed the sick, the blind, and the paralyzed.
And even raised the dead.
He cast out evil powers and
Confronted corrupt leaders.
He cleansed the temple.
He favored the poor.
He turned water into wine,
Walked on water, calmed storms.
He died for the sins of the world,
Rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father,
Sent the Holy Spirit.
We have confidence in Jesus
Who taught in word and example,
Sign and wonder.
He preached parables of the kingdom of God
On hillsides, from boats, in the temple, in homes,
At banquets and parties, along the road, on beaches, in towns,
By day and by night.
He taught the way of love for God and neighbor,
For stranger and enemy, for outcast and alien.
We have confidence in Jesus,
Who called disciples, led them,
Gave them new names and new purpose
And sent them out to preach good news.
He washed their feet as a servant.
He walked with them, ate with them,
Called them friends,
Rebuked them, encouraged them,
Promised to leave and then return,
And promised to be with them always.
He taught them to pray.
He rose early to pray, stole away to desolate places,
Fasted and faced agonizing temptations,
Wept in a garden,
And prayed, “Not my will but your will be done.”
He rejoiced, he sang, he feasted, he wept.
We have confidence in Jesus,
So we follow him, learn his ways,
Seek to obey his teaching and live by his example.
We walk with him, walk in him, abide in him,
As a branch in a vine.
We have not seen him, but we love him.
His words are to us words of life eternal,
And to know him is to know the true and living God.
We do not see him now, but we have confidence in Jesus.
Amen.
