THE TIE THAT TRULY BINDS

In Christianity across the world too often there appears to be irreconcilable differences, tensions, and hostilities between the many versions of the Christian faith.  Love of neighbor and unity in Christ are too often difficult to find.  However, when Christians are regularly tortured and martyred in the most oppressive, dangerous parts of the world (Pakistan, northern Nigeria, Somalia) those distinctive differences don't seem to matter to those doing the atrocities.  A Christian is a Christian and believed to be an infidel worthy of death.  In the worldwide Christian community of faith, where's the unity in Christ and the tie that truly binds?  What is the foundation of our faith irrespective of the differences that seemingly divide?

Over the next few weeks, Christendom, the holy, catholic (universal) church in all its glory, will celebrate God the Father’s great gift. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, it is the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. Glory to God!  Anticipating once again the unity of all believers in the great celebration we call Christmas, this is a good time to revisit the central teachings of the Christian faith, those teachings that are ascribed to by all Christian, at all times, everywhere.  To do so, we have a resource that clearly summarizes the essential truths of our universally  shared faith, The Apostles' Creed.

We need not wait to recite this historic statement as part of our collective worship.  We can recite it and meditate on it devotionally in our quiet, personal time with God we reserve each day. We may also engage it in our small group fellowship or family devotional time together.  Every word and phrase of this means of grace comes directly from Scripture.

Engaging the Apostle’s Creed at this time of year, personally and communally, makes sense.  In the celebration of Christmas, we participate in a world-wide common confession of faith with the great mosaic of brothers and sisters in Christ including Methodists, Baptists, Catholic, Pentecostals, Salvationists, Calvinists, nearly two billion of the faithful that make upon the universal Body of Christ.

The Apostles’ Creed is the common articulation of the tie that binds our hearts and souls together in a global love response of joy and glory to God.  It does more than unite us in our faith in our Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  It binds us to the multitude of saints gone before us over the millennia in a glorious witness of God’s grace and faithfulness.

Read and meditate on the Apostles’ Creed this Christmas season.  To access it just Google: The Apostles’ Creed.  Prepare to be blessed by God as you join the universal celebration of Christmas in affirming the truths we hold so dear to our common faith.  Thanks be to God!  Glory to His name.