Theology Matters

Archive for March, 2009

There are not many things that I miss about the Roman Catholic Church since I left it after becoming Christian many years ago. I do not miss the Mariolatry, praying to statues, saying the Rosary, and so forth. I do not miss dreading to go to church on Sunday morning. I do not miss being a nameless face in the crowd. However, there are a couple of things I do miss. I miss taking communion more than once every other month, and I miss the creeds. Oh, how I do miss the creeds.

One big negative associated with the contemporary Evangelical church today is the lack of doctrinal teaching. Fortunately, there is a groundswell growing among many of them addressing this issue, and I thank God every day that my church is strong in this area. There are places we need improvement, and we are striving for it, but I still don’t see us studying the ancient creeds of the early church. Instead of creeds, we have “statements of faith”, which serve a similar purpose. But, as times have changed, we need to state more in what we believe lest we be confused with some heterodox or heretical sect. The Evangelical Free Church recently changed its statement of faith for the better by beefing it up and making it stronger against heresies like Open Theism. However, in doing so, it is now a little long.

It seems as though the days of simplicity are over, and creeds like the one below are seen as inadequate or outdated. It’s really too bad…

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the 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.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose 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.

and Amen.