When life as we know it is upended, what do you do to stay grounded and centered? It is easy to get stuck in the news cycle of fear and uncertainty. This is not God’s will for us! First Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." So how do we go from feeling like the world and our lives are spiraling downward to having the peace of God reign in our hearts and minds? I propose an old and forgotten tradition in many churches… The Nicene Creed. This creed is a succinct statement about our beliefs as followers of Christ that was written in the early church to be a foundational tool. It helped all believers be united together as one body of believers and teach those newer to the faith what it means to be a Christian. It is a powerful statement to ingest, digest and embody in these uncertain times for us as modern believers. Mark Nauroth, in Power of the Creed discusses this idea. He personally grew up in the modern evangelical church as I am sure many of us did, with worship song productions, lights, a full band and a service aimed to create an emotional response. Many of the modern churches have given up reciting the Nicene Creed as a corporate body. When compared to the emotional worship times, it feels dry, impersonal and a bit confusing. Something about the creed sparked curiosity in Mark, he wanted to understand it more, to go deeper. He started with reading it, studying its phrases to understand it. What ended up happening is that it change his perspective and his life. It became a grounding mantra amid the craziness of life. A way to connect with his beliefs and God anytime, anywhere. This is what I believe it can do for us in this unsettled pandemic. It is a way for us to easily communicate our beliefs to others and it is a way to center ourselves back in faith, when we feel ourselves slipping into fear, anger or anxiety. The Nicene Creed provides, “So many profound truths... condensed into such a compact package. The Trinity, the nature of divinity, and even the mind-bending concept of eternity- it’s all here.” (p. 78) During this pandemic time, we as followers of Christ have the opportunity to shine our His light in our world. We can live with peace and power in a time of uncertainty and fear. “No matter who you are, you can share in the life of Christ and show it to your world.” (p. 102) Taking in the truths of the Nicene Creed and allowing it to transform us is part of our call as believers. We are called to grow up in Christ, to be sanctified and transformed into His likeness day by day. Mark asks readers of the book, “Is the goal to get into heaven by the skin of our teeth or to become sons and daughters of the resurrection by developing the kingdom within?” (p. 161) I confindently answer, to become sons and daughters of the resurrection! If we don't allow our faith to change us, how will it ever change the world? I created a beautiful PDF of the Nicene Creed for you to print out, hang on your wall and recite daily. Let it be a mantra that grounds you in this crazy time. You can pick up a copy of Power of the Creed for yourself on Amazon. #PowerOfTheCreed
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Speakeasy. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. If you are interested in reviewing books check out the Speakeasy website.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorJessica Mutunga is passionate about good simple living that focuses on relationships, food and creating a supportive healthy environment. She is The Light Way Coach. Archives
May 2022
Categories |