Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
CROSS AND CATECHISM: THE APOSTLES' CREED
What is an atheist? There are quite a few people in the world today who are atheists. An atheist typically describes himself as anti-religious, saying that he doesn't believe in anything but him or herself. Simply put, an atheist doesn't believe in God. However, that belief actually makes an atheist religious. Religion is defined as "a belief system concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe." So even if someone is an atheist, they probably believe in the big bang theory and the theory of evolution, which makes them religious according to the definition of "religion."
One of Luther's six chief parts in the catechism has to do with creeds. A creed is "a statement of what we believe." As in the passage above, God's children have always stated what they believe about their Father in heaven. The Apostles' Creed was written to do just that. Although we have a "Triune" God, the unfathomable three persons in one God, each article of the Apostles' Creed gives credit specifically to one person of the Godhead, even though they all work together as one God.
The first article states that God the Father is primarily credited for the work of creation, preservation, protection and the like. The third article states that God the Holy Spirit is credited for conversion, sanctification, preservation of the God's Word and the Christian's faith. The second article states what this season of Lent is all about. God's Son, the man Jesus Christ, is credited with His work of redemption in both His humiliation and crucifixion for our sins, His resurrection and powerful victory over death and the devil, and His continual intercession between us and God as our Prophet, Priest, and King.
Everyone has a confession or "creed." Our confession is important as God uses us as His witnesses. May we declare our confession in our Triune God like the early children of Israel who not only heard of God's precious truths and His love but spoke of them. Let us also share our beliefs about those truths with one another and the rest of this world!
