dominus pascit me

What does it mean to be human? This is the question at the core of the Christian treatment of all people and, hopefully, the core of interpersonal ethics for Christians that attempt to remain true to their beliefs. Indeed it is this vision of what it means to be human that characterizes the importance of living a life that shows a heart of charity towards all people and because we are all human, it is important to understand a Christian perspective of humanity as a whole.  I think that the state of humanity can be divided into two parts, within the Christian worldview: (1) How people should be viewed and (2) what is the current state of humanity. It is the interplay of these two parts that form the foundation of all Christian ethics and is guided by the principles we gather by studying the Holy Scriptures and through reason and philosophy of thought.

What does it mean to be human? Christianity has the most powerful and positive vision of the answer to this question, an answer it has inherited from Judaism. People, all people, are created in the image of God. The Bible tells us “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This statement has, within Christian philosophy and ethics, profound implications. Because each and every person was created by God, we are connected to him, and because we have his image, we are imbued with an eternal soul, a rational mind, a will, and with a knowledge of good written in our hearts. But more than that, the implication that we are all in God’s image gives to every person intrinsic worth and dignity in all functional circumstances. This means to say that no matter what we have done, or how we have lived life, we are all of equal worth. The person with a mental disability is thus equal to the person who leads a nation in worth and dignity, deserving of life, and able to receive the love of God. This vision of the equal dignity of all people is a great equalizer, destroying the foundation for racism [1].

Christianity records God as making all things, and though there is some large measure of debate within the Christian community, it is universally acknowledged that all things were created good. And how can we not marvel at the universe at large. It’s beautiful, from the incomprehensible size of the universe filled with stars and nebulae, to the opening of a flower every day, to the intricate webs of life that surround us invisible, to the smallest atom being made of more than the sum of its parts. It’s. all. beautiful. But, people, having been made in the image of God, are the most beautiful of all. The sum of the diversity of thought and action, of expression in art and word, and of form and colour reflects the creative aspect of God, and it is both amazing and a daily struggle to recognize this in every person. After all, it is far often too easy to say “my best friend is beautiful” but difficult that “my greatest enemy (or constant annoyance) is equally as beautiful and filled intrinsic worth.” It is this very approach to humanity that should lead all Christians to value all people, no matter how they may disagree, no matter what they may do, and to always treat people with respect, and love.

So we were made in the image of God, a beautiful and not always appreciated image, but something intrinsically beautiful and worthy of love and dignity, yet for what end? The answer to this is that humanity has been made to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever [2]. This answer is what should provide the Christian with a profound sense of meaning and significance because in this, no matter what we do, we are more than our mere function in human terms. Indeed, it has certainly given me much peace in that no matter what may happen to me, my life means more than the failure I encounter daily. Our lives have significance in the light of eternity, beyond the mere shortness of this life. However, while it is amazing that all people have been and are created in the image of God, it is also visible that the image of God has been marred and deformed. By this I mean that, while it was intended that people act in the fullness of good, people often act in evil and depraved ways. We need only to look at the news to see that evil exists, and that people often carry out that evil. Indeed every person, at some point, has knowingly gone against the natural law, fighting against their conscience to do wrong. This is what, in Christian theology, is called sin. It is, at its very core, saying that though we have been created to glorify God, we have instead chosen to put our own desires and wants as the first priority in our life, destroying the order wanted by God to exist, causing evil and harming others — all within the scope of the will and personhood God has granted to all people. This wrong that we have all done, has harmed our eternal souls in that it has destroyed our fellowship with God and predisposed all people towards seeking our own interests over God.

So this is the state of humanity. We are all intrinsically worthy of dignity and respect, no matter our present state because we are all made in the image of God with a rational mind, an eternal soul [3], and with the knowledge of right in our hearts [4]. However, being left to the liberty of the will, we have chosen to deviate from the designed purpose of humanity – to glorify God and enjoy him forever – for our own purposes, driving us away from God. This low state of humanity, a state of estrangement from God and the purpose of all people, must be overcome and Christianity boldly proclaims that we all can find reconciliation with God in Jesus Christ, finally bringing us to part two of this series, “who was Jesus Christ, the man that started the whole of Christianity.”

References

[1] Though I note that Christianity has used the Bible to sometimes justify slavery in the past, I don’t understand how anyone can, within the scope of a proper understanding of the image of God, be racist. Indeed this very idea has helped

[2] Romans 11.36, John 17.21-23, Westminster Greater Catechism Question 1

[3] Genesis 2.7

[4] Romans 2.14-15

We all have specific presuppositions that influence how we view the world. Some might suppose that the world came about by entirely naturalistic processes without the need or existence of a God. Others might not consider the idea of theism at all and look at the world with a central belief that all people are equal and should be treated as such apart from any driving force from religion of faith. In Christianity, the central presupposition, the central thing that it claims to be true is that God exists. Indeed this is the central premise of all theistic religions, but especially the monotheistic Abrahamic religions. Who then is this Christian God? Can we, humans, ever understand him? And if we can, then what is God like?

Christians often rush at the first question to say “yes! We can know God” but I would like to tell all those that read this, that no, that’s not a complete picture of who the Christian God is. Indeed we can never have a full picture of this God within our finite minds. I have stated in the previous post that God is the necessary being upon which all things in this world are contingent. This implies that he is no mere thing, for anything plus another is something greater. Anslem put forth the ontological argument for God’s existence which, roughly, states that God is that which no greater can be conceived. This very nature of God as something beyond all thought and reason and natural evidence (for all natural evidence is contingent on the creative power of God) brings us to the central pillar of the Christian theology: God is incomprehensible.

God is incomprehensible to humans because, by necessity, if we could comprehend him in fullness, he would not be God. This reasoning backs up what is shown to humanity in the Bible. God is called ‘unsearchable,’ ‘inscrutable’ and ultimately that our thoughts are not his thoughts, and our ways are not his ways because his ways are higher than our ways, and in being higher, incomprehensible to us people [1]. However, this incomprehensibility isn’t always a bad thing ndeed, it is because we recognize that God is incomprehensible that Christians can rest solidly on things they do not understand including some of the central thoughts of the Christian faith: the nature of Jesus, the unity of God in trinity, and the nature of our salvation. Indeed, God keeps secrets from humans, in that he acts as the sovereign father in wisdom protecting his children from harm [2]. For Christians, this incomprehensibility of God is deeply humbling in that, much as the scientist opening the door to the natural world, theology can never fully know God and that there is always more about him to know.

However, this is not to say that we cannot know God. The second major presupposition, the second major truth the Christians should proclaim always, is that we can know God and that we can know him truly, personally, and sufficiently [3]. We know him truly in that while we can know him fully, we can know him truly in that while incomprehensibility leads the Christian to conviction in matters which are beyond human comprehension, the knowability of God leads the Christian to conviction in the nature and character of this God. Indeed, the knowledge of God is the center of joy for a Christian [4] and it is the basis of our hope for the future [5] and it allows us to love other people with the same love that God shows to humanity [6].

So of what character is this God Christians worship? While the scope of this question is too large for any single post, I find one of the greatest summations of the Christian belief of the Character of God in the historical church document, the Westminster Larger Catechism. Indeed when we ask ‘What is God’ it tells us:

God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.[7] [8]

This is the God that Christians believe in, a God infinitely worthy of praise and glory, a God sovereign over all things, immutable, and (quite simply) awesome. This is not a God of mere weakness, but one that is strong beyond all measure, and loving with abounding steadfast love [9]. This is the God I worship, and the God I seek to understand, and the God I wish all people to know and love also. Finally, to return to the Nicene Creed this is the God that is Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

(Post 1b in a series explaining Christian theology in the framework of the Nicene Creed)

References
[1] Psalm 145.3, Romans 11.33-34, Isaiah 55.8-9
[2] Deuteronomy 29.29
[3] 2 Peter 1.3
[4] Jeremiah 9.24, Galatians 6.14
[5] 1 John 1.1-2
[6] 1 John 4.7
[7] Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 7
[8] John 4.24, Exodus 3.14, Job 11.7-9, Acts 7.2, 1 Timothy 6.15, Matthew 5.48, Genesis 17.1, Psalm 90.2, Malachi 3.6, 1 Kings 8.27, Psalm 139.1-3, Revelation 4.8, Psalm 147.5, Romans 16.27, Isaiah 6.3, Revelation 15.4, Deuteronomy 32.4, Exodus 34.6
[9] Exodus 34.6

Postscriptum
The Westminster Confession of Faith gives a longer discription of the Christian God that I do so like.

Is there a god and if there is what and who is god? This is the central topic of theology and Christianity as a whole, and ultimately, for the Christian, this question should always be at the forefront of the mind as it represents the center of our belief, lives, and practices of faith. I would first like to begin with this post, ‘Can we know God?’ And I shall seek to do this first by addressing the question of whether or not a god exists, and if one exists can we know this god.

I must first tell everyone that, contrary to popular opinion, faith is not blind. Indeed, blind faith is not any faith at all. Faith is, rather, a belief in that which we have reasonable assurance for. By this I mean that the Christian’s faith in God is not irrational, it has, rather, been thought through by some of the greatest minds in human existence, from Augustine and Origen, to Anselm and Aquinas, and Calvin and Barth. God is believed by some prominent scientists such as Francis Collins, former head of the genome project and current head of  the NIH and another 40% of scientists are theistic, against the loud shouts of people such as Richard Dawkins [1]. Christians have a reasonable faith in God, and I hope to be able to show at least a little of that in this series.

Why do I believe there is a God? There is no one reason, even though I suppose you can say I have inherited my faith, but at the same time, I haven’t because I have thought deeply about this question, and I have made the Christian faith, my own faith and I, today, accept its core tenets without reservation, the same core tenets that this series will seek to present to the world at large. I have come to the conclusion that I believe in a god for three main reasons: the argument from contingency, the teleological argument [2], and an argument from morality [3], but I will only seek to show one here, the argument from contingency, the one I myself find most powerful [4].

The argument from contingency is one classical proofs of God drawn up by one of the greatest medieval thinkers, Thomas Aquinas. This is a variation on the cosmological argument and states (1) everything that exists contingently has a reason for its existence, (2) the universe is contingent, therefore (3) the universe must have a reason for its existence, (4) if the universe has a reason for existing, then that reason is god. Therefore (5) god exists. This is to say that because the things in the universe do not exist for the purpose of existing, a necessary existence, they are contingent on the existence of other things. Ultimately all things in this universe is made of matter, and this argument finds that the source of matter, ultimately, is god, who in the Christian tradition made the world out of nothing, ensuring that everything in the universe is contingent on himself. God himself, however, is a non-contingent being whose existence is necessary allowing him to be the causative agent of this universe [5].

These arguments are merely some of the few that theistic philosophers have used to logically justify the existence of a god, but I also recognize that for each of these arguments, philosophers have come up with counter arguments, and counters ad nauseam. There remains at some point where we must switch from mere argumentation to belief. Indeed, argumentation alone is not sufficient for a complete set of evidences for Christianity; it is merely the basis for our reasonable belief in the existence of a god. However, I hope this does show that the argument for a god is not merely a thoughtless belief, but it is a belief that has been defended logically from Plato to the present day.

Now, having provided a basis for the existence of a god, can we then know this god? Christianity says yes and that while the world and universe can explain that there is a god, God himself has revealed himself to us in his Word to humanity, the Bible [6]. The Bible is then, necessarily, the basis for orthodox Christian theology and main work I will be using throughout the remainder of this series exploring the basics of Christian theology, the study of God through his Word, the Bible.

A final note, this post hardly covers any of the reasons Christians believe in God, or the character of God and I merely wish to present a cursory glance at the rationality of Christianity and a beginning of the understanding of God. Countless books have been written on these topics, and I can hardly do justice to them all. I would highly recommend Tim Keller’s Reason for God, and C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, as helpful introductions to Christianity, its basis, and its rationality.

Notes

[1]http://ncse.com/rncse/18/2/do-scientists-really-reject-god
[2] http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/#CosFinTun
[3] http://usminc.org/images/MereChristianitybyCSLewis.pdf, http://www.philosophy.ucsb.edu/faculty/anderson/moral_arguments_for_the_existence_of_God.html
[4] I am not a philosopher, though I at times wish I could have had more training in philosophy. I have just found these arguments to be most convincing for me in showing that the existence of a god is, at the very least, not merely a thoughtless argument, a god of the gaps thrown in so that I may not have to wrestle with deeper issues.

I am skipping over the other two arguments for brevity in this first post.
[5] I think the best example on youtube showing this argument is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Yjue8MXAI

[6] I also fully realize that this is a rather large leap, but I hope to show the basis of that leap throughout this series

What is God? Who is Jesus? These were among the central questions of Christianity during the 4th century. Indeed the 4th century was pivotal for the formation of Christianity as it is known today in that the nature of the namesake of Christianity, Jesus Christ, was established. From this century emerged the Nicene Creed, one of the marks I believe to be a standard of what a Christian should always affirm as true. These things include the existence of God, the nature of Jesus, and the existence of the Church, and it is these basic tenets of Christianity that I want to explore with this series through the Nicene Creed.

The Nicene creed was written during the first council of Nicea and first council at Constantinople, the first two ecumenical councils of the church, that is councils that considered the opinions of bishops from all corners of the Roman Empire. These councils occurred in the years AD 325 and AD 381, almost immediately after Christianity was finally legalized under Emperor Constantine in AD 313[1]. They were conducted to help smooth over some of the divisions the occurred in the church and to promote unity in a newly legalized religion. What resulted was the Nicene creed, the most widely held standard of right Christian thought in both Eastern and Western branches of the historical Church.

Throughout this series I hope to explore a Christian understanding of God, of humanity, and of the world to come. I welcome questions and comments throughout this series, and I invite anyone with a desire to know more about Christianity to join me. My goal is to have this be finished by the end of Lent and while I can’t promise that however given the busyness of school, I still hope that I can and I also hope that these posts may be of interest to any that may come across them. I must also recognize that I am doing this to both expand my understanding of what I hold to be true, and that these posts do not encompass even a fraction of the historical understanding of God, but I hope to share what I do understand so that others may also under stand a little better.

The text of the Nicene Creed, 381 is as follows
(Latin additions to the greek form in brackets, post content in italics)

Post 1a Can we know God?
Post 1b: Who is God?

I believe in one God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And of all things visible and invisible:

Post 1c: What is humanity?

Post 2: Was Jesus divine?

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
Begotten of the Father before all worlds,
[God of God,] Light of Light,
True God of true God,
Begotten, not made,
Consubstantial with the Father,
By whom all things were made;

Post 3: Was Jesus Man?

Who for us humans, and for our salvation came down from heaven,
And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary,
And was made man,

Post 4a: Why did Jesus Die?

Post 4b: How should humans respond to God?

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried,
And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,

Post 5: Where is Jesus now?

And ascended into heaven,
And sits at the right hand of the Father.
And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead:
Whose kingdom shall have no end.

Post 6: Who is the Holy Spirit?

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Lord and giver of life,
Who proceeds from the Father [and the Son,] [2]
Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified,
Who spoke by the prophets.

Post 7: What is the Church?

And I believe one catholic and apostolic Church.

Post 8: What is the hope of a Christian?

I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.
And I look for the resurrection of the dead,
And the life of the world to come.

Amen.

notes
[1] In that this is a Christian series, I will hold to the AD/BC convention. I shall also note that, as AD is Latin, it come before the year in English writing
[2] For this series I have opted to use an English Translation of the Latin form of the Nicene Creed. This includes the filioque clause, which isn’t found in the Greek form

This is my Father’s world, truly it is. This hymn is by far my favorite of all hymns in that it reflects in totality how I view the world. What you may not know in reading this relatively anonymous blog post is that I am a student of science. I believe in reason; I believe in the human capacity to understand. But I also understand beauty, and in the words of John Keats, “beauty is truth, truth beauty,’ – that is all / Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.” And though I believe in reason and science, I revel in truth and this hymn truly shows my love of the beauty I find in the utter vastness of God’s creation and it moves me to tears whenever I hear this simple hymn.

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. The incomprehensible beauty of creation stands before me and I can but only watch. It amazing to know that those stars in the sky are an incomprehensible distance away from me. It is mind blowing how complex that which we take for granted is. It is only but awesome that the wonders of this universe were imagined by an omnipotent God that has allowed us to strive to understand the universe.

Indeed, because God knows everything, we can ne’er forget that God is sovereign over all and that no matter what may befall us we can rest in the peace of God.

I know that likely I cannot instill the same sense of awe I have for God’s creation in you, but I hope to share some small sense of it. No words can ever convey the sense of awe I have for the creative power of God. Our God is stronger than anything else, and his creative power surpasses all and truly I can sing that this is my Father’s world and whatever my lot, it matters not, my heat is still at home.

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,

The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world: he shines in all that’s fair;

In the rustling grass I hear him pass;

He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:

Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,

And earth and Heav’n be one.

This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see his face.

I open my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”

This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,

The Beloved One, his Only Son,

Came—a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?

The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.

This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,

For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.

No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.

In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.

This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam

Whate’er my lot, it matters not,

My heart is still at home.

by Malt­bie D. Bab­cock Music: Terra Beata, tra­di­tion­al Eng­lish mel­o­dy, ar­ranged by Frank­lin L. Shep­pard

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. (Colossians 3.1-4)

Colossians is a grand exposition on what it means to follow the gospel. Having started out with a cosmic overview of the redemptive work of Christ in Chapter one, it moves into what it means to be alive in Christ in chapter two and here in chapter 3 it gives an overview of the eternal life of a Christian before moving into what it means to live this temporal life as one “raised in Christ.” Verses 1 to 4 show us where we came from, where we are, and where we are going as people renewed in Christ. Indeed all these are in Christ for we have been raised with Christ, we are hidden with Christ, and we will be revealed with Christ.

This passage recalls what it means when we have been renewed in Christ by our baptism in the blood of the Lamb [1]. Where we once were dead in our sin [2], we have now been “raised with Christ” and have crucified our old selves with him [3]. Therefore our life is not our own but Christ’s in that we partake of the cross daily and in his defeat over death ibyour association him. Indeed, in verse 17 Paul writes saying that we must do all in “the name of the Lord Jesus” whether it be prayer, or helping the poor, or building the Church, all is done through the power of Jesus Christ and not our own power.

This infusion of the breath of life into we who were once dead brings us to this present day where we are to seek that which is above and to seek the one who is at the right hand of the Father, a position where Christ wields the same power and might of the Father. This seeking is what is described in the rest of the chapter. It is our current state as humans with a renewed spirit but a corrupted flesh, a state where we must always strive to put to death that which is earthly within us, and cleave to that which is good. We, as people have imperfect bodies, bodies still marred by sin and not yet resurrected from the dead, as will be in the final days. It is thus for us to continue to die daily [4]  so that we may lose all markings of self that divide us from each other and fully immerse ourselves in Christ who is to be our new identity. The picture of this is as Christ, much as he shed his body for us so that we may live, we must shed all that is earthly in us, as in death, so that in life all that is in us will be Christ. It is only then that Christ is all, the full sum of all Christians identity, uniting all Christians under the singular banner of Christ, and in all working to make us more like unto himself in an act of reconciliation. It is also always encouraging to know that we are already called [5] and that we are already holy, that is set apart by Christ unto himself. We must always let the spirit work in us so that we may have the strength to deny ourselves daily in the name of Christ so that he may increase and we may decrease [6].

In this current age we are also hidden with Christ in God. This is not saying that we have our old selves covered, for it has been totally destroyed in the resurrection of Christ, a resurrection which destroyed the dominion of death. Rather it is to say that we are hidden as Christ is hidden in that where Christ was seen for a short while, he has now returned to heaven where he is hidden from the eyes of the world [7]. And in considering how we, as people are hidden with Christ, we should consider Luke 8.17 “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” How are we as Christians hidden with Christ? We are hidden in that our new selves have no visible appearance, and those that are not Christian cannot understand the joy and peace we find in Christ because “those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are discerned spiritually” [8]. We are hidden from the knowledge of the world. They can never know the fullness of what we have in Christ and what we display outwardly should, if displayed in its fullness, not be understood by the world. Today, we are hidden with Christ, partakers of the divine nature [9] and awaiting the return of our King as we seek to make our life more like Christ.

This passage finally reveals the culmination of life as a Christian: our emergence in glory with Christ our saviour. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians that we “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” [10]. This is our hope, that in this life we start to change from what was once dead to something alive and glorious, sharing in Christ by his death and our participation in the crucifixion our our old selves on that cross. All, so that in the new age we can get new, glorified bodies. Paul writes of our transformation and instills in us a glorious vision: “What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body” [11]. Thus, at the final day, when Christ comes again in glory, we too can be with him in glory with our inner selves no longer hidden, but as with Christ, revealed for all to see. This is our hope. Eternal life is only a small facet of our hope as a Christian, our greatest hope is that we can share in the glory of God, partake of the life he gives, and live forever in perfect communion with him, forever glorifying and enjoying him forever, world without end.

I earnestly hope that all Christians can come to a better knowledge of Christ so that in him we may all grow closer as a community united in the bond of peace, by love. It is always important to remember where we came from, where we are, but most of all the firm hope we have in where we are going. This life is not all there is, what we see is not all there is. We are forever hidden with Christ and one day we will be revealed with him, fully reconciled with him, and emerging with him in glory.

Maranatha.

references
[1] Revelation 7.14
[2] Ephesians 2.1
[3] Galatians 2.20, Romans 6.6)
[4] Colossians 3.5
[5] Colossians 3.12
[6] John 3.30
[7] John 14.19
[8] 1 Corinthians 2.14
[9] 2 Peter 1.4
[10] 2 Corinthians 3.18
[11] 1 Corinthians 15.42b-44

Amidst all of the consumerism that has, in large part, taken over the holiday that is Christmas, Christmas remains, at its core, a Christian holiday, and not just any holiday but one that exemplifies the message of God to all people: the message that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, has come to earth to save the souls of humanity. Christmas is, for the Christian, a movement from the darkness of the past, to the light of our present hope. It also remains a reminder of the Christians’ hope for the future: a world where people “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more:” a future with an ultimate peace that this world so lacks. This is Christmas for the active Christian, a celebration of the fulfillment of God’s love for humanity, a hope for our suffering world, and a beckoning future that many have placed their hope and faith in.

Christianity has four canonical gospels that make up our knowledge of Jesus’ life and teachings. Of these, the Christmas story many are familiar with is found in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, but I do not believe that these two depictions show the most important part of Christmas, the ultimate change from darkness to light. Rather, I turn to the first chapter of John that shows Jesus the “Word” which was with God, and was God. This concept of “Word” or “truth” is the is combined with a concept of the infinite goodness of God, and that in such a God is no darkness at all: God is light, and Jesus, being God is also light. Therefore, when Christians celebrate Christmas, at the core of the celebration is the coming of light. Where there was once the darkness of human inability, the emergence of God in the form of a man brings light light, a light that could lead all that believe to redemption from wrongs, and revelation of grace and mercy to all that believe. And it is ultimately the emergence of this light that Christians celebrate at Christmas.

Indeed, when Christianity speaks of the goodness of God, it also speaks of the justice and love of God. Christianity believes that there is a universal standard of good, a moral law, that has set forth by God and that humanity has broken this law in its entirety in such a way that all are deserving of just punishment. Thus while upholding the freedom of humanity to choose right or wrong, and his own character as just, God, in his love, sent Jesus, a man who was special in that he united the divine and the human in one essence, an essence that was by necessity human so that he could fulfill the punishment for our wrongs and yet also divine so that the efficacy of his sacrifice can be sure, so that it is our Creator that also becomes the means of our salvation, and so that what writings we have of his sayings are authoritative in that they have been established by God himself. Ultimately Jesus was sent in love to save the world, not that we might be condemned through knowledge of truth, but that such truth might save all those that believe.

Christmas thus remembers this, the coming of God in man in the person Jesus Christ. And why do we remember? The answer can only be because Jesus Christ gives Christians hope. For Christians, we place our faith in the hope that Jesus Christ gives, a hope that this world is not all there is, that this life has inherent meaning, and that the future is more glorious than we can ever imagine. This is what Christmas is to the Christian. Indeed this is the hope that Christians invite all others to participate in by placing faith in Jesus Christ. I, especially, hope that all those that may read this have or will one day come to place faith in the hope of glory that all may have in Jesus Christ so that one day we all may one day find the same joy of hope that Christmas gives to the Christian, a hope that goes far beyond meanings of family or the temporary joy of material gifts.

The hope of glory is what drives the Christian; it is what has caused so many to dedicate their lives to Jesus and his message. While in many ways, I feel that the Church today, that Christians today, are lacking in many ways (and indeed saddens me in many ways), I still believe in the inherent truth of the message of Christianity and one of the central parts of Christianity is a belief in the return of Christ. It is this return that is spoken of when we hear the words “unto us a child is born … and the government shall be upon his shoulder … and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end” in the book Isaiah and also oft heard in renditions of Handel’s Messiah. This is the future that the Christian looks forward to: a future where Christ will return and call his faithful to himself to judge the living and the dead, and to reign with peace and glory for ever and ever and it is my utmost hope that as many as possible, but especially those I call friend, will be able to one day welcome this event with expectant joy and a knowledge of hope.

Christmas is an event for many people. In out increasingly secular society it is a holiday focused on tradition: gifts, family, the nostalgic remembrance of the past in joy, and the start of a focus on a new year. I will not say that these foci are bad things, for I value all these also, but for me, as a Christian, this holiday will always be so much more. Christmas is a remembrance about the coming of the means of our deliverance from darkness to light, and the coming of the hope of all people, that all those that believe might be reconciled to a just but loving God. And even as I remember all this I hope also that all may one day share in this joy I have for this day, and one day join in welcoming the return of Jesus, whose birth Christians remember on Christmas day. 

Merry Christmas 2012. Maranatha.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were very afraid. The angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

For Christians, Christmas must be a large holiday, not because of gifts, or santa, or trees, or holly, but because Christmas marks the transition from the darkness of the past to the lightness of the present hope we all have in the greatest miracle of all, the incarnation of God in the form of a man, the man Jesus Christ. This is a transition marked from the expectant waiting of hope found in the carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” to the joyful, exuberant sound of “Joy to the World.” And today, Christians must once again hope that Jesus will come again to establish his kingdom, because in that kingdom, of peace there shall be no end. This is Christmas for the Christian, both a remembrance of the hope we now have, and a expectant looking of the that future which we one day hope to see. Manaratha.

So I finished revising my statement of faith to reflect changes in my conception of Christianity. Comments would always be nice ;) if not I hope to encourage others to think about just how they view what it means to be Christian (a lifelong process). 

Word

I believe that that the Bible is the word of God revealed to humanity and that through it all may gain an understanding of God. The Bible is fit for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. The Bible is composed of sixty-six books and epistles composed at diverse times and by many people and that the revelation of God in written form ceased after the writing of the Apocalypse of John, that is, Revelation. 

I believe that these works are quick (living) and powerful and form the highest standard of authority for Christian faith and practice. The authorities of these works come not from the writers that wrote them but from the breath of life from an Almighty God. Additionally, there is only one perfect interpretation of this work by the nature of truth, though that truth may not be fully known by people until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, all Christians should strive to understand and interpret the Bible, trying to disregard all biases and human error, examining Scripture in light of Scripture first and with additional guidance from reason and the tradition of the Church. I believe that all that is necessary for salvation is contained within the Bible.

God

I believe in one God, eternal, infinitely perfect, immutable, sovereign over all things, having knowledge of all that has been, is, and will be in all the universe and working all things according to his good and perfect will. I believe that this God exists in the three persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, all united in one essence, consubstantial with each other. All three persons are united into one Godhead, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the essence, with all persons being co-eternal and powerful, and with all persons infinitely worthy and equally deserving of our praise and adoration. I believe in the non-contingency of this God, with all creation contingent on the creative effort of Godhead. 

Father

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty who has made heaven and earth, and all things visible and invisible. I believe that the Father is the source of all life and works all things for his glory and is sovereign above all things. 

Son

I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, eternally begotten of the Father before all worlds. He is God of God, Light from Light and is consubstantial with the Father, and by him were all things made. I believe that Christ is the means of our salvation, having accomplished this by being incarnated of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit and. And having been made flesh, he dwelt among us people, enduring the full burden of temptation and was found perfect and through death fulfilled God’s divine plan for the salvation of humanity.

I believe that for us people and for our salvation, the incarnation of Christ, the Son of God was sent in the fullness of time, descended from heaven, and bore the full essence of God through the Father and the full essence of humanity through the virgin birth through Mary with both the essences of God and man subsisting in one body, the corporeal body of Christ. Through these essences Jesus was fully consubstantial with the Father and consubstantial with man to the purpose of our salvation.

I believe that having been found perfect under the law, Christ was condemned to the cross where he willingly became the propitiation of our sins. He suffered and was buried, descended into hell, and on the third day rose again according to the scriptures. By this he satisfied the wrath of God against humanity and thereby became the one atonement for our sins to all those that believe on his name, the one Mediator between God and man whereby he makes intercession for the elect.

I believe that Jesus Christ now sits at the right hand of the Father, working to reconcile all things to himself. Christ shall come again with glory to judge the quick (living) and the dead and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Holy Spirit

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life. I believe that the Holy Spirit is both co-equal and consubstantial with God and eternally proceeds from the mouth of the Father and of the Son. I believe that the Holy Spirit has been working for all creation and continues to work to call the unregenerate unto Christ. Additionally the Holy Spirit has been sent by Christ to the whole of the elect to act as a guide and helper to all that believe and by this also helps to sanctify the believer from sin.

Man

I believe that humanity was created, male and female, in the image of God to glorify and to love God and to live in perfect communion with God. I believe that by being in the image of God, humanity was created replete with an immortal and immaterial soul, with the ability to reason and to think, and with the law of God written into the hearts of all people. And also having also a capacity to reject the good and perfect plan of God, people acted selfishly and placed themselves over God, alienating themselves from God and destroying the perfect communion once held with God. 

I believe that Adam’s sin has imparted an indelible stain upon the human spirit, rendering it unable to turn of its own will to God, being made spiritually dead by original sin. I believe that this rebellion continues to the present day and that it is only by the effective work of the Holy Spirit that any person can become regenerated and reunited with Christ. I believe that this regeneration can only be accomplished through the acceptance of God’s plan for salvation in Christ.

Sin

I believe that sin is any act that places the will of the individual over the will of God. Every sin, both original and actual, is an act that violates the divine law and imputes guilt onto the unrepentant sinner. By this guilt, humanity brings upon itself the wrath of God and is then made subject unto death both temporal and eternal.

I believe that sin involves actions both committed and omitted and with and without knowledge so long as the law of God is violated. I believe that though all sin brings death, not all sin is of the same severity. I believe that some sins are of a higher gravity and guilt and merit a larger punishment, both temporal and eternal. I believe that the regenerate should also regularly examine his or her life and confess all sins before Christ, who has absolved the repentant of all sins and makes them able to continually strive to conform to the law of God.

Salvation

I believe that God, in his inscrutable will and infinite mercy has chosen to provide a way to save the elect through his Son, Jesus Christ. I believe that all people would not choose this plan of salvation of their own will, having their will impaired by the sin nature that humanity has acquired, and that it is only by the call of the Holy Spirit are any able to come to a knowledge of Christ, the only way to regain communion with God.

I believe that salvation is given by God by grace, and that no person can do things to merit salvation of his or her own works and that the grace of God is received through faith. I believe that the act of regeneration is instantaneous, though it is not necessary for such regeneration to be accompanied by a specific salvative event. I believe that the result of salvation is eternal life filled with the bliss and joy of communion with God in heaven. It is ultimately grace through faith that allows Christians the ultimate victory over sin and death, sharing in Christ’s defeat of death at the resurrection.

Church

I believe that there is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church which consists of the whole number of the elect that believe and call upon the name of Christ, constituting the invisible body of Christ. I believe that this church consists of the church militant and the church triumphant across all the ages, united to each other by prayer and love in Christ Jesus our Lord. I believe that the church militant consists of all that call upon the name of Christ for salvation, thus being united by Christ, though differing in code and creed.

I believe that the church triumphant consists of all those that have passed form this world and has entered into the presence of God in heaven, having washed their robes pure in the blood of the Lamb. 

I believe that this church is the bride of Christ and will be reunited with him at the end of time. I believe also that this church is the Body of Christ, with members raised from spiritual death to the first born from the dead, Jesus Christ, and is reconciled with him, becoming his hands and feet in this world with Christ as the head of the Church. I believe that by being a part of this church we work to bring about the coming of our Lord by reaching out to others so that they may share in the redemption found in Christ. 

I believe that the visible church is composed of the institutional church that is catholic (universal) under the Gospel, and serves to unite the members of the invisible church in doctrine and conduct. I believe that the visible church is wanted by God to be united, but that though human conscience and imperfect understanding is separated into its various denominations in pursuit of the one truth in Christ. I believe that this visible church should be a tool to show the light of Christ in service and charity, affecting the world around it. I believe that there is no perfect church, with all churches having various levels of purity under the doctrine of the Gospel in Christ.

I believe that Christ has instituted two sacraments (holy and visible signs) for the church to continue in until the coming of Christ Jesus our Lord: Baptism and the Eucharist. I believe that baptism is an act administered to an individual that has knowingly committed his or her life to Christ and can be done by pouring or immersion. It is done to mark the death of our old selves and our rebirth in Christ. I believe that the Eucharist, or Lord’s Supper / Communion, has been instituted to remember the atoning work of Christ in the Cross where by we mark in remembrance the body and blood of Christ in the species of the bread and wine. 

Christian life

I believe that following the justification of the soul in Christ and the rebirth found through the baptism of the Spirit, the Christian must continue in the Word and that good works will form an evidence of the salvation found in Christ. Indeed, the old self has been crucified with Christ and the dominion of the body of sin is destroyed and the Spirit dwells in the justified as a helper. Then, having been justified, the Christian must undergo continual sanctification until called again to God in the fullness of time. This sanctification is accomplished by a continual warring against the lust of the eyes and of the flesh and the pride of life with the aid of the Spirit, continually separating ourselves from sin on a daily basis.

I believe it is by grace that the Christian is able to continue in full surrender and faith to the workings of God, with the Spirit delivering us from continued rebellion from the remnants of the old body of sin. This grace does not make the individual sinless or unable to fall into sin, but nevertheless sustains the Christian in the present age through continued separation, introspection, and confession of sin to Christ our mediator.

I believe that all Christians are called to be in, but apart from the world, abstaining from sin. It is the responsibility of the Christian to try as best as they can to proclaim the good news in word and deed so that through our lives the Spirit may act and call others to reconciliation with Christ. 

I believe that each person is subject to his or her own conscience in matters of faith and practice, in light of the Word. I believe that each person should be wholly convicted of what they believe, but to also work for the unity of all believers as one body in Christ, that is to say, “in necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas” (in essentials, unity; in uncertain things, liberty; in all things, charity).

Resurrection of the Dead and the Second Coming

I believe that in death Christians are made perfect in holiness, entering paradise. I believe that Christ will come again with glory. I believe in the resurrection of the dead in those finals days so that all will be judged before Christ, the elect church unto continued and increasing communion with God for all eternity and the unrepentant to an eternity apart from God. I believe that Christ will reconcile all things to himself culminating in a new heaven and a new earth where Christ will reign forever and ever, world without end. And the elect Church will remain as coheirs with Christ, sharing in his glory and drawing closer to God for all eternity.

Addendums

In addition I affirm the Nicene (including the filoque clause, in the manner of the Western Church) and Apostle’s creed as standards of Christian faith and the Heidelberg Catechism (excepting several questions on baptism) as an additional standard of Protestant orthrodoxy.

In finality I declare these statements to be representative of what I believe it means to be Christian. I claim no infallibility, and indeed am likely wrong on many parts but I hope that I may continue to refine what I believe in light of Scripture and with the aid of the Spirit and the conviction of conscience throughout my life. I encourage conversation and debate and encourage all to search scriptures to see is these things are true.  Additionally, I have purposefully left vague somethings that I am continuing to work through.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
World without end. Amen.

These are the words of the doxology (a short hymn of praise), Gloria Patri. Specifically I have taken this translation of the Latin form from the Book of Common Prayer. As a firm believer in the glory and Majesty of a Trinitarian God, I find these words to be greatly uplifting, a reminder of the God that I do so serve on this temporal earth.