Do You Know What You Believe?
03/01/09 09:12 Filed in: Beliefs
I
read books because I don’t want to stop learning and
growing intellectually and spiritually. Recently I
read Charles (Chuck) Colson’s (and Harold Fickett’s)
book
The Faith – given once and for
all.
It is a timely book because as Chuck Colson writes,
“Most professing Christians don’t know what they
believe and so can neither understand nor defend the
Christian faith – much less live it.”
I don’t have to quote surveys to tell you that even people who call themselves “born-again Christians” no longer hold on to the basic tenets of orthodox biblical evangelical doctrine. We live in a post-modern society that no longer believes in absolute truth. All truth is considered relative and for so many people it only means what it means to you personally.
Chuck Colson puts it this way:
“Even evangelicals, known for their fidelity to Scripture, have not been exempt from postmodernist influence. Both George Gallup and George Barna, eminent pollsters and close Church observers, have in recent years decried the declining biblical literacy in the Church. The majority of evangelicals – who Barna calls ‘born-again Christians’ – do not believe absolute truth. Sixty percent of Americans can’t name five of the Ten Commandments; 50 percent of high school seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were married.”
There is a great need today for revival, not only a “Holy Spirit” revival but also a “truth” revival. In light of this, I can understand more and more why in the early church there was such an emphasis put on creeds like the Apostles’ Creed, because in them were captured the essential, non-negotiable statements of the faith of the church. Now I know that over time, for many these creeds became rote and lifeless, but nevertheless they contained the basic tenets of our faith.
So what are the essential basic elements of what we believe? There are many ways to highlight these doctrines but I want to put forth a fresh way of expressing them in what I call “The 7 Greatest Days in History.”
Each of these days represent a crucial tenet of our faith and provides a structure to fill in all that is involved in Christian living, or to put it another way, it is the skeleton that provides the structure to our body of beliefs. One point we need to make is that all this is built on the foundation of Scripture, the word of God, the authority for all that we believe. So, let’s look at these seven days as it gives us another way of looking at a Christian worldview. You will note that many with a secular worldview oppose all these seven days.
DAY ONE – THE DAY OF CREATION
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” (Genesis 1:1). The Nicene Creed puts it this way: “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And of all things visible and invisible.” So it is that Christians believe that the universe as we know it didn’t just happen. It was created by a personal God. That is why the psalmist was able to say, “The heavens declare the glory of God,” (Psalm 19:1). You look at creation, at the beauty of a sunset, the awe inspiring vista of land or sea and you can’t help but see the hand of God culminating in the creation of mankind.
Secular evolutionists who rule out any place for God in the creation of the universe, of course, deny this.
DAY TWO – THE DAY THE LAW WAS GIVEN
Fast forward to the days of Moses on Mt. Sinai and the giving of the Ten Commandments, which have been the basis for Judeo-Christian ethics in our own country. The law was to reveal to us our condition as sinners. “I would not have know sin except through the law,” (Romans 7:7). To realize that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:20).
Once again, this runs contrary to secular humanistic thinking. It was two centuries ago that philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau put forth the theory that humans are born naturally good but are corrupted by society – a theory that any parent would reject.
DAY THREE – THE DAY CHRIST WAS BORN
As John’s gospel puts it, “The Word (Christ) became flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14). The mystery of the incarnation is described in the Apostles’ Creed: “Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.” The day God became man, son of God, son of Man.
Again, this flies in the face of secular beliefs. People will accept Jesus as a great teacher, a moral example, even a prophet, but not the Son of God. Even some denominations question this essential truth, including the virgin birth.
DAY FOUR – THE DAY CHRIST DIED
The central day of all the seven is this one – the day Christ died. If you ever saw Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, you will never forget it as you realized “He did all this for me.” You recognize the depth of God’s love. “But God demonstrated His own love towards us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us,” (Romans 5:8). This is the big one that many people find hard to believe. Paul declared, “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness.” Remember, Christ died – that’s history. Christ died for me – that is salvation.
DAY FIVE – THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION
Perhaps for some, even harder to believe is the claim that on the third day Christ rose from the dead. The story doesn’t end with the cross. As the Apostles’ Creed puts it: “Jesus . . . was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven.” Christ is risen and this too, is central to our faith.
No wonder so many people over the centuries have come up with so many alternative theories. If one could prove Christ did not rise from the dead, then Christianity would no longer stand.
DAY 6 – THE DAY OF PENTECOST
“When the day of Pentecost had come they were all with one accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from heaven of a rushing mighty wind . . . and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Christianity is more than just an intellectual assent to a set of beliefs. It is the very life of God within the believer. Christ in you the hope of glory by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
They needed it then and we need it now. Yet many people deny it is for today or downplay its importance for Christian living now.
DAY 7 – THE DAY CHRIST RETURNS
Christianity is different to every other religion. It is not just a philosophy, a moral code. It is a historical religion that spans all of history It begins with creation and it ends with the second coming of Christ, or as the Apostles’ Creed puts it: “From hence He shall come to judge the quick (i.e. the living) and the dead.” History is going somewhere. It is marching towards the great climax of time. We began in Genesis 1:1 and we come to the last words of the Bible, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. So come Lord Jesus.”
So, there you have it – “What we believe” expressed in these seven days of history. Woven through it all is the good news of the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and the story of the Church and Israel, all based upon the covenants God has made with His people across history. Once again, as Chuck Colson writes:
“Christians must see that the faith is more than a religion or even a relationship with Jesus; the faith is a complete view of the world and humankind’s place in it. Christianity is a worldview that speaks to every area of life and its foundational doctrines define its content.”
Notes –
I encourage you to read Chuck Colson’s book, The Faith, and get back to the basics so that we now clearly know “What we believe.” It can be used in a small group setting with a DVD (six lessons).
If you live in the Minnesota area, Chuck Colson will be the special speaker at the Minnesota Family Council on Monday April 13, at the Minneapolis Hilton. Details can be found at www.mfc.org.
Another resource is The Truth Project and its curriculum from Focus on the Family. Details are available at www.thetruthproject.org.
I don’t have to quote surveys to tell you that even people who call themselves “born-again Christians” no longer hold on to the basic tenets of orthodox biblical evangelical doctrine. We live in a post-modern society that no longer believes in absolute truth. All truth is considered relative and for so many people it only means what it means to you personally.
Chuck Colson puts it this way:
“Even evangelicals, known for their fidelity to Scripture, have not been exempt from postmodernist influence. Both George Gallup and George Barna, eminent pollsters and close Church observers, have in recent years decried the declining biblical literacy in the Church. The majority of evangelicals – who Barna calls ‘born-again Christians’ – do not believe absolute truth. Sixty percent of Americans can’t name five of the Ten Commandments; 50 percent of high school seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were married.”
There is a great need today for revival, not only a “Holy Spirit” revival but also a “truth” revival. In light of this, I can understand more and more why in the early church there was such an emphasis put on creeds like the Apostles’ Creed, because in them were captured the essential, non-negotiable statements of the faith of the church. Now I know that over time, for many these creeds became rote and lifeless, but nevertheless they contained the basic tenets of our faith.
So what are the essential basic elements of what we believe? There are many ways to highlight these doctrines but I want to put forth a fresh way of expressing them in what I call “The 7 Greatest Days in History.”
Each of these days represent a crucial tenet of our faith and provides a structure to fill in all that is involved in Christian living, or to put it another way, it is the skeleton that provides the structure to our body of beliefs. One point we need to make is that all this is built on the foundation of Scripture, the word of God, the authority for all that we believe. So, let’s look at these seven days as it gives us another way of looking at a Christian worldview. You will note that many with a secular worldview oppose all these seven days.
DAY ONE – THE DAY OF CREATION
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” (Genesis 1:1). The Nicene Creed puts it this way: “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And of all things visible and invisible.” So it is that Christians believe that the universe as we know it didn’t just happen. It was created by a personal God. That is why the psalmist was able to say, “The heavens declare the glory of God,” (Psalm 19:1). You look at creation, at the beauty of a sunset, the awe inspiring vista of land or sea and you can’t help but see the hand of God culminating in the creation of mankind.
Secular evolutionists who rule out any place for God in the creation of the universe, of course, deny this.
DAY TWO – THE DAY THE LAW WAS GIVEN
Fast forward to the days of Moses on Mt. Sinai and the giving of the Ten Commandments, which have been the basis for Judeo-Christian ethics in our own country. The law was to reveal to us our condition as sinners. “I would not have know sin except through the law,” (Romans 7:7). To realize that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:20).
Once again, this runs contrary to secular humanistic thinking. It was two centuries ago that philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau put forth the theory that humans are born naturally good but are corrupted by society – a theory that any parent would reject.
DAY THREE – THE DAY CHRIST WAS BORN
As John’s gospel puts it, “The Word (Christ) became flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14). The mystery of the incarnation is described in the Apostles’ Creed: “Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.” The day God became man, son of God, son of Man.
Again, this flies in the face of secular beliefs. People will accept Jesus as a great teacher, a moral example, even a prophet, but not the Son of God. Even some denominations question this essential truth, including the virgin birth.
DAY FOUR – THE DAY CHRIST DIED
The central day of all the seven is this one – the day Christ died. If you ever saw Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, you will never forget it as you realized “He did all this for me.” You recognize the depth of God’s love. “But God demonstrated His own love towards us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us,” (Romans 5:8). This is the big one that many people find hard to believe. Paul declared, “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness.” Remember, Christ died – that’s history. Christ died for me – that is salvation.
DAY FIVE – THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION
Perhaps for some, even harder to believe is the claim that on the third day Christ rose from the dead. The story doesn’t end with the cross. As the Apostles’ Creed puts it: “Jesus . . . was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven.” Christ is risen and this too, is central to our faith.
No wonder so many people over the centuries have come up with so many alternative theories. If one could prove Christ did not rise from the dead, then Christianity would no longer stand.
DAY 6 – THE DAY OF PENTECOST
“When the day of Pentecost had come they were all with one accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from heaven of a rushing mighty wind . . . and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Christianity is more than just an intellectual assent to a set of beliefs. It is the very life of God within the believer. Christ in you the hope of glory by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
They needed it then and we need it now. Yet many people deny it is for today or downplay its importance for Christian living now.
DAY 7 – THE DAY CHRIST RETURNS
Christianity is different to every other religion. It is not just a philosophy, a moral code. It is a historical religion that spans all of history It begins with creation and it ends with the second coming of Christ, or as the Apostles’ Creed puts it: “From hence He shall come to judge the quick (i.e. the living) and the dead.” History is going somewhere. It is marching towards the great climax of time. We began in Genesis 1:1 and we come to the last words of the Bible, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. So come Lord Jesus.”
So, there you have it – “What we believe” expressed in these seven days of history. Woven through it all is the good news of the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and the story of the Church and Israel, all based upon the covenants God has made with His people across history. Once again, as Chuck Colson writes:
“Christians must see that the faith is more than a religion or even a relationship with Jesus; the faith is a complete view of the world and humankind’s place in it. Christianity is a worldview that speaks to every area of life and its foundational doctrines define its content.”
Notes –
I encourage you to read Chuck Colson’s book, The Faith, and get back to the basics so that we now clearly know “What we believe.” It can be used in a small group setting with a DVD (six lessons).
If you live in the Minnesota area, Chuck Colson will be the special speaker at the Minnesota Family Council on Monday April 13, at the Minneapolis Hilton. Details can be found at www.mfc.org.
Another resource is The Truth Project and its curriculum from Focus on the Family. Details are available at www.thetruthproject.org.