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I ran across this article and thought it might make an interesting discussion for those interested.
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Mural of the apostles in Saint George cave church in Ihlara valley, Cappadocia, Turkey | Photo: Getty Images/Evgenii Zotov
Although it was not literally written by the original Apostles of Jesus Christ, The Apostles’ Creed has served as a foundational document and liturgical element in Christian churches since the fourth century. It represents the teachings of the Apostles even though they are not its authors. Its authors are unknown.
The Apostles’ Creed’s purpose is not to replace the Bible, nor to be the only creed for the church, nor to reduce Christian truth to its statements. Rather, it summarizes biblical doctrine and is meant to be recited corporately by followers of Jesus. Its affirmations are necessarily part of Christian doctrine, and all three branches of Christianity affirm it (although not with the same interpretation of every aspect). There is spiritual power found in collectively confessing these truths with conviction on a regular basis and it is a good idea to memorize the Creed as well.
Few Americans believe the Apostles’ Creed today, and many outright oppose the God of the Bible and Christian doctrine. Opposition to Christianity is so strong that Aaron Renn, in his book Life in the Negative World, says that Christians must use new strategies to address the current setting, but without altering the biblical message itself. Renn advocates for a “counter-catechesis” to equip Christians to know what they ought not believe, given their Christian convictions in a hostile world. Thus, this essay, “A Counter Catechism.” There is, in fact, more to a formal catechism than the Apostles’ Creed, but many catechisms include it. We start here. After each statement of the Creed will follow what the Creed denies relative to the subject. The judgments are based on the law of noncontradiction: A is not non-A. Or, you cannot affirm anything about reality and its opposite as both being true in the same way and in the same respect.
The Apostles’ Creed and some of what it denies
Continued below.
worldviewbulletin.substack.com
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Although it was not literally written by the original Apostles of Jesus Christ, The Apostles’ Creed has served as a foundational document and liturgical element in Christian churches since the fourth century. It represents the teachings of the Apostles even though they are not its authors. Its authors are unknown.
The Apostles’ Creed’s purpose is not to replace the Bible, nor to be the only creed for the church, nor to reduce Christian truth to its statements. Rather, it summarizes biblical doctrine and is meant to be recited corporately by followers of Jesus. Its affirmations are necessarily part of Christian doctrine, and all three branches of Christianity affirm it (although not with the same interpretation of every aspect). There is spiritual power found in collectively confessing these truths with conviction on a regular basis and it is a good idea to memorize the Creed as well.
Few Americans believe the Apostles’ Creed today, and many outright oppose the God of the Bible and Christian doctrine. Opposition to Christianity is so strong that Aaron Renn, in his book Life in the Negative World, says that Christians must use new strategies to address the current setting, but without altering the biblical message itself. Renn advocates for a “counter-catechesis” to equip Christians to know what they ought not believe, given their Christian convictions in a hostile world. Thus, this essay, “A Counter Catechism.” There is, in fact, more to a formal catechism than the Apostles’ Creed, but many catechisms include it. We start here. After each statement of the Creed will follow what the Creed denies relative to the subject. The judgments are based on the law of noncontradiction: A is not non-A. Or, you cannot affirm anything about reality and its opposite as both being true in the same way and in the same respect.
The Apostles’ Creed and some of what it denies
Continued below.
A Counter Catechism: What the Apostles' Creed Denies
By Douglas Groothuis
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