I Believe

This was Jarod's article from last month's newsletter at church. Thought I would share it with you. He called it "I Believe:"

"A few weeks ago, on my way home from church, I heard something on the radio that moved me deeply and caused me to worship God in a new way. It wasn’t a worship song or a sermon; it wasn’t even on a Christian radio station. For reasons unknown to myself, on that day, I tuned in to National Public Radio on a Sunday afternoon. I heard an old man, a Catholic scholar as it turned out, speaking about his life’s work: the study of creeds. As a church-goer all my life and a student at a Bible college I was familiar with the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed, but they were little more than academic for me. I agree with most of what each says (though at points I have arguments) and appreciate them for the effect they’ve had on the Church for centuries, but I’ve never been moved by a creed... until now.
Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan was exploring the different creeds, talking about their origins and the roles they’ve played in the Church and in the arts. He talked about how a community tends to focus in on the creeds in their youth, but as they grow in their knowledge and maturity they desire to write their own statements of faith. One community’s creed captured my heart. Tears welled up when I heard the words being read, and as I read the creed to my wife Laura in our kitchen a few minutes later I could barely make it through.
This is the Maasai Creed, written by Kenyan Christians in the 1960’s:

"We believe in one high God, who out of love created the beautiful world. We believe that God made good His promise by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, a man in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left His home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and [humanity], and showing that the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by His people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He was buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch Him, and on the third day He rose from the grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord.
We believe that all our sins are forgiven through him. All who have faith in him must be sorry for their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love, and share the bread together in love, to announce the good news to others until Jesus comes again. We are wait- ing for him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe. Amen."

I love the imagery of Jesus on Safari doing good, of the hyenas never touching His body. I love the eager anticipation of His return.

“We are waiting for Him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe.” Amen."

Jarod Anderson, Worship Minister