Introduction
“I do not seek to understand so that I may believe; but I believe so that I may understand.”
Christian belief is not just a series of stale doctrines or cognitive concepts. It is a way of being. Faith is a way of living that helps us understand the world. This is what Anselm was getting at when he wrote those words a thousand years ago. Christian faith makes sense of our world and gives meaning to our life.
Over the next several weeks, during the seasons of Lent and Easter, we are going to explore the basics of this faith together through our weekly worship and the daily scripture readings and reflections in this book. Let me offer a few words of introduction.
A Word about Lent and Easter
Lent is a forty-day season that leads up to Easter Sunday. It may be strange and new to some or it may seem like an old ritualistic practice to others, but really ‘lent’ is just the Old English word for springtime. It has the same root as the word “length” and refers to the “lengthening of days” that we experience this time of year in the northern hemisphere.
In the early centuries of the church, the forty days of Lent became a season of preparation for new believers to be received into the community of the church through baptism on Easter. During this period, new believers would prepare for their baptism by learning the basics of faith, devoting themselves to prayer and fasting, and sharing life in community with each other. For the rest of the church, this season was a time to renew their faith by participating in the same things as they anticipated the coming celebration of the good news on Easter Sunday.
Easter itself is also a season. Lent is forty days, but Easter lasts for fifty. If the time of preparation and renewal is good, the season of celebration is better. This reminds us that no matter how much of God’s goodness we can experience in this life, there will always be more in the life of resurrection to come.
A Word about The Apostles’ Creed
In those early centuries of the church when new believers were preparing for their baptism, how did they go about learning the basics of faith? Should they have to read through the whole Bible? Many people were not even literate at that time. Therefore, a short oral summary of the apostles’ teachings was formed to help people learn the basics of Christian belief. This summary came to be known as The Apostles’ Creed. The word ‘creed’—like the word ‘lent’—can seem a bit strange or archaic, but it simply comes from the Latin word “credo” which means “believe.” In fact, this is the first word in the Latin version of the creed (“I believe…”). So, the Apostles’ Creed is simply a summary of the apostles’ teachings on God, Jesus, and the church. We might think of it as a sort of CliffsNotes or SparkNotes for the Bible.
A Word about this Book
Over the next ninety days—the forty days of Lent and fifty days of Easter—we are going to join with those who have gone before us in learning the basics of Christian belief. Each week we will reflect on a line from The Apostles’ Creed in the following ways:
Weekly Prayers. Every week has a written prayer (some from centuries ago) to return to throughout the week.
Daily Readings. Monday through Friday include scripture readings on that week’s theme to be sure we are staying rooted in the Bible. Every week includes a psalm and most weeks include readings from both old and new testaments.
Reflection Questions. In addition to daily readings, there are also reflection questions and prompts to help us go deeper and practically respond. Saturdays and Sundays include space for extended reflection.
Community. Throughout the book there are constant invitations to discuss and share with others. Consider, joining our Wednesday Group or find a discussion partner to journey with. Like the early church, this learning is best done with others.
I hope the resources in this book and upcoming sermons and discussions can strengthen and renew our faith as we follow Jesus together!
The Apostle’s Creed