Creeds In Worship (Traditional)

A creed is a summary of God's mighty acts of salvation. Saying or singing the creed in worship is a way of rehearsing the salvation story.

After the sermon, the people respond with an affirmation of faith. The affirmation of faith serves as a way for the congregation to express faith in God through a response to the Scripture readings and the sermon. Formal affirmations of faith include the Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed. The Nicene Creed, which originated in a.d. 325 and was set in its final form in 381, has always been looked on as the most appropriate creed for morning worship. The Apostles' Creed, which originated as a baptismal statement of faith, is always used when a baptism occurs. A problem in the recitation of creeds is that the people tend to say the creed in an intellectual way. Originally the creed was doxological witness, a cry of faith from the heart, not a mere belief system to be recited from the head. Congregations should be taught to express the creed in an effective way. This can be accomplished by singing the creed or by saying it in a proclamatory way. Congregations must be instructed and taught how to do this. Use the time in the gathering to practice a heartfelt way of expressing faith through the creed. Some churches prefer to prepare an affirmation of faith from Scripture texts instead of the traditional Nicene Creed or Apostles' Creed. These creeds may be said in unison, in an antiphonal manner, or in some other suitable way. Other churches (especially charismatic), prefer to have brief spontaneous Statements of faith said or sung by members of the congregation. People may respond with acclamations of faith such as "God has been real to me in my suffering," "I know God loves me," or with statements that refer to characteristics of God such as, "Blessed be God who is filled with compassion and love," "Praise God who is sovereign over the affairs of people and nations." When this approach to an affirmation of faith is used, care must be given to its introduction, to involvement of all the people, and to its conclusion. An affirmation of faith can also be achieved through a talk-back time to the Sermon. This form of response is particularly effective in the small or informal church. Simply ask: "What did you hear God saying to you?" and allow a specific amount of time for response. Some churches are also asking for response to the sermon through brief groups discussions or talk-back sermons. Biblical Creeds Some churches do not use the traditional creeds of the church, preferring creeds that are strictly biblical. Below are several biblical creeds. We stand in the good news that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, and that he appeared to Peter, then to the Twelve and to many faithful witnesses. We proclaim him to be the Christ, the Son of the living God; We confess that he is the first and the last, the beginning and end; And we commit our lives to him as our Lord and our God. Amen. (Adapted from St. Paul) or We are convinced there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and we have experienced that in everything God works good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. We are also sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else visible or invisible will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. (Adapted from St. Paul) Examples of Traditional Creeds The Nicene Creed is traditionally used in Sunday worship while the Apostles' Creed is used at baptism. Many churches, however, use the Apostles' Creed in morning worship as well. The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer) The Apostle's Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer) Apostles Creed (Contemporary Version). Many renewing churches have kept the basic doctrines and teaching of the historic creeds while placing them in a more contemporary framework. In recent years Graham Kendrick wrote a musical version of the Apostles' Creed called "We Believe." Barry Liesch, in his book People in the Presence, also provides us with a poetic version of the creed designed to be sung to the tune of "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken." I believe in God the Father Maker of the heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ, our Savior, God's own Son of matchless worth; By the Holy Ghost conceived, Virgin Mary bore God's Son, He, in whom I have believed, God Almighty, Three in One. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified for me He died. Laid within the grave so silent, gates of Hell He opened wide, And the stone-sealed tomb was empty, on the third day He arose, Into heaven made His entry, Mighty Conqueror of His foes. At God's right hand He is seated, till His coming, as He said, Final judgment will be meted to the living and the dead, I confess the Holy Spirit has been sent through Christ the Son, To apply salvation's merit, God the Spirit—Three in One. I believe that all believers form one body as a whole, We are one throughout the ages, with the saints I lift my soul. I believe sins are forgiven, that our bodies will be raised, Everlasting life in heaven, Amen, let His name be praised! (Barry Liesch, People in the Presence of God [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988], 108)