Scripture: Mark 5:35-36
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
Thought for the Day: Yesterday I was reading an article on Christian Century’s website entitled: Believe it or not. It was written by Amy Frykholm. It begins this way:
Long before I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church, I told my priest that I had no problems with the Nicene Creed except for those two little words at the beginning, “We believe.” I loved reciting “God from God, light from light, true God from true God.” I liked saying “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church” because that claim seems to fly in the face of all our disagreements and declare an impossible but longed-for unity. I joined the church I did because of its connection to historical Christianity, but also because it was drawn together less by theological doctrine than by the worship tradition of the Book of Common Prayer. I felt the church would challenge and root me, but also offer freedom. Yet I have struggled to make sense of the words “we believe.”
In my Wednesday afternoon class, we have referenced many of the great debates (or outright fights) on the theological concept we call Trinity. Many of the Creeds were an attempt to solve the deep divisions, but almost always, the Creeds created even more conflict. These conflicts were often centered in the requirement that everyone had to “believe” the Creedal statements word for word. I appreciate where Amy Frykholm concluded her article:
Butler Bass points out that the English word believe comes from belieben, which is from the German word for love. Instead of referring to something like “an opinion one holds to be true,” belieben refers to something treasured or held to be beloved. What one believes is what has been invested with one’s love. If we were to stand up and say, “We be-love God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,” we might inch closer to an understanding of my own way of believing.
CLICK HERE for the article
Prayer: God whose very essence I seek to know, please help me grow in my knowledge of you, but more important, my relationship with you. Amen.
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