The next element of the Daily Office, which we are working our way through so as to explore the shape of a Christian prayer life, is to recite the Apostles’ Creed. Daily, we are affirming the core truths of our faith through this creed, reminding ourselves of what it is we believe and letting it settle deep into our bones.
For when we say, “I believe…” we are not merely giving our intellectual assent to something, or sharing our opinion, like “I believe pickles are gross” (they are). We’re not just stating a fact, like 2+2=4, but we are declaring that this is the Truth, and I am staking my life on this claim.
“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth,” and all that follows, means that I’m resting the weight of my life upon this, because it is the reality that is the foundation for all of life, and for all that I am. That’s what belief is. Not just intellectual, but a whole-life commitment.
This is why, in the Christian life, we need to continually have these truths in front of us, and allow them to become part of who we are. In the face of many competing voices and impulses and lies that are hounding us from the world, the devil, and our own flesh, we need to stand firm upon the truth of who God is, who we are, and what He has done for us and for the world. There will always be false gospels and lies that are demanding our loyalty (see Galatians 1:6-9, and 2 Timothy 4:3-4), and the best way to discern those as lies is to know the truth.
Do you know what it is we believe as Christians, and why we believe it? Both the what and the why are important for us, not only in resisting the lies of the world, but for worshipping our God and living for Him. For what we believe shapes how we live. Right belief will always flow into right living, and the same is true with wrong belief. So, knowing our faith, studying its truths, and deeply rooting yourself in biblically-shaped belief is going to have a deep impact on your life and your worship.
Every Christian is a theologian, whether you identify as that or not—you believe certain things about God and faith and life. You want to make sure you are a good theologian, and not a bad one! Let us do all that we can to ensure that our beliefs are shaped by Scripture and the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3), and not shaped by the world, or my own flesh.
I want to encourage you to make the reading and study of theology and Christian truth a part of your regular prayer life. Maybe it is having a book of theology or devotion that is paired with your Scripture reading, or maybe you are part of a great Bible study, or come to our weekly catechism class or Formation Nights, or some combination of all of these! However you go about it, it is good for us to always be learning more and rooting our minds and hearts more firmly in the Truth.
And where this really benefits our prayer life is when we understand that our minds and intellects and faculties are meant to be for the glory of God. Knowing theology should never puff us up in pride and make us feel superior to others, but it should humble us and stir our hearts to love God and love others—the greatest commandments, which Jesus gave because they are the Truth, and point us toward the Truth. We do not study theology for the sake of being right, but for the sake of the glory of God, and to conform ourselves not to this world, but to be transformed through the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). Sound doctrine, and good Christian theology, should set our hearts and minds on fire to burn in one direction—toward Jesus. Let our study always lead us into worship.
We recite the Apostles’ Creed daily, and the Nicene Creed weekly in church, so that these truths get deep into our bones and shape us from the inside out. So that we know what we believe, and we can keep investigating why we believe it, and why we can stake our lives on these truths with confidence, to the glory of God.
Let me close with this collect from our prayer book, written by Benedict of Nursia, the 6th-century monk who shaped much of medieval monasticism:
Gracious and holy Father, please give me intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, a heart to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, a tongue to proclaim you, a way of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant me a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting. Amen.
For Your Reflection
- What truth of the Creeds is most wonderful, most comforting to you today, and why?
- Ponder the statement, “What we believe shapes how we live.” How have you seen that play out in your life?
- Our beliefs are explicit and implicit—what we say we believe and what we truly believe deep in our guts. Sometimes these don’t agree, and sometimes our lives and behaviors are not aligned with our confession of faith. Examine your own life and heart on this, and ask the Lord what He would speak to you about it.
- Read through the Apostles’ Creed. Can you truly, with all your heart, affirm each word of this creed? If you find yourself stumbling, or hesitating on any point, that needs to be your next area of study. Feel free to reach out to me to discuss or for recommended resources.