On Being A Heretic

At dinner--at Las Camelias, one of the best Mexican restaurants in the Bay Area--we were chatting and I mentioned to my friend, my consternation that the Presbyterian Church has decided we must all recite the Apostle's Creed at baptisms.  The Apostle's Creed is a primitive creed that was probably compiled in the 5th to 8th centuries until it was finally actually published. It is crude, emphasizing God's judgement, rather than God's mercy and love, emphasizes the three-tiered world-view of that period and is thoroughly a pre-Copernican statement.

The Presbyterian Church USA has chosen, of all the possible creeds and confessions to insist that this abomination be recited. This is the same denomination that produced a wonderful compendium of creeds and confessions call the Book of Confessions, that includes the marvelous Barmen Declaration which declares God's and the church's opposition to the murderous reign of Nazism in Germany and its treatment of Jews, homosexuals, and Gypsies. (And anyone else who opposed it.) It includes the Confession of 1967 which was a statement guiding many who struggled for civil rights. And it holds the "Brief Statement of Faith," which says this . . .

Confessions and declarations are subordinate standards in the church, subject to the authority of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, as the Scriptures bear witness to him. No one type of confession is exclusively valid, no one statement is irreformable. Obedience to Jesus Christ alone identifies the one universal church and supplies the continuity of its tradition. This obedience is the ground of the church’s duty and freedom to reform itself in life and doctrine as new occasions, in God’s providence, may demand.

From my point of view, the only standard for life is the model of Jesus Christ. As best we can dredge it out of the writings of the early church there is an encompassing awareness of his living his life "for others."  That is the true story of the cross (Whatever the "objective" facts are) and the resurrection is spiritual metaphor that Christ is one with each person. In fact, again from my perspective, all spiritual statements, all statements about God, are metaphorical. The experience of spiritual reality is not able to be put into words. All that I or anyone can do is describe in words, what I have experienced in my heart and mind. That description is always partial, composed of similes and metaphors and never the same as any other persons.

So, the Presbyterian Church, USA has essentially decided that I am a heretic, since I refuse to recite the Apostle's Creed. Perhaps that's too harsh. I am simply no longer worthy to be a Presbyterian if that creed is so key as to be the only statement of spirituality.

Here is what seems to me a better creedal statement--if we must have one.

Creed of the Gospel of Thomas

I believe in one God, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist. 

I believe in Jesus, messenger of God's Word,
bringer of God's healing, heart of God's compassion,
bright star in the firmament of God's
prophets, mystics, and saints. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the life of God that is our innermost life,
the breath of God moving in our being,
the depth of God living in each of us. 

I believe that I am called to be Jesus' twin,
allowing myself to be a vehicle of God's love,
a source of God's wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of God's peace in the world. 

I believe that God's reign is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.

I believe in the community of God seekers
in all the religions, as well as outside of them,
the great prophets, mystics, and saints,
and those just beginning their spiritual journey. 

I believe in a future on this earth when all
will be God-centered and God-conscious,
when we will learn to live in love and peace,
in the fellowship of brothers and sisters. 

I believe that in death, life is changed,
not taken away, and that we will go
from step to step in God's life, God's love.
and God's glory for all eternity. Amen. "