Below are the words and music to an ancient Christmas hymn. I believe, in fact, that it is the oldest hymn still sung today. It holds special significance to me, but I'll write about the reason for that in my next post. I wanted to put the words up first. There are serveral more verses to this song, but I only posted the four I have most commonly found in hymnals. This song was first written in Latin early in the 5th century AD. It was latter translated into English and paired with the 11th century plainsong, Divinum Mysterium, sometime in the 1800's. Unfortunately there aren't any really good professional recordings of it on YouTube but this recording seemed to have the best quality and arrangement.

Of the Father's love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessed, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore! 

The Nicene Creed was developed during the First and Second Ecumenical Councils of Nicea in the years 325 and 381, respectively. The purpose of these councils was to try and unite the Christian Church doctrinally in areas essential to our faith such as the Trinity, the divine and human nature of Christ, etc. The original Nicene Council was called by the Emperor Constantine in order to affirm the doctrine of the divinity of Christ and to come against the Arian heresy that denied this doctrine. The second council was convened to revise the creed in order to combat the Macedonian heresy that denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

I think the Nicene Creed nicely summarizes most of the important doctrines of our faith. It is also a beautiful piece of literature. Like the Apostles Creed, if read and recited by those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, it can be a meaningful confession of belief. If read as part of a rote requirement, however, it’s meaning can be eclipsed. I have found this to be a useful tool with my children, especially my oldest daughter. It is her favorite creed to recite. She relishes the language and cherishes the truths the words confess.  The creed is as follows (See notes below for clarification on some of the language contained in this 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. 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.

 

*Catholic here means "universal" and refers to the body of all believers in general.

* Apostolic means "built on the teaching of the apostles"

* The term "baptism for the forgiveness of sins" can be confusing because it could lead someone to believe that baptism is necessary for salvation. This phrase is based on two scripture verses: 1 Corinthians 12:13 ("by one spirit we are all baptized into one body") & Acts 2:38 (Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . ."). The ESV Study Bible note on Acts 2:38 states "The willingness to submit to baptism is an outward expression of inward faith in Christ." (Also see 1 Peter 3:21).

For more information see the following websites:

http://www.carm.org/christianity/creeds-and-confessions/nicene-creed-325-ad

http://www.gotquestions.org/Nicene-creed.html

 A few years ago, I started to teach my children the Apostle’s Creed. Although there were some worship songs already out there that were based on this creed, none of them that I discovered were word for word. I wanted my kids to memorize this beautiful gem of antiquity in it’s original form.  So I did what any other good homeschooler does when she wants her kids to memorize material they are not really interested in – I made up a song. It took about four or five times singing through it for my older two girls and me to memorize it. Quite an accomplishment considering, as a kid, I never did have it all memorized even after hearing it Sunday upon Sunday for 14 years.

Although early forms of this creed date back to 200 AD, the creed in its current form dates back to the 9^th century AD. The Apostle’s Creed was written to combat the Gnostic heresy that denied the humanity of Christ. Although legend says that each line was written by one of the 12 apostles, that is unlikely, due to the dating of the text. It summarizes, however, the teachings of the apostles found in scripture. The words are as follows (*see notes below):

While, this creed doesn’t address all points of doctrine such as the diety and holiness of Christ, salvation through Christ, etc., it provides an outline of the historical facts upon which Christianity is based. Some of the other creeds (such as the Nicene Creed),  confessions and catechisms address these other theological points.  All of these statements are meant to be summaries of scriptural, theological points, but of course, they cannot replace scripture.  We still need to go to scripture to study these truths in depth.

Footnotes:

*Earlier translations translate the Greek word Hades (realm of the dead) into "Hell". Scholars debate about where Jesus went during the period of time between the crucifixion and the resurrection. Some believe he went to hell not to suffer punishment, but to proclaim victory over His enemies, others say He went only to Paradise, still others say He went to Hades/Paradise to release the old testament saints. Scripture is not clear on this issue.

Many Christian historians believe that the purpose of including this line is to emphasize the fact that Jesus actually died. He wasn’t asleep, in a coma, or pretending. Again, this was to disprove the Gnostic teaching that he was not human. A more thorough discussion of this can be found by doing a Google search.

**Not the Roman Catholic Church, but the body of all believers in general.

*** The Bible refers to all believers as saints

When I was a kid growing up in the Presbyterian Church, I remember reciting the ancient Christian creeds on a regular basis. In particular, the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed were commonly read during the church service. One vivid memory of mine, was having difficulty with the line in the Apostles’ Creed that states "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church . . ." "What?! I’m protestant! I can’t say that," my principled 10 year old mind would think and so I would remain silent when it came to reading that part of the creed. During that time, no one explained to me that the word "catholic" was used by the early Christian church to refer to the entire body of believers world wide.

WikiAnswers.com defines a creed as a set of fundamental beliefs usually expressed by a follower of a religion. A Creed is a tool that allows us to state what we believe in a nutshell. Although not scriptural themselves, creeds are based on Biblical truths found in scripture. Like catechisms, Creeds help to bring everything together doctrinally and give us grounding.

Creeds were developed out of necessity during the first several centuries of church history in order to combat certain heresies. With a revival of such ancient heresies as Gnositism (think DiVinci Code) and others, I believe today it as essential as anytime in the past to teach believers the creeds.  They are not only meaty – full of solid, essential, Biblical doctrine – they are also very beautiful and historic.   I love the sense of solidarity I have when they are recited.  I not only feel united with other believers today, but also with believers in ages past – throughout 1800 years of history.

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ.  (Ephesians 4:14-15)

I have been involved in children’s ministry off and on ever since I became a Christian in 1982. Over the past two years, however, my involvement in this area has increased significantly  as my husband's duties as assistant pastor of our church began to include children's ministries. One of the things I have noticed that really concerns me, is what little knowledge children – church kids – actually have about basic, Bibllical docrtrine. I see this especially when I spend significant amounts of time with them at events like VBS or Kids Camp. Kids are really hungry to know more about God. I can tell this by the questions they ask me. I think there are several reasons many children are growing up to become Doctrinally illiterate. One reason, I believe, is that we no longer catechize our children.

Catechize? What’s Catechize?! Some of you may ask. It sounds like some strange disease. Starr Mead states it more eloquently than I can when she says that a catechism is simply an instructional guide. It is a handbook of questions and answers designed to teach principles of religion. To "catechize" children is to teach them to memorize the answers found in a catechism, so that when the catechism questions are asked, the children can reply with the correct responses. Because a good catechism is at the same time concise and thorough, when children have learned it well, their understanding of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith can be tested and found to be complete.

Many religions have some sort of catechism, even though they may not call it that. In most modern-day evangelical churches, the practice of catechism has gone by the way side along with other traditions typically associated with Catholic or mainline protestant churches. While I prefer a church with a more contemporary style of worship, I think we have sold our kids short by removing the catechism. I believe doctrine is important. When our kids leave our homes, they should know what they believe and why they believe it. If they don’t, there are plenty of professors in universities all over the country that will "help" them discover what they believe.

One of the more well know protestant catechisms is the Westminster Shorter Catechism. In the past, this was a tool that churches and parents would use to teach and disciple their children. It consists of 107 questions and answers concerning Biblical doctrine. Starr Mead (quoted above) has written a wonderful resource based on the Shorter Westminster Catechism in Modern English. It is called Training Hearts – Teaching Minds. Each question-answer is taught in devotional form, with scripture references, over six days. After completing this catechism, kids are better prepared to answer questions like "What is God?", "What is Baptism?",  "What is Sanctification," and  "What is Man’s Primary Purpose?"

I love this resource and am currently using it with my kids. One reason I like it, is that each day’s lesson can be completed in as little as 5 minutes or as long as 45 minutes depending on how much discussion you want to have. Another reason it is great for our family, is that it challenges my 13 year old, while at the same time is simple enough for my 6 year old to understand. While I am not expecting that my kids will have this perfectly memorized by the time we’re done, I hope at least they are learning the concepts well enough to explain them to those who ask. Anyway, this is a tool I am planning to continue to use until they leave my home.

So what is the answer? Do we bring back the catechism in church? I believe we really need to. My husband and I are currently investigating different resources that would help us implement this in the modern church setting.  The problem is, in a society where kids’ attention spans are so limited, we would to have be creative in how we would go about doing this. Many kids in today's church setting would have difficulty with the traditional, rote, question-answer method found in the catechisms I am familiar with. What ever the solution is, as a Christian parent, I am the one who is ultimately responsible before God to prepare my kids not to be "carried away by every wind of doctrine"(Eph. 4:4). Catechisms help me do this.

But the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons . . . In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. (I Tim. 4:1, 6)

I have a love-hate relationship with tradition. Following tradition for tradition’s sake is just really not my thing. For me, traditions have to be tied to meaning for them to be valuable. In the modern, evangelical church, we have forsaken many traditions – in my opinion, some good and some bad. However, one of the better traditions, I feel, that we have forsaken unnecessarily is the reading of the creeds and confessions. I think these are hidden treasures just waiting to be unearthed.

Those who may not have grown up in liturgical churches may be unfamiliar with creeds and confessions. Creeds and confessions are basically the fundamental teachings of scripture [presented] in a concise and systematic manner [providing us with] a grid through which to sift all teachings and ideas . . .[they] define the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. (Starr Mead in Training Hearts – Teaching Minds).

I think that one reason we continue to neglect creeds in the modern-day evangelical church is because creeds tend to focus more on knowledge than on application. Deeds! Not Creeds! Is a common mantra/cliche that we often hear. I guess I must be naive, because I don’t think it has to be either /or, but both/and – Creeds and Deeds. The Bible teaches us to be grounded in creeds (I Tim 4:1,6 & Eph.4:14-15; I Peter 3: 15) and to practice good deeds (Eph 4:16). In fact they seem to go hand in hand (Eph 4; 2 Peter 1: 5-11).

In 2 Peter 1: 5-11 there appears to be a sort of progression that happens to our faith. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice that knowledge is one of the first characteristics mentioned – even before brotherly kindness and love.

John 8:31-32 states, So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him,"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  Notice that knowledge is again stressed. Of course it is possible to be "educated beyond our obedience". There needs to be a balance. In my own life, however I have noticed a pattern. The more I know God the more I love God, the more I love God the more I want to obey him.

"Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell"

Isaiah 58:12

"For My people have forgotten Me and they have stumbled from their ways, from the ancient paths to walk in bypaths, not on a highway,"

 Jeremiah 18:15

Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk {in it.}' "

 Jeremiah 6:16

"And they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolation of former generations."

Isaiah 61:4

Ever since my husband and I began our parenting journey, we have had a burden that our children would grow up to love and serve God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deut.6:4-9). Above all else, this has been our vision for them. In a society whose foundations have been ravaged by the effects of sin, and whose paths become dead-ends, our hope and prayer for our children is that they will choose the right path.-- God’s path – for their lives. Our heart’s desire for them has always been that they will live lives built on the foundations of God’s word and place their trust in Christ, the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20). We have prayed that they would "see and ask for the the ancient path" (Jer.6:16) which is Christ – the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). In doing so, as they live lives dedicated to God and His kingdom, our prayer is that God will use each them to be a "repairer of the breach" (between God and humanity) and "the restorer of the streets in which to dwell"  (by pointing others to Christ).

I realize that as a mom, there are no guarantees that my children will grow up to love and serve God.   We have seen the children of many Godly families completely leave Christ. God is the one who calls us to Himself and it is up to each of us to answer that call.  We have just begun to reach  the middle of our journey.  We have quite a way  to go and much still to learn. My hope and prayer, however, is that as I do my best to remain faithful to the task God has set before me, He will bless it according to His grace, mercy, and will.

"Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell"

Isaiah 58:12

"For My people have forgotten Me and they have stumbled from their ways, from the ancient paths to walk in bypaths, not on a highway,"

 Jeremiah 18:15

Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk {in it.}' "

 Jeremiah 6:16

"And they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolation of former generations."

Isaiah 61:4

I love these verses. They have become my vision for parenting. At the time they were written, they were prophecies – promises to Israel that God would bring about its "literal and spiritual restoration." (Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary).  I am not a huge fan of allegorizing scripture (looking at it in a symbolic way).   However, if the original intent and meaning of the passage are kept intact, I have no problem pulling symbolic truths from it – provided that those truths can be supported from other passages of scripture. When I came across these verses over a year ago, I felt that God used them to remind me of something really important.  Namely,  that He is using  what I am attempting to do as a mom – raising a generation of children who love and serve God – to help restore ancient paths and rebuild age-old foundations.