Ancient Words – week 1
‘No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.’ ~ John Keating
Keating was on to something, but he missed the reason WHY words and ideas change the world. Powerful words and ideas impregnate the imaginations and hearts of people, making them come alive!
The most world-changing word didn’t even originate from the depths of a person but rather became flesh so that we could experience a relationship with God. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God / And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ (John 1:1, 14)
The early church dealt continuously with ‘false teachers and teachings’ and needed a way to build unity around truth.
Enter the Apostles Creed. Not written by the actual apostles but statements of binding faith and beliefs that would shape the church and disciples of Jesus even to this day. These statements have grounded generation after generation not to ‘a’ truth but to THEE truth. Blood has been spilled, lives have been lost, and people have given up everything on the basis that these ANCIENT WORDS represent a truth that is worth everything and anything.
These are powerful words and ideas because they are grounded in God and how he has revealed himself to his creation through his Word. Through words, the Bible is God revealing who he is and how we can be in a relationship with him. These words bind us to the lineage of believers through history. They are a firm foundation for us to stand on in a world continually shifting the meaning of ‘truth.’ These words are a comfort and catalyst, have changed the world, and can again if we are the means by which they move forward.