In last week’s class, the topic of creeds and their recitation came up. For some, a congregation reciting a creed (or, for that matter, any part of a liturgy) may bring up uncomfortable feelings, or may even seem unhealthy.
Many Christians, over many centuries, have found value in the creeds, and have used them as an integral part of worship. Peter Kemeny makes the case for creeds:
We recite the historic Christian creeds: the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. Is this vain repetition? Hollow formalism? I say no. Here are my reasons:
…
In reciting creeds, we are saying to God, “here are the main things we believe as we come together to worship You.” The word creed itself comes from the Latin word, credo, which means “I believe.”
Second, reciting the historic Christian creeds underscores the unity of the church down through the ages. It is a way for a congregation of Christians to say, “we stand shoulder to shoulder with the church across the centuries. We hold to the faith ‘that was once for all entrusted to the saints’ (Jude 3).”
…
It’s unlikely that the historic creeds of the faith will be improved upon as summaries of what the Bible teaches. Let’s hold on to them.