Yes, it’s a book Scot McKnight wrote, but it’s also, well, a creed, written by Brian McLaren in 2004.
This creed was originally shared at the Emergent Convention, Nashville, May 2004.
By Brian McLaren
We have confidence in Jesus
Who healed the sick, the blind, and the paralyzed.
And even raised the dead.He cast out evil powers and
Confronted corrupt leaders.
He cleansed the temple.
He favored the poor.
He turned water into wine,
Walked on water, calmed storms.He died for the sins of the world,
Rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father,
Sent the Holy Spirit.We have confidence in Jesus
Who taught in word and example,
Sign and wonder.
He preached parables of the kingdom of God
On hillsides, from boats, in the temple, in homes,
At banquets and parties, along the road, on beaches, in towns,
By day and by night.He taught the way of love for God and neighbor,
For stranger and enemy, for outcast and alien.We have confidence in Jesus,
Who called disciples, led them,
Gave them new names and new purpose
And sent them out to preach good news.
He washed their feet as a servant.
He walked with them, ate with them,
Called them friends,
Rebuked them, encouraged them,
Promised to leave and then return,
And promised to be with them always.He taught them to pray.
He rose early to pray, stole away to desolate places,
Fasted and faced agonizing temptations,
Wept in a garden,
And prayed, “Not my will but your will be done.”
He rejoiced, he sang, he feasted, he wept.We have confidence in Jesus,
So we follow him, learn his ways,
Seek to obey his teaching and live by his example.
We walk with him, walk in him, abide in him,
As a branch in a vine.We have not seen him, but we love him.
His words are to us words of life eternal,
And to know him is to know the true and living God.
We do not see him now, but we have confidence in Jesus.Amen.
One possibility within the SMC Liturgy Beta.
I’ve always thought it more important to emphasize Jesus of Galilee’s principles/teachings than anything remotely historical about his actions; In reality we know little about the man’s actions except his movements and words, the rest being scientifically suspect. In fact, if you concentrate on his spoken text alone he says *nothing* about himself factually. He only speaks of ethics and ideals. That should say something to the present day member of the many popular Christian ideologies.
Ironically (as posted prior), if you examine this text by itself, in historical context, the man is a big-time-pharisee. You can understand why the Temple_establishment was so negative to his speeches.
I think we’re missing the mark when we start glorifying, sining, and jubilating about what we *think* he did — and not what we generally, by and large, can extract of what he truly said.
Juxtapose the Christian letters and books and you have a very consistent text of what the man said — actions? historical facts? Nope. I think it’s important to concentrate on what Jesus concentrated on — and that wasn’t himself. It was ideals. All else is missing the mark.
rob@egoz.org