Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church

Genesis 15:1-6, Romans 10:9-10

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." We learned this saying when we were children. We recited it to defend ourselves against teasing. There is only one problem. It is false! Long after our bones and bruises heal, the harsh words continue to hurt. Emotional pain from cruel words on the playground or harsh words from a parent remain with us far longer than any physical pain.

Jesus taught us that speaking words is one of the most important things we do, in contradiction to the popular views of our society. We devalue words with statements such as: "Talk is cheap," and "Those are just words." Jesus, on the other hand, says that our words carry eternal significance. In Matthew 12 he said, "I tell you, on the day of judgement you will have to give account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Words are very powerful. A bride and groom stand before God and their witnesses. The minister asks them simple questions. "Will you have this woman to be your wife?" He says he will. "Will you have this man to be your husband?" She says she will. They say their vows to each other. Just a few words. Yet those words change everything. At the end of the service they are presented as husband and wife. Their lives will never be the same again. Our society now has a new family.

In our families we use powerful words. The teenage daughter tells her parents, "I'll be home later. My date is here." The parents ask her date, "What time will you have her home?" He suggests 11:30. They agree to that time and wish the couple well as they take off for the ball game. When 11:30 comes, she isn't home. Mom watches the clock as it rolls around to 11:45 and then midnight. "Shall we call the highway patrol?" "No," the father replies, "let's wait a little longer. I'm sure she is okay." Is he trying to convince his wife or himself?

At 12:15 the phone rings. It is the young man's parents. "Are the kids at your house?" "No we haven't seen them. Let's get off the phone, they might be trying to call one of us right now." The clock seems to move more slowly than ever as they wait and count the seconds of each minute. Feelings range from anger to fear. The silence is deafening. Now it is 1:30, then 1:45 in the morning. At 2:00 the phone rings and the father answers with fear in his voice. On the other end is his daughter's voice. "Daddy? Daddy, the car broke down. We're at a farmer's house out in the country. There's a lady here giving us something to eat while her husband works on the car. She wants to talk to you and assure you that we are okay."

Daddy. She hasn't used that word in years. It's just a word ¬ Daddy. How much would you pay for that one word at 2:00 in the morning from your teenage daughter? You can't put a price on it.

Words are incredibly powerful. They can hurt or heal. They can change our lives. They carry eternal consequences. This is why the Apostle Paul added what we say to what we believe as the most important parts of one's faith. In Genesis we read that Abraham believed God and it was credited as righteousness. Apparently belief was enough in those days. Paul, however, took Jesus seriously. When Jesus said our words are important, Paul added what we say to what we believe. He said it is important not only that we believe with our hearts, but also that we confess with our lips that Jesus is Lord. Over the years the church has expanded this simple statement of faith into the Apostles' Creed. Let us consider the power of saying the words of the Apostles' Creed.

The minister met with a young couple to prepare for a wedding. As they discussed the upcoming service the pastor asked if they wanted a contemporary or traditional service. They were not sure and asked for clarification. The pastor explained that many couples enjoy the old traditions of the bridal march played on the organ and traditional vows. However, some couples today prefer more upbeat, popular music as well as variations on the vows that make them more personal. The couple thought about it and decided they wanted a contemporary service. They chose some popular music and added their own words to the vows. Everything went well at the rehearsal. Then on the day of the wedding a terrible rainstorm blew in. The groom rushed to his car and could not get it started. So he rolled up his pants legs and ran through the wet streets to get to the church. By the time he arrived the wedding was ready to begin. He quickly dried himself off and was rushed directly to the sanctuary. The contemporary music began and the groom entered with the pastor.

The groom was standing up front waiting for the bride when the minister noticed that the groom's pants legs were still rolled up. As everyone turned to watch the bride come down the aisle, the minister leaned over and whispered to the groom, "Pull down your pants." The groom quickly responded, "We'll switch to a traditional service."

Is the Apostles' Creed contemporary or traditional? Most would probably answer that this creed is obviously traditional. Since it dates back hundreds of years to the beginnings of Christianity, how could it possibly be seen as contemporary? I would argue that it is contemporary because it is a statement that is alive and is constantly being revised and updated.

Those who would see this as a traditional creed might be shocked to learn that it has been adapted and changed many times over its history. The earliest version of the creed (which did not come from the apostles) began with the words, "I believe in God almighty." A few generations later it was altered to say, "I believe in the God the Father Almighty." It was nearly four hundred years before the creed included the words, "Descended into hell" as part of the description of what Jesus has done for us. In more recent times this has been edited to say, "descended to the dead." The version we have printed in our bulletins is the ecumenical version, which was refined within the last generation. It has several minor changes from the way people recited it as recently as the fifties. For instance, "maker of heaven and earth" has been edited to "creator of heaven and earth" and "Holy Ghost" has been changed to "Holy Spirit." In other words, this creed is still alive and changing.

When we realize that the Apostles' Creed is still being edited, we can appreciate it as more than a historical document from the past. It is actually intended to be a vision for the future. Is it possible to make a statement that is rooted in history and yet serves as a vision for the next generation?

During the Civil War one of the finest orators in America was invited to speak at a dedication ceremony for a new national cemetery. Historians note that Edward Everett's speech lasted nearly three hours. At the close of that speech, President Abraham Lincoln added a postscript, speaking about one minute. Lincoln's speech began with the words, "Four score and seven years agoŠ." President Lincoln spoke about liberty and equality. He reminded his listeners that we are a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

I have never heard a single quote from Edward Everett's three-hour speech and have no idea what he said at Gettysburg that day. Yet, most of us can recite portions if not all of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Why are these few words so memorable?

Was the power of the Gettysburg Address that he spoke of our foundations? No, it was far more than a reminder of the past. I think the power of the Gettysburg Address was that Lincoln, in a few words, restated our vision as a nation. We lift the vision of liberty and equality for all. We are a nation where the people can influence the direction of government. New generations of Americans learn the Gettysburg Address because it presents our vision for the future.

The purpose of the Apostles' Creed is not just to root us in the history of the church, but to give us vision for our future. It is intended to be more than an anchor; it is a lookout. It does more than simply look backward; it looks forward.

One way of thinking about the Apostles' Creed is to consider which phrases are the visionary ones for our walk with Christ. Different phrases may be more meaningful at different times in our lives. The challenge is not simply to recite what is familiar and comfortable, but to consider what is uncomfortable in the creed.

I've lost count of how many times people have asked "Why do we say we believe in the 'holy catholic church'?" We will explore these uncomfortable phrases to see if they may be the place where clarification will help us to grow. A few years ago an elder in this church commented to me that he had never really explored what it means when we say, "I believe in the Holy Spirit." His life took a dramatic turn when he began taking this part of the creed seriously.

Let's take this spring to explore how these old phrases can actually be visionary for our lives today. Is there some phrase in the Apostles' Creed which can become your personal vision and goal? One thing is certain; the words of this creed have the potential to change our lives.

A few years ago I watched a video by Joel Barker titled, "The Power of Vision." In that video lecture, he tells about a Mr. Lang who was invited by a Harlem public school to speak to the graduating sixth-grade class. Mr. Lang had attended that same public school, PS 121. He was one of the few to graduate from college and become successful in business. So he was asked to motivate the children to continue their education. He stepped to the podium that day, looked out at the students and parents, and did something he had not planned ahead of time. Instead of giving the speech he had written, he realized he needed to give those young people a vision of what they could become. These children needed to have a goal for their lives. He reminded them that he had once sat in one of those chairs at a similar graduation ceremony years before. He assured them that he knew what it was like to grow up in Harlem. Then he challenged them to complete high school and go to college.

Mr. Lang concluded his speech with an impromptu promise. He promised that for any of those children who wanted to go to college, he would personally pay their way through college.

Historically only 25 percent of any graduating class from that school, PS 121, finishes high school. Three-quarters of all sixth-grade classes drop out of school without a high school diploma. Of those who do complete high school, very few even attempt college. In that sixth-grade class, however, 48 of the 52 students graduated from high school. Further, of the 48 high school graduates, 40 went on to college. They had a goal. They had hope for their future. They saw the vision!

The words we say out loud are powerful. What words are you saying this week?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Recall a time when your "careless words" caused a rift in your relationship with someone. How did you mend it?

How do you personally feel about the recitation of a creed or other litany? Is it meaningful or merely repetitious?

What phrases in the Apostles' Creed have had particular impact and meaning for your spiritual journey? Which ones do you find difficult?

Describe how the direction and purpose of your life has been influenced by a vision someone has communicated to you.