A New Creed

Sunrise from Space

A New Creed

We believe in a God who does not punish, reward, make demands or hand out favors.

We believe in a God who came to save ALL not just many.

We believe in a God who does not walk away from us when we ‘miss the mark’.

We believe in a God who does not measure our sins but desires to help us overcome them so that we may profit from them.

 

We believe in a God who came to earth so that we might live life to the full.

 

We believe in a God who does not speak of hell as a place of eternal punishment.

We believe in a God who will accompany comfort and heal us through valleys of pain, loss and suffering.

We believe in a God who descended to the dead to rescue us from the hell we experience on earth.

We believe in a God who does not condemn gays, transsexuals, or anyone else.

We believe in a God who will not rest until ALL are returned to his heavenly realm.

We believe in a God who accepts us as we are not as others would have us be.

We believe in a God whose final justice is based on restoration not punishment.

We believe in a God who has no need for fixed dogma or doctrine or any other human edicts that can stunt our spiritual growth or dependence on him.

We believe in a God who loves us unconditionally.

We believe in a God who created us as his original blessing, imperfect but with unlimited potential to love and be loved.

  

We believe in a God who suffered on the cross not to die for our sins but as the ultimate sign of his love.

We believe in a God whose revelation continues through his Son, creation, scripture and the hearts of humankind and can never be exhausted.

We believe in a God who did not found or require any religious institution with all its trappings but calls us to a way of life in equality with each other.

We believe in a God who did not command anyone to build a structure to house or confine his presence.

We believe in a God who is present in all matter and being throughout the universe.

We believe in a God who created the universe and ALL in it as a sacred image of his being.

We believe in a God whose fastness and love is beyond our comprehension.

We believe in a God who calls us to continuously grow and develop in our understanding of his love.

We believe in a God who engages with us in constant dialogue through heart and mind.

We believe in a God who resides deep within our conscience and thereby participates in our personal choices and decisions without further judgment. 

  

We believe in a God who laughs, enjoys humor, skips, and keeps us safely in the palm of his hand  

   

 *(or the reasons why we needed to leave the institutional church)


Update:  

Being a Sign of Contradiction

Soon after my conversion in 1986 to Roman Catholicism I was given a plaque with these words inscribed upon it:

"A Sign of Contradiction,"

"A true Christian is a sign of contradiction ~ a living symbol of the Cross. He or she is a person who believes the unbelievable, bears the unbearable, forgives the unforgiveable, loves the unloveable, is perfectly happy not to be perfect, is willing to give up one's will, becomes weak to be strong, sees some good in every bad, and finds love by giving it away. A Christian transcends the natural with the immeasurable power of love and becomes a supernatural person." - Joseph Roy
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This sign still hangs at our front door entrance and is there to remind me of precisely of what it means to be a Christian. Through the years I have learned a great deal from my adopted religion. Certainly I believe that most Christians, and other world religions would have little difficulty agreeing with the virtues and principles expressed by its inspired author.

I have come to believe that this simple statement incorporates everything that God offers to all humankind. There is no question about the challenge or difficulty of following this ‘creed’ in our daily lives. For me this priceless ‘memo’ transcends the struggle with the ego and invites me to honour the God or ‘true self’ within. The same Creator, Source or Sacred Power that is honored by all other cultures, faiths and religions.

Anyone who is willing to adopt this challenge will no longer need to search for organized religion because he or she will find the teacher within and become an instrument of peace for all those placed in their path.

To set myself free, to experience the total mystery of God, I have 'dropped' the following statements about institutional religion that no longer resonate. The blank spaces, in each line below, may be used to acknowledge your own religion, or for the more daring – your own name!

• Being ________ is not about following a particular creed, dogma or doctrine, faith or religion.

• Being ________ is not about church,synagogue,temple, etc. membership.

• Being ________ is not about demanding change within your religious community.

• Being _________is not about finding fault with your religious leaders.

• Being _________is not about studying your Bible, Koran, Torah or any other religious tract.

• Being _________is not about fear of heaven and hell and who is going there.

• Being _________is not about who is right and who is wrong about matters of faith.

• Being _________is not about seeking similar thinking people.

• Being _________is not about sin and God’s punishment.

• Being _________is not about comparing yourself with others.

• Being _________is not about an outward display of special religious articles or clothing.

• Being _________is not about being special or holier than you already are.

• Being _________is not about feelings, rituals and grandiose displays.

• Being _________is about being free to discover the Truth within.

• Being _________is living life to the full in the present!

• Being _________is about being at one with God, neighbour, myself and becoming a Sign of Contradiction.