Dear My Twin - 10

 Dear My Twin,

We are now getting to the crux of the issue: who is God, and what does that mean for us?

After learning about what abuse is, and being able to recognize how rampant it is in the church - and often defended as "good theology."

What I could not escape, even in the depths of my despair, was a believe that God exists. 

Not only exists, but must be good. 

Good and loving. 

A God that exists, is loving, and intends good for everyone and everything. That's where I started slowly rebuilding. 

The creeds have been a guiding light for me as I have (and am) slowly rebuilt things. A sort of bluepirnt for a frame. 

There is so much IN the creeds, and so much there is NOT. 

There is not the oppression of women in the creeds.
There is not the pursuit of power. 
There is not oppression against the LGBTQ+ community. 
There is not colonialism.
There is not capitalism.
There is not young earth creationism.

There is the exaltation of ONE God; a triune God.
The resurrection of Christ.
The unity of the Church.
The return of Christ & and the judgement. 

Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
    the Father Almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth,
    and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
    the only-begotten Son of God,
    begotten of his Father before all worlds,
    God of God, Light of Light,
    very God of very God,
    begotten, not made,
    being of one substance with the Father;
    by whom all things were made;
    who for us men and for our salvation
        came down from heaven,
    and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
        and was made man;
    and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
    he suffered and was buried;
    and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
    and ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
    and he shall come again, with glory,
        to judge both the quick and the dead;
    whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,
    who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;
    who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped
        and glorified;
    who spake by the Prophets.
    And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;
    I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins;
    and I look for the resurrection of the dead,
        and the life of the world to come. Amen.


In EC, there is FRANKLY, an emphasis on "right belief" as the way to Christ/Heaven/Righteousness (it's hard to tell, there's a lot they wrap up in "being saved." 

It's almost a ritual: recite the sinner's prayer, and then Do Things, like go to church, read your Bible, dress modestly (if you're a woman), stay sexually pure (again if you're a woman, just don't get caught or make sure you say sorry if you're man), be involved in Bible study, vote against abortion, vote against any pro LGBTQ+ legislation, etc. etc. etc. 

Basically, just think about what things you feel guilty for either doing or not doing. Or things you're scared you'll get caught doing, or liking if a certain Christian finds out. 

That's the list.

But as I've been thinking over and over and over ... Isn't that ... isn't that works? 

Did Jesus do it all, or is everything still dependant on us? 

I have chosen to believe that God was serious when He said "It is finished," and the work is all on Him. 

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