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The Apostles' Creed has been a part of Christianity for at least 1500 years. It was apparently written to combat gnosticism (a philosophy that was very prevalent in the first few centuries after Christ), which taught that Jesus could not have been God if He died, because the Gnostics rejected the concept of a "God/man". To the Gnostics, If Jesus were God, He only appeared to die. If He really died, then He wasn't God. The Apostles' Creed emphasizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, so it is thought that gnosticism is the reason why it was written.

My big problem with the Apostles' Creed is two-fold. First, all manner of denominations quote this thing, from Methodists to Catholics. Thus, you don't have to be a Biblicist, or even a born-again Christian, to claim to believe it. Secondly, you will notice that there isn't anything in the creed about how to be saved. There is a belief in God, in Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, and in "forgiveness of sins", but no statement is made as to how that forgiveness is obtained. That's why almost any "Christian" denomination can claim to believe it. Catholics believe in forgiveness, but they thing get it through baptism, being a Catholic, and partaking of the Mass. Lutherans belive in forgiveness, but they think they get it through baptism. Episcopalians believe in forgiveness, but they think they get it through baptism and communion. Baptists believe in forgiveness, but they think they get it through faith. Many Charismatics believe in forgiveness, but they think they get it through faith plus living right. The Church of Christ believes in forgiveness, but they think they get it through faith plus baptism. According to the Apostles' Creed, they are all correct. Obviously, that can not be the case.

A secondary problem with the Creed is the line that reads, "the holy catholic church". This does not mean the Roman Catholic Church denomination. The word "catholic" means "universal". In other words, the Creed says that they believe in a universal church. The Roman Catholic Church believes in a universal "visible" church: all Roman Catholic assemblies are part of one big church headquartered in Rome. That is why it is called the Roman (headquarters) Catholic (universal) Church. Unfortunately, during the Protestant Reformation, the Protestants brought the doctrine of a universal church with them. They modified it so that they believed in a universal "invisible" church: a church made up of all Christians of all times. Many Baptists also believe this, but I believe that they are wrong. I believe that the Bible teaches that churches are independent assemblies made up of baptized believers. I do not believe that the concept of any form of a "universal church" is found in the Bible at all.

By Pastor Dr. Mark Montgomery Email: Ask the Pastor Ambassador Baptist Church 1926 Babcock Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15209 (412)477-3210