service of the word (part 6)

Traditionally, after the Readings, the Creed is said. The reason for this is the Creed serves as a heresy check for the Sermon. It helps to keep the pastor and congregation faithful to the faith once delivered. 

For Divine Service, the Nicene Creed is used. On minor services-Matins, Vespers, or any service where Communion is not celebrated, the Apostles’ Creed is used. 

The Creed is the truth of Scripture. It is the faith of all Christians throughout the ages. We do not create it, instead we receive it, and pass it on to the generations after us. When we confess the Creed, we are confessing before all of heaven and earth. This is the truth. 

In our day, you can find pastors and churches who write their own creed to be confessed during worship. If you ever find yourself in this situation, don’t confess that creed. It’s not the faith of the church. At best, it’s the faith of the person writing it. Which, with all the false teaching out there, we need to be careful that we don’t confess the doctrine of demons. No pastor or congregation has been given the authority by Jesus to rewrite the faith of the Church.