By Mallory Griffin
“I believe in Santa Claus.”
“I believe in the Easter Bunny.”
“I believe that all paths lead to God.”
“I believe there is only one God, and Mohamed is his prophet.”
“I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth …”
The words “I believe” can be interesting: in some instances, they’re completely harmless (think Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, etc). In other instances, these words have the power to change everything. But what makes the difference? At what point does “I believe” go from harmless to powerful?
The power of these words rests not in the act of believing itself, but in the object of said belief. OR (to translate out of the grammar-ese) the power of “I believe” comes from what it is we believe, not just the fact that we believe.
So, if you’re going to say “I believe,” why not make sure you know what it is you believe and why? This is where Peace’s I Believe class comes in handy: for six weeks, starting Sept. 6, we’ll walk through the essentials of Christian and Lutheran doctrine.
If you’re new (or new-ish like me) to Peace, I Believe is the perfect way to know what this church believes, why they believe it, and whether or not this is the place where you want to worship, serve, and grow as a disciple. But, even if you’re already a member of Peace, I’d still recommend taking the class. Why? Because even for mature disciples, it never hurts to be reminded of “our common salvation … that was once for all delivered to the saints” [Jude 3].
So, whether you’re a prospective member of Peace—or a longtime member for that matter—sign up for this fall’s I Believe and find out why/how the object of our Christian belief isn’t just another empty, harmless saying. And as we look to better understand the object of our faith, we’ll find that, suddenly, our own “I believe” has the power to change the world in which we live.
The foundations of our faith are those central things God has revealed about Himself and us that put a spring in our spiritual steps, breathe life into our faith, and put legs on our faithful response. For more information on our I Believe Discipleship Experience, click here.
The next I Believe: Foundations of our Faith at Peace Lutheran Church is scheduled for Sept. 6 through Oct. 25 on Thursdays from 7-9 pm. Childcare is available with an RSVP to Sue Heffner at sue@PeaceChurch.org.
