OUR SOCIAL CREED

 

            I am finishing my series of weekly blogs talking about the United Methodist Social Principles. I have discussed the many sub-sections, including The Natural World, The Nurturing Community, the Social Community, the Economic Community, the Political Community and The World Community.

            This week we come to Our Social Creed. The United Methodist Church strongly encourages that the Social Creed be used regularly during our worship services. How often do we this? I am sharing that Social Creed here, easy to cut and paste or print and post. Just as the Social Principles worked through those many sub-sections on many topics, Our Social Creed[1] also summarizes the beliefs on each of those topics. I have, accordingly, bolded the relevant words.

            We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.

            We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.

            We joyfully receive for ourselves and others the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.

            We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of all persons.

            We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.

            We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world.

            We believe in the present and final triumph of God’s Word in human affairs and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen.

            In addition to this Social Creed that summarizes the detailed Social Principles, a litany is also provided. Each section starts with the words “today is the day God….”.

·         Psalm 118.24 in the English Standard Version, says this: This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

·         Hymn #657 in The United Methodist Hymnal, titled “This is the Day” says: this is the day, this is the day that the Lord hath made, that the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice, let us rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it.

Each section ends “and so shall we”.

• ·         If God cares for the integrity of creation, so shall we.
• ·         If God embraces all hues of humanity, so shall we.
• ·         If God cries with the masses of starving people, so shall we.
• ·         If God deplores violence in our homes and streets, so shall we.
• ·         If God classes for nations and peoples to live in peace, so shall we.
• ·         If God brings good news to the poor, proclaims release to the captives, gives sight to the blind, and sets the oppressed free, so shall we.

So shall we…

So should we….

And so we shall…..

           

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[1] From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2016. Copyright 2016 by The United Methodist Publishing House.