Creeds

Dear people of God,

In 381 at the Council of Constantinople, Gregory of Nazianzus was presiding over groups from East and West with widely varying and contended theological views, reinforced by political contests between emperors, and allegiances to different cities that were religious centers of gravity. Gregory, something of an Abraham Lincoln of his day wrote this:

"But I am concerned with greater and fuller issues. Consider this great orb of the earth, which has been sealed with the flowing blood of the Savior, for which God suffered in the form of a man, giving himself for ransom to deliver us...

The only possible solution to our difficulties would be achieved in this way. The point is, we shall either gain the greater end and bring over the estranged element..., or we shall gain the limited objective of restoring harmony to the city, a population of such importance that has been exhausted by the long duration of the trouble, Let's have an end at long last to this worldwide upheaval: let's have compassion on those who are now in schism, on those who are very nearly in that state, and on the generations that are yet to come. No one ought to concern himself with conjectures about what the issue will be, if this point of view prevails through mere passage of time. We are actually at the point of crisis now. We have the choice of continuing to preserve our noble and revered doctrine, or of seeing it disappear as a result of dissension."

From these discerning words, and Gregory's magisterial guidance, came refinements to and endorsement of the Creed from the previous Council of Nicaea, which became the unifying factor across the greater Church, and an enduring strength across the millennia. Let us consider Gregory's approach and perspective as we navigate the disagreements and decisions of these our times.

CJ+