Every Sunday we Christians recite together our Profession of Faith – the ancient Nicene Creed first formulated at a conference of bishops who traveled in 325CE to Nicaea, in Turkey. The patron of the counsel was none other than Emperor Constantine, whose providential conversion ensured Christianity’s rise to become the dominant religion of his vast empire. It is now been exactly 1,685 years that the faithful recite this statement, which units many Christian denominations, and is the one symbol by which we recognize each other. However when Mass ends and the worshipping assembly disbands in peace, strengthened by the Eucharist, what higher values are retained, followed and shared with the community? Beyond its theological complexity, the Creed’s practical function is to form our Christian Identity. Once we step out of church, if you compare all our convictions by lining them up like the Himalaya mountain range, this identity is the summit of Mount Everest.
Christianity is not just a religion … it is an identity, an spiritual reality witnessed by our behaviour, in our relationships and through our social engagement. While Buddhists speak of attaining Nirvana as a unity with the Eternal Being, Christians seek communion with God. This is a dynamic relationship with God, a genuine promise of faith, a trusting alliance with Him and brotherly love for mankind – like an everlasting burst of glory throughout creation. Through life’s trials and tribulations, this core Christian Identity must undergo a spiritual formation, comparable to that of carbon molecules enduring the highest pressure and heat to align into diamonds – which in Greek means ‘unbreakable’. Therefore, nobody can expect to make a profession of faith without being physically, emotionally and spiritually tested, for our new identity was sealed by our personal consent to be held to a higher standard.
Our Christian identity is a gift poured from above by the Holy Spirit. It is primarily public and communitarian, linking us into one family, gathered around Christ, for the glorification of our Father, through the sanctification of us children. A sincere integration of this identity, means we are for God nothing less than what Christ was for his Father – sons and daughters who obey, love, honour and glorify him through our very existence. From this covenant allegiance emerges a common obligation, which is not exclusively about religion, but also about community, fraternity and solidarity. Accordingly, the Creed enkindles our beliefs, beliefs animate our thoughts and thoughts determine our actions, as we become the New Israel: the new global citizens who whole-heartedly profess to be ruled by God – unconditionally.
