01/05/2005: "Let’s Keep the Main Things the Main Things"
I must admit that my younger brother may indeed be responsible for me finally launching this blog.
You see, he was at our house for Christmas Eve 2004 and we had a great conversation. It all started with the simple song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. As we were singing this song in our uproarious manner, (no the new karaoke machine was not being used at the time) the question came up, what in the world does this song even mean? So of course, being Web geek that I am, I ran to the computer to do a quick Google or Yahoo search. Bam! Out squirts the answer.
Before I reveal one of the answers that I found, let me assure you that I am aware of all the controversy that surrounds this topic. Many say that this is just urban legend; we cannot know what this really means blah, blah, blah. Those comments do not matter here. What does matter is that the 12 concepts do indeed have great significance. That being said, here is what I discovered.
Meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas 1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus. 2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments. 3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love. 4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels. 5. The five gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. 6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of Creation. 7. The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. 8. The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes. 9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. 10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments. 11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles. 12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.
Now look closely at this last point, “the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed”. Here is where the whole conversation gets interesting. You see, I was raised Catholic in an active and serious Catholic family. I believe It is God that moved me out of the Catholic Church, through Christian radio, and intense Bible study and people God placed into my life. But the rest of my family still lives and worships within the Catholic Church. So, the question came up from my insightful younger brother: do we all, Catholics and evangelicals agree with the twelve points of doctrine of the Apostles Creed?
Let’s take a look at what the Apostles’ Creed says:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell (for a discussion of descended into hell click here ); the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.
Well, 99.99% of Catholics and evangelicals would have to agree with "most" of this statement.
I know many evangelicals don't like the Creed because of the words “catholic Church” in the statement. Chill out friends. Small "c" catholic means universal.
So what is the “universal church”? That term is used merely as an adjective, not the title of a movement or denomination. It simply means the body of true believers. I submit that there are true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in both the Catholic and evangelical followings. Moreover, and regretfully, there are persons within both bodies who do not love and follow Jesus, who have not accepted Him with gratitude as their personal Savior.
So, If we can all agree that the body of true believers is the “catholic” church, not necessarily the Catholic Church, is that not a major point of agreement?
People, can we keep a focus here? In all our interdenominational discussions, let’s make sure the Main Things stay the Main Things.
