So, when I first started work on my masters, I was expecting a lot of depth and new information, and I certainly have found that. What I think I had really underestimated, though, was how much I’d benefit from revisiting the basics. My first class has been taking an in depth look at the Nicene Creed, which makes sense. I know what the Creed says, obviously. And I even feel fairly confident that I know what it says about the faith. So, what has been the point of the class? Honestly, that was a question that I, in a bit of arrogance, struggled with early on. I spend my days teaching this stuff. I’m always looking for new insights and new applications, but what I had been taking for granted was that all of those insights, if they were meaningful and helpful, they would still be relying on the basics as their foundation and starting point.
This is a fairly common occurrence for me. I get so caught up in the idea of breaking new ground, I lose sight of the depths in what I’ve already found. The basics of our faith, in fairness, are pretty obviously not things which lend themselves to a a quick, superficial grasping. The foundations of Christianity are, in fact, two mysteries. The Trinity and dual natures of Christ are at the very root, the basic of the basics, and they are mysteries which are infinite. How does one reach the end of the idea that God is three distinct persons of one divine substance? How can someone claim to fully understand either the how or the why of the Incarnation? In both cases, the only way a person can make that claim is if they choose to simply say them, not to think about them.
In this Lenten season, I’m adding an additional discipline to my days, and if you related to the previous couple paragraphs, I’d invite you to join me. I’m going to spend a few minutes each day taking some time to sit with one of the claims of the Creed. These basics are too important for me to keep overlooking and taking for granted.