More Than Our Father [The Creed]

CatholicExchange.com ^ | 01-04-06 | Mark Shea

[Salvation]

by Mark Shea Sr. Content Editor

Other Articles by Mark Shea

More Than Our Father

1/4/2006

		The Creed balances many difficult ideas and paradoxes (as that God is one and three; that the immortal Son became mortal man; that life issues from death; and a thousand other mysteries).
In This Article... The Titles of the Father "Almighty" "Creator"

The Titles of the Father

But the very first bit of balancing the Creed does is to propose three different titles by which we must think of the first Person of the Trinity. The first title is the most familiar, since Jesus Himself explicitly commands us to use it: God is "Father." And we do well, of course, to obey Jesus in addressing God as our Father.

But we do well also not to lose balance and forget the other two titles used by the Creed. For besides calling Him "Father," the Church also calls Him "Almighty" and "Creator." If we allow our concentration on God as "Father" to eclipse our faith in Him as "Almighty" and "Creator," we do ourselves a disservice and God a dishonor. For it is these titles which make Jesus's command to call Him "Father" all the more breathtaking and beautiful.

"Almighty"

"Almighty" means "able to do whatever He wills." God's "might" includes not only omnipotence, but omniscience. God alone knows everything that can be known and can do whatever He wants. By His almighty power, "the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them" (Gn 2:1). This is a dizzying prospect which, curiously, tends to evoke either awe or ridicule among us humans. It evokes awe in the childlike heart, especially when that heart beholds the work of God in creation and says, "O Lord, how manifold are Thy works. In wisdom Thou hast made them all" (Ps 104:24). It evokes ridicule when the unbelieving heart sees the enormous amount of evil afoot in the world and says, "So if God is all-powerful, why didn't He prevent this?"

This is the central difficulty with our understanding of "Almighty": we think in terms of sheer force (as did the psalmists who repeatedly end hymns of praise with puzzled questions asking why God doesn't just destroy the wicked). God, however, thinks in terms of love. God does whatever He wills, it is true. But what He wills is our freedom and the dignity of the human person. As such, He commits Himself to the metaphysically head-spinning project of making a world where a large number of things happen according to unfree causes (like ice freezing at a given temperature) while others depend on our choices (like whether to pilot the Titanic through an ice field at top speed in the dead of night). God the Almighty does not force our choices, not because He is weak, but precisely because His power is the only thing that makes our choices possible.

But even more than the paradox of God's might being the source of our freedom, the Church sees God's might manifested in the mystery of the Cross. God's strange way of establishing His power "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but in that which is to come" (Eph 1:21) is not by the expedient of refusing to allow bad guys to be born or by sending thunderbolts to fry the wicked. It is, rather, by allowing evil to do its very worst — and then bringing life even out of that. This is why Paul can say that "all things" — even the murder of God incarnate by His own creatures — work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Rom 8:28). For His purposes, even toward His most murderous creatures, remain good.

"Creator"

This means that God's omnipotence also is bound up intimately with His Providence. And His Providence is, in turn, inextricably linked to Him as Creator. When we say that God is "Creator," we are accustomed to thinking of long ago. We imagine a big black field of nothing, then a huge flash of light and wham! — there it all was and that was Creation. Since that primeval event (we imagine) God has basically been moving the pieces around and, every once in a while, doing a miracle of creation (like with the loaves and fishes) just to show He hasn't lost His touch.

In reality, however, the Church believes that God wasn't just Creator then. He is Creator now. That is, nothing that exists could remain in existence for one nanosecond if God did not continuously hold it in existence. God creates ex nihilo (out of nothing). He is not like a human artisan, using pre-existing stuff like wood or clay. He causes not only the form but the matter of all that is, both visible and invisible. And having caused it, He goes on causing it, holding it in being even when (in the case of rational creatures like us or Satan), His creature rejects Him.

Once we realize this, we begin to realize the staggering nature of God's self-sacrificial love for us. As St. Thomas Aquinas says, if God wanted to destroy the universe, He wouldn't have to do anything; He would have to stop doing something. You and I exist because God wills us to exist now, not just in a blueprint drawn up a long time ago. And He wills us to exist even when we loudly gripe about wanting nothing to do with Him.

That means that all things, right now — even the bad stuff — are providentially coordinated by God for your good and mine — if we love God and respond to the "call according to His purposes." And that call is nothing less than the call through Christ Jesus to become "participants in the divine nature" as 2 Peter 1:4 tells us. The significance of that cannot even begin to be grasped by our human minds. We specks of protoplasm on an ordinary bit of sand orbiting an average star two-thirds of the way out on the spiral arm of a completely run-of-the-mill galaxy among billions of other galaxies — we have been called by name and God has become one of us in order to make us, not servants, but sons and daughters.

Not Our Uncle

This is not Touched by an Angel stuff. This is shocking. That the cloudy divinity of Touched by an Angel should smile down from some gauzy TV heaven and like us is a truism. The appropriate response to such a god is "How nice." But when God the Almighty Creator kindles the unimaginable fires of creation for us, and oversees the rising and falling nations for us, and becomes man in order to be crucified for us who nail Him to the Cross, the only conceivable response is "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth! What is man that Thou art mindful of him, the son of man that Thou dost care for him?" (Ps 8:1; 4). That is why it is so necessary to know Who we call Father, lest in becoming too comfy, we come to really mean something more like "God our Uncle." As Rabbi Abraham Heschel says, "God is not an uncle. God is an earthquake."

An earthquake Who loves us.

Mark Shea is Senior Content Editor for Catholic Exchange. You may visit his website at www.mark-shea.com check out his blog, Catholic and Enjoying It!, or purchase his books and tapes here.

[Salvation]

For your reading pleasure and discussion.

[Salvation]

In reality, however, the Church believes that God wasn't just Creator then. He is Creator now. That is, nothing that exists could remain in existence for one nanosecond if God did not continuously hold it in existence. God creates ex nihilo (out of nothing).

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[syriacus]

For it is these titles [Almighty and Creator] which make Jesus's command to call Him "Father" all the more breathtaking and beautiful.

This is one of those ideas that makes a lightbulb go "on" in my head. Thanks for posting the article.

[TotusTuus]

That is, nothing that exists could remain in existence for one nanosecond if God did not continuously hold it in existence.

Including the nanosecond. Time is a part of Creation continuously held in existence by God - the Almighty Creator and Father.

[lightman]

That is, nothing that exists could remain in existence for one nanosecond if God did not continuously hold it in existence.

Including the nanosecond. Time is a part of Creation continuously held in existence by God - the Almighty Creator and Father.

Which brings to mind two quotations (reconstructed imperfectly from my memory: Dame Julian of Norwich had a vision in which she saw God holding a single hickory nut. When she asked what that represented God said "this is all that I have made." Second quote, Karl Barth: "Time matters only to those who are going to die."

[AlaninSA]

So many times my non-Catholic friends will ask me what we Catholics believe.

I've found that simply giving them a copy of the Nicene Creed gives a stellar overview of our Faith.

[Coleus]

bttt

[joseph20]

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered died and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

[Cronos]

I'm not in the SSPX, but the Latin version sounds pretty beautiful too:

CREDO IN unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, visibilium omnium, et invisibilium.

Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt.

Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis. Et incarnatus est de spiritu sancto ex Maria Virgine: et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis, sub Pontio Pilato passus, et sepultus est.

Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in coelum: sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, judicare vivos et mortuos: cujus regni non erit finis.

Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas.

Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.

Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum.

Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum. + Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.

[nanetteclaret]

I like the old English version. It seems to translate the Latin a little bit better:

I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father;
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried;
and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
and ascendeth into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
and he shall come again, in glory,
to judge both the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped
and glorified; who spake by the Prophets.
And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins;
and I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

[Dajjal]

In reality, however, the Church believes that God wasn't just Creator then. He is Creator now. That is, nothing that exists could remain in existence for one nanosecond if God did not continuously hold it in existence. God creates ex nihilo (out of nothing).... As St. Thomas Aquinas says, if God wanted to destroy the universe, He wouldn't have to do anything; He would have to stop doing something.

Aquinas also explains that the lover gives what he has to the beloved. The essence of God is Existence. God wills existence to each of us and to everything moment by moment because He loves us all intensely and unconditionally. Even Satan -- despite all his rebellion, God continues to gift him with existence, when He could cease willing him to be. As John says, God is Love.

[Salvation]

**Time is a part of Creation continuously held in existence by God - the Almighty Creator and Father**

Absolutely!

Day and night, day and night, etc. etc. etc.

[Salvation]

Agree!

[Salvation]

Thanks, I was going to do that this morning, but ran out of time!

[AnalogReigns]

So many times my non-Catholic friends will ask me what we Catholics believe.

I've found that simply giving them a copy of the Nicene Creed gives a stellar overview of our Faith.

Actually nearly all traditional Protestants (& Eastern Orthodox too) believe the same creed(s). The Nicene and Apostles Creeds (with some minor differences in interpretation) are followed by all Christians.

[AnalogReigns]

Protestants tend to favor the older (and simpler) Apostles Creed (also known as the "Old Roman Creed"), but, we also say (on occasion) the same Nicene Creed repeated in Catholic churches weekly.

The Apostles Creed

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.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and siteth at 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 life everlasting.

Amen.

*by which is understood to be the church universal, not just that led by the pontif in Rome.

[AlaninSA]

There are differences between the two Creeds -- and they're important ones.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty
Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
And his kingdom will have no end
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life,
Who proceeds from the Father (and the Son)
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

[Robert Drobot]

Your post silently affirms the utter collapse of Western Catholicism by the fraudulent defilers of Sacred Dogma within Western ( Roman Rite ) Catholicism over the last forty plus years.

You were, sadly, compelled to notice to one and to all your disassociation from those holy priests within the Society of Saint Pius X -- less your love of Latin might cast you as supporting their holy calling.

Your caveat, "I'm not in the SSPX....", shamefully exposes the stains of sin heaped upon His Church by those least fit to shepherd the faithful.

Contrarily, they would share the Chair of Peter with Lucifer's evil in Vietnam and China, than pray with men devoted to uplifting and teaching the faithful of writings penned by Peter's successors -- minus the heresy proclaimed of the unholy four.

May Almighty God forgive our trespasses against His Will.

[Robert Drobot]

My Post #18 is a classic example of my attempting to engage in communication, while on pneumonia medication. My sincere apologies.

Correction of Post #18:

Your post silently affirms the utter collapse of Western Catholicism by the fraudulent defilers of Sacred Dogma over the last forty plus years.

You were, sadly, compelled to notice to one and to all your disassociation from those holy priests within the Society of Saint Pius X -- less your interest in Latin infer your support of their holy calling.

Your caveat, "I'm not in the SSPX....", shamefully exposes the stains of sin heaped upon His Church by those least fit to shepherd the faithful. Contrarily, they would share the Chair of Peter with Lucifer's evil in Vietnam and China, than pray with men devoted to uplifting and teaching the faithful of writings penned by Peter's successors -- but for the heresy of the unholy four.

May Almighty God forgive our trespasses against His Will.

[AnalogReigns]

Of course there are important differences, mainly in that the Nicene Creed is longer and more detailed...as it dealt with different heresies at a different time the "Hippoclytus Old Roman Creed" (the Apostles Creed).

My point is that ALL orthodox Christians, Catholic and Protestant affirm both these creeds. (Eastern Orthodox affirm them both too, with the exception of the 'filioque', "proceeds from the Father (and the Son)" clause, where they omit "the Son" part.

Some Protestants don't say them, or even acknowlege them, never-the-less, standard theology...of Baptists, Bible, (most) Pentacostals, Mennonites, besides Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodists and Lutherans etc. ALL affirm both the Apostles and the Nicene creeds.

I would go so far to say that any that do NOT have theology in accord with those creeds can rightly be catagorized as sub-Christian cults.