Thought for Today

Deuteronomy 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.  

Mark 12:29  "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one;

Ephesians 4:4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6  one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.  

Deuteronomy 6:4 begins what is known as the Shema. It is the basic, fundamental core belief of both Judaism and Christianity. I have read that it is still recited at the beginning of every Jewish worship service. The name Shema is from the Hebrew word beginning vs. 6:4 which is translated “Hear” above. The world’s 3 greatest religions are all monotheistic, all believe in one God.

Recently, I have encountered this basic monotheistic belief several times. The Markan passage above is part of our lectionary reading for this coming Sunday. Jesus was responding to a question about which is the greatest commandment. Jesus replied with the initial words of the Shema.

I have never been part of a Christian worship service which has begun with this basic statement of monotheism. As I write this, I am thinking that at some future worship service at First Parish Church of Newbury, we are going to use the Shema as our Invitation to Worship. It is never a bad idea to remind ourselves of our core beliefs.

For most of my lifetime, what we call the Holy Land has been embroiled in conflict. It certainly is today. There is a (very) sad irony that much of the conflict there in my lifetime and throughout its history has involved people sharing a common monotheistic belief, differing only in some details, yet using those differences as a rationale for killing others in the name of that one God. It is an even greater sad irony for Christians who preach love, including love of one’s neighbor.

Greta and I are part of a social group which meets on Wednesdays. Most of us have been raised in differing faith traditions. We have all, however, worshiped together previously. Usually the men sit together and work on various projects. Yesterday, we talked about having learned the Apostles’ Creed. It is one of the oldest Christian statements of faith. We have used it in worship at First Parish Church several times. That creed begins with a basic statement of belief. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord” and then later adds “I believe in the Holy Ghost.” Three differing ‘persons’ of the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost (or Spirit).

Some faith traditions are creedal (or credal), that is, they focus on creeds as statements of belief and/or principle. Others, while acknowledging the creeds and accepting them, rarely mention them. I was raised in a faith tradition that rarely focused on the great historical creeds of Christianity. I did not learn the Apostles’ Creed until much later in my adulthood.

Do you ever think about the basic core tenets of your faith? Even if you are faithful in your worship attendance and actively participate in the worship service, do you ever think about the core beliefs of your faith tradition? Jesus’ ancestors-in-the-faith were inculcated in their core beliefs through the Shema and through practices of using phylacteries and mezuzahs, small containers holding written scriptures and affixed to their bodies and/or doors.

Christianity is fractured into numerous denominations and faith traditions, but we do all hold to certain common, core beliefs. I believe Paul was correct, that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” I believe it is important for us all to remember that truth, to find a faith tradition and practice which brings us closer to our one God, but to recognize and honor the traditions which do the same for others. I also believe that Jesus was correct about "Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

Stay safe, think about what you believe, trust God,

Pastor Ray