An Ethical Creed
No church since the early centuries has had the courage to formulate an ethical creed, for even those bodies of Christians which have no written theological creed, yet have implicit affirmations or denials of doctrine as their basis. Imagine a body of Christians who should take their stand on the Sermon of Jesus, and conceive their creed on its lines. Imagine how it would read, “I believe in the Fatherhood of God; I believe in the words of Jesus; I believe in the clean heart; I believe in the service of love; I believe in the unworldly life; I believe in the Beatitudes; I promise to trust God and follow Christ, to forgive my enemies and to seek after the righteousness of God.” Could any form of words be more elevated, more persuasive, more alluring? Do they not thrill the heart and strengthen the conscience? Liberty of thought is allowed; liberty of sinning is alone denied.
Who would refuse to sign this creed? They would come from the east and the west, and the north and the south, to its call, and even they who would hesitate to bind themselves to a crusade so arduous would admire it, and long to be worthy. Does one say this is too ideal, too impractical, too quixotic? That no church could stand and work on such a basis? For three short, glorious years the church of Christ had none else, and it was by holy living alone, and not by any metaphysical subtleties, the Primitive Church lived, and suffered, and conquered.
—John Watson.
Alternate Reading: Acts 4:1-20.