What We Believe Shapes How We Live
Doctrine matters! In recent years, I’ve noticed something unsettling in the Church. Many Christians—faithful, sincere, well-meaning—no longer seem certain what they actually believe.
At first glance, it might not seem like a big deal. Surely, we’re called to love more than to recite facts, right? But the longer I’ve reflected on it, the clearer it’s become: what we believe shapes everything. Our worship, our choices, our relationships, our picture of God—and whether we’re following Jesus or just following our feelings.
Some things are just facts. In 2022, a major theology survey in the U.S. found that more than 40% of self-identified evangelicals believed Jesus was a great teacher, but not God. Others said the Bible was helpful but not fully true, or that the Holy Spirit was just a symbol. That’s not a fringe view anymore. It’s mainstream.
Jesus said, “Let your Yes mean Yes and your No mean No” (Matthew 5:37, NJB). Paul warned that “a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough” (Galatians 5:9, NJB). In other words—when truth becomes blurry, everything else starts to unravel too.
This isn’t about being argumentative or narrow. It’s about being clear. And in a time of growing confusion, that clarity matters more than ever.
The Early Church Didn’t Guess—They Confessed
The first Christians didn’t have all the answers. But they knew that if they lost the truth about Jesus, they’d lose the heart of the Gospel.
As communities grew and the Gospel spread, so did confusion. Some said Jesus was just a prophet. Others claimed He was divine but not human—or human but not divine. Some denied the resurrection. Others questioned whether Gentiles even belonged. And that is why doctrine matters…
These weren’t intellectual debates—they were spiritual crossroads. So the Church responded with prayer, Scripture, shared discernment, and eventually, with creeds.
Not to create control. But to protect the truth.
The Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed—these weren’t abstract theological statements. They were declarations of who Jesus is and why it matters. They kept the Church centred—not in speculation or popularity, but in Christ.
And for me, that truth is more than theory.
As John wrote, “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.” (John 20:31, NJB)
The creeds were never meant to stifle questions. They were meant to give us a foundation—to help us hold fast when the winds of culture or confusion come blowing in.
A Personal Anchor: The Apostles’ Creed in My Workspace
In my own day-to-day life, the creeds aren’t just something I affirm—they’re something I live with. Just behind my desk hangs a framed copy of the Apostles’ Creed, printed in a beautiful, illustrated, parchment-style layout. I see it every time I sit down to pray, write, or prepare for ministry. It’s not just wall art—it’s a quiet witness, reminding me that my faith is part of something ancient, living, and bigger than myself.
Beneath the frame, on a nearby shelf, sit three Bibles that hold meaning for me. My Cultural Backgrounds NIV Study Bible, which adds depth and historical insight to Scripture. A soft faux leather NIV Bible, which I often reach for when I want a clean read-through. And a Good News Bible in its original cardboard cover—gifted to me as a teenager during Youth Group. It’s a visual memory of where this journey began: honest questions, awkward prayers, and the beginning of real belief.
Though I now use Logos Bible Study software for nearly all my research and sermon prep, these physical Bibles remain on the shelf not out of necessity, but out of love. They anchor me in something tangible. They remind me that God speaks not just through words on a screen, but through pages held, histories remembered, and lives slowly changed.
(If you’re curious about Logos—the study tool I use daily—you can start a 30-day free trial here. New users get full access, and if you sign up through this link, Logos gives me a small store credit as a thank-you. No pressure—it’s just a resource I genuinely use and recommend.)
And while it’s the Apostles’ Creed I have hanging behind me, it’s actually the Nicene Creed that’s my favourite. If anyone’s ever wondering what to frame for me next—hint, hint—it would be that.
What I love about both creeds is that they don’t try to say everything—but they say enough. Enough to ground us. Enough to unite us. Enough to bring us back to Christ, again and again. Because doctrine matters—not as a test, but as a tether.
We Still Need That Clarity Today
If you spend enough time in churches or online Christian spaces today, you’ll hear phrases like:
- “I just follow Jesus.”
- “Doctrine divides.”
- “Let’s not get caught up in theology.”
These sound humble. But they can also be dangerous.
Because the moment you say “Jesus,” you’ve already said something doctrinal. Who is He? What do you believe about Him? Why does it matter?
“The time is sure to come when people will not accept sound teaching but will follow their own desires and collect teachers who say what they want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3, NJB)
That’s not about “them out there.” That’s about us—if we’re not anchored.
Without the creeds, without clear teaching, it’s easy to end up with a version of Jesus shaped by our culture, preferences, or pain. But the real Jesus—the Jesus who walked, healed, wept, taught, suffered, died, rose, and reigns—can’t be remade in our image.
A Resurgence of Creeds in American Churches
In recent years, there’s been a notable movement within American Christianity to revisit and embrace historic creeds, such as the Nicene Creed. This trend is especially significant among Baptist communities, traditionally known for their “no creed but the Bible” stance. In 2024, a group of Southern Baptist pastors and theologians proposed adding the full text of the Nicene Creed to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000¹, aiming to reaffirm foundational Christian doctrines and promote unity within the denomination.
This proposal sparked widespread discussion within the Baptist community, highlighting a shift towards recognizing the value of ancient creeds in articulating and preserving core theological beliefs .
Creeds Are Meant to Keep Jesus at the Centre
I used to think the creeds were cold. A ritual. Something old-school churches recited without really thinking. But the more I’ve walked this journey—especially in liturgical and sacramental spaces—the more I’ve come to see how beautiful, grounding, and necessary they are.
They help us say together what we believe—clearly, faithfully, and humbly.
“If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, NJB)
That’s not just about private faith. That’s about belonging to a Church that confesses truth together. And there’s something powerful about standing side by side, week after week, and saying aloud: We believe in one God…
Creeds point us back to Christ—not to control us, but to keep us close. Because in a world of theological drift, doctrine matters more than ever.
But Haven’t Creeds Been Used to Exclude?
This is a fair question—especially for anyone who’s ever felt pushed out of the Church because of who they are or what they’re struggling to understand.
Sometimes creeds, doctrines, or theological statements have been used as weapons rather than witnesses—to shut down conversation, silence questions, or create boundaries that Jesus never drew. I’ve seen this. I’ve sat with those who’ve felt invisible, unworthy, or unwelcome under the very banner that was meant to proclaim good news.
But I’ve also seen the beauty of what creeds can be. Not barriers—but bridges. Not walls—but windows. When held rightly, they don’t close the door—they open it. They remind us that doctrine matters. That the Gospel is not ours to edit or gatekeep, but to receive with reverence and share with grace.
The problem isn’t truth. The problem is when we speak truth without love, or wield it without humility. But when the two come together, creeds become anchors—not chains.
The problem isn’t that we’ve had creeds. The problem is that we haven’t always lived them with love.
The creeds say, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.” Do we?
They say, “I believe in the holy catholic Church.” Do we live that unity?
They say, “I believe in the resurrection of the dead.” Does our hope reflect it?
When truth and grace hold hands, creeds become anchors—not chains.
Living What We Confess
Saying a creed is easy. Living it is where the work begins.
- If I believe in one God, then I can’t chase other gods—of success, image, power, or control.
- If I believe in Jesus Christ, fully God and fully human, then I must care about the dignity of every person He made.
- If I believe in the Holy Spirit, then I must listen for His voice and follow His lead.
- If I believe in the communion of saints, then I don’t get to walk this alone.
“Proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience…” (2 Timothy 4:2, NJB)
But not harshly. Not loudly. Faithfully.
A Faith That’s Worth Saying Out Loud
The creeds still count because truth still matters, doctrine matters—and because Christ is still worth confessing.
This is not about being rigid. It’s not about checking theological boxes. It’s about building our lives on something real. Something rooted. Something passed down, not made up.
When I speak the creed aloud, I’m reminded: I don’t stand alone. I stand with generations before me. With martyrs and mystics, monks and mothers, farmers and philosophers—all saying: We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ.
“In a world of shifting beliefs, the Church must remember that doctrine matters now more than ever.”
~ Ashley Deutschmann
In a world full of noise, that kind of clarity is a gift.
So let’s keep saying it—not to prove something, but because we believe it.
Doctrine matters.
Because we love Him.
Because the truth is beautiful.
And because, in the end, the Church doesn’t need more noise. It needs more Jesus.
Let’s return to the centre.
Let’s hold fast to the truth.
Let’s keep confessing the faith—with clarity, with humility, and with love.
✍️ Writer’s Note
This article reflects my personal journey—shaped by Scripture, prayer, and experience in ministry—toward a clearer, more Christ-focused faith. It is not about building walls with doctrine, but about remembering why truth matters—and how it always points us back to Jesus.
For an introduction to this series, see Returning to the Table: A Call to Authentic Christianity.
To read about the call to simplicity and shared life in the Church, see Episode 1: Simplicity and Community.
📚 Reference:
Sabo, Mike.
“The SBC and the Nicene Creed.”
Published June 14, 2024, on American Reformer.
https://americanreformer.org/2024/06/the-sbc-and-the-nicene-creed-mike-sabo/
🔍 Further Reading & Supporting Perspectives
On modern doctrinal confusion in the Church:
“The State of Theology (2022)” – Ligonier Ministries
On the Nicene Creed and early Christian belief:
“Nicene Creed – Britannica”
On doctrinal drift in modern churches:
“Many Americans Say Other Faiths Can Lead to Eternal Life” – Pew Research
On doctrine as a foundation for faith and worship:
“Theology is for Doxology” – The Gospel Coalition
On restoring truth in grace:
“Why Doctrine Still Matters” – Christianity Today
📚 Further Resources from FHLM
If you’re looking for accessible tools to help clarify your faith and hold fast to truth in love, we’re building a resource library that includes:
- Short studies on essential Christian beliefs
- Devotionals rooted in Scripture and early Church teaching
- Guides for community discussion, creedal reflection, and spiritual growth
Explore our free materials here: FHLM Resource Library