As someone who has been involved in churches near both ends of the creedal continuum, I was intrigued to read Scot McKnight’s The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others. I approached this book as someone who had served congregations that held the creeds in high esteem and congregations that were non-creedal in practice preferring instead to live by the phrase “no creed but Christ.” I am more interested in Christian unity than in finding ways to separate and divide those who are committed to Christ yet find their spiritual homes in many different denominations. Scot McKnight’s renaming the greatest commandment as the Jesus Creed offers a creed that Christians all across the creedal continuum can and must embrace:
“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.
On a more personal level, the Jesus Creed became for me one of the most helpful ways for understanding the life and ministry of Jesus. Living the Jesus Creed became central to my own faith journey and provided me a fresh lens through which to see the world and to engage in ministry. By focusing on what Jesus named as primary, I am able to keep my focus on what matters most.
So What?
I knew what the greatest commandment was, but had never allowed my life to be transformed by it until reading The Jesus Creed. Knowing it made such a difference in my life of faith, I invited Scot McKnight to give lectures in two congregations I served and I have encouraged numerous individuals and groups to enage in this study.
How has the greatest commandment (Mark 12:28-31), which McKnight renamed the Jesus Creed, helped form or reform your view of Jesus?
As a disciple of Jesus, how do you utilize the Jesus Creed and what difference has living it made for you?
Consider
If you are not yet familiar with Scot McKnight’s book, I encourage you to read it and/or to pick up one of the many supplemental materials that have been published over the last few years.
The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others. Paraclete Press, 2004. ISBN: 1557254001.
A Companion Guide to the Jesus Creed. Paraclete Press, 2004. ISBN: 1557254125.
40 Days Living the Jesus Creed. Paraclete Press, 2008. ISBN: 9781557255778.
(DVD) The Jesus Creed: 7 Lessons on Loving God and Loving Others. Paraclete Video Productions, 2008. ISBN: 9781557256195.
Watch as Scot explains the Jesus Creed (an excerpt from the dvd)
Also, consider reading McKnight’s Jesus Creed blog.