TL;DR

I was about twenty when I decided I really needed to sit down and read through the Bible. I can't tell you how many times I've read through it since then, and yet I am continually coming across passages I don't remember ever having read before. I know I've read them, but the Bible is just so big it's hard to contain it all in your head.

It's easy to forget how massive the Bible is; after all, you can get a version that will fit in your pocket. But when it's printed like a normal book, meaning proper paper and readable font ... well, Crossway used to publish it as a six-volume set. That's a lot to remember. Fortunately the church has produced a way to help us keep the most important things at the forefront.

It's critical that we be able to do just that. Heresy generally begins with taking a passage out of the Bible and interpreting it wrong. It's often not an intentional twisting of scripture but a loss of the bigger picture when you're down in the nitty gritty.

So what do we do? Look at the TL;DR. If you're not familiar with that acronym, it's internet code for "too long; didn't read." When someone posts a long (by internet standards) "essay" or even comment, sometimes they'll offer a TL;DR that spells out the point they want to make.

The church made a TL;DR for the scriptures. What are the most important things we all need to know? What's the overall message of the Bible? What lines must we be absolutely sure we don't cross when we interpret the scriptures? We call it the Nicene Creed.

Is Jesus merely a man or even an angel? No, he's "God from God, Light from Light, very God from very God". Is Jesus one of many sons of God? No, he's "the only begotten Son of God." Did Jesus become the Son of God at his baptism? No, he was "begotten before all ages."

Another way to think of the creeds are as guard rails. When we're studying the scriptures on our own, they keep us from making a mistake and running off the road. Is the Spirit just a force of God's will? No, he's "the Lord, the giver of life". But he's not God, right? Yes, he "with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified." He "has spoken through the prophets", thus the scriptures are his word to us.

There are many Christians in the world who recite the Nicene Creed regularly in worship. But there are also many who see the creeds as unbiblical traditions, an attempt to force "man's theology" on Christians. That's not what they are. The ecumenical creeds are to the Bible as the CliffsNotes are to the original work. They are not intended to replace the scriptures but to reinforce their key points and help you understand them.

So I encourage you to learn and to reflect on them. The Nicene Creed was labored over for many years to craft a statement of the bottom line of Christian belief. It is beautiful, powerful, and valuable. I wish the low church traditions would give it its due. Take it to heart; it will serve you well.

TL;DR: Knowing the Nicene Creed can help keep you from making serious mistakes interpreting the Bible.


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