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Throughout the season of Lent, we’re taking a close look at the Apostles’ Creed – one of the earliest and most concise summaries of what followers of Jesus believe.
It all began with the 1983 publication of Plumbing for Dummies.
No one disagrees with the premise that people who know next to nothing about where the water comes from in a typical house, and where it ought to go, need to take a step back and give the professionals plenty of space to work.
Most of us feel like dolts when it comes to plumbing.
Eight years later, the editors at IDG Books realized there were virtually no beginner-friendly reference books when it came to personal computers. What if they tried to reach the millions of people who were stumbling their way through their first encounters with flat screens?
The result was DOS for Dummies – an idiot-proof tutorial in how to use the MS-DOS operating system.
With that, a media franchise was born.
As of this writing, there are at least 337 “For Dummies” titles – non-intimidating guides to subjects across the entire spectrum of human experience. Today you can explore Acne for Dummies, Gluten-Free for Dummies, Raising Happy Children for Dummies, and Artificial Intelligence for Dummies. That last title might come in handy in the near future.
Most of the books in the series feature a yellow and black cover along with the triangular-headed cartoon figure who has come to be known as the “Dummies Man.”
The writing is simple and direct. It avoids technical jargon. The authors of these volumes assume that readers are starting from zero and will need plenty of reminders and encouragements along the way.
Typically, no one wants to be identified as a dummy. In most relationships and contexts, the word is a flat-out insult.
But the publishing company (now known as Hungry Minds) recognizes that learning always begins with humility: “I honestly have no idea how to approach this subject and am not even sure where to begin.” With a smile and a wink, we join other self-described “dummies” in a mutual effort to slay the dragon of ignorance.
That happens to be the best way to enroll in the School of Spiritual Life.
When it comes to the things of God, none of us are experts. Grade school comes before graduate courses.
And unlike stamp collecting or woodworking or selling real estate, what we learn (or fail to learn) has significant ramifications in this world and the next.
The Apostles’ Creed is essentially Discipleship for Dummies – a compact, non-technical introduction to the world’s most important subject.
This is what you need to know about God.
And about Jesus.
And about the Holy Spirit.
And about relating to other Christians.
And what happens when you die.
Master these basics and you’ll have a working foundation for being a lifelong learner of the Son of God.
How old is the Apostles’ Creed?
According to ancient tradition, Jesus’ original apostles (with Matthias taking Judas’ vacated spot) composed its lines just 10 days after Jesus ascended into heaven (about A.D. 30). It was furthermore rumored that each of the 12 had written one line of the Creed – hence the name that it still bears.
That’s a quaint idea. But scholars assure us that the Creed in its current form can’t be traced to any time earlier than about A.D. 215, when it was used in association with the baptism of new converts in Rome.
How widely is it used today?
While Catholics and Protestants alike treasure the Apostles’ Creed, it is not central to the life of Orthodox Christians, who represent about 15% of the world’s believers. Orthodox churches have no quarrels with anything the Creed affirms but prefer to spotlight the Nicene Creed because it includes a far richer affirmation of the divinity of Christ.
In the end, the Apostles’ Creed is worth our attention during this season of Lent because it is ancient, simple, and considered enduringly true by Jesus’ followers of every generation.
Let’s follow in their footsteps, beginning next Monday with the first two words: I believe.
After all, we don’t want to end up being triangle-headed dummies.