Credo: Believing In Something To Die For by Ray Pritchard

A review for Active Christian Media.

Ray Pritchard has written a readable book about the Apostles' Creed. I'm beginning this review this way because most books on the Creed are heavy in academics and historicity. Pritchard's book is not that but a line for line personal/theological commentary on what it means to be Christian.

It amazes me that a document such as the Apostles' Creed has become somewhat lost to some sections of Christianity. Not because of not believing what it contains but because of an mistrust of documents beyond that which is authored by a biblical writer.

Kevin McCullough of MuscleHead Radio, said of the Creed, "Most of my generation and younger (under thirty) have no concept of the truths found in 'The Creed.' Yet never has there been a day when a generation needed it more." This is no more apparent in a week where the worlds of science and discovery are trying to prove that Jesus walked on a "sheet of ice" and that Judas and Jesus were best buds, according to the recently discovered Gnostic text "The Gospel Of Judas". The Gospel of Judas was mentioned and denounced by Irenaeus as an "invented history" of a long line of heretics and rebels against God. Do we need the documents of the Early Church to help find our way? I say resoundingly "YES"!.

The Creed covers in brief authoritative statements the belief of Christians. Professor Pritchard expounds on each of these with conviction and clarity. I especially enjoyed his section on the hot-button "Holy Catholic Church" and "The Communion of Saints". On these points of theological division, Pritchard provides commentary that is unifying and concise. He adds that a friend helped narrow them down to this: "The Holy Catholic Church teaches that the church spans the globe. The Communion of Saints teaches that the church spans time."

Credo is a great book for reacquainting ourselves with the basic truths of the Christian faith. When all is said and done, sometimes there is nothing more refreshing than a good recap.

Ray Pritchard is Senior Pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Illinois. He has been a professor and guest lecturer at many schools and is a frequent guest on nationally broadcast radio programs. He has ministered extensively overseas, preaching in India, Nepal, Paraguay, Colombia, Haiti, Nigeria, Switzerland, Russia, and Belize. He has written more than twenty books.

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