Travel Light, Part 2

In my last post I talked about our need to travel light - to discard all the materialistic and theological complexities that weigh us down. This is all well and good, but it invites a further question.

What should we keep?

What does a minimalist Christian creed look like today in America in 2009? What are the essentials? If we get rid of all the hype and rhetoric and intrigue, what's left?

Perhaps inventing creeds is too ambitious for a layman. Then again, perhaps we're too serious about creeds, and not creative enough. After all, a creed need not be exhaustive to be worthwhile; it's simply a statement of what you believe, what's important to you, what matters.

I'm a sojourner, and I don't want to carry more than I need, because The Way is uphill. If I forget everything else, here's twenty-five things I want to remember.

• I am a sinner.
• Jesus loves me.
• Jesus loves my neighbour.
• God is Jesus.
• God is love.
• Grace is free.
• The Gospel is Good News.
• Talk is cheap.
• Good trees bear good fruit.
• Words mean things.
• Wisdom asks questions.
• Humility listens.
• Life is short.
• Laughter is healthy.
• Choices are eternal.
• I don't know everything.
• I don't even know how much God knows.
• Answers are overrated.
• Pain is everywhere.
• Beauty is everywhere.
• The Bible is true.
• Truth can be messy.
• Faith is active.
• Hope is essential.
• Love is the greatest thing in the world.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Image "The Narrow Way" by Dan Hayward, courtesy of etsy.com