When we hear the word 'church,' what comes to mind? Perhaps comfort, frustration, cherished memories, or even heartbreak. This exploration of the Nicene Creed's declaration that we believe in 'one holy Catholic and apostolic church' challenges us to reconsider what church truly means. Drawing from 1 Peter 2:9 and Ephesians 2 and 4, we discover that the church is not primarily a building or an event, but the community of Jesus followers that God Himself is building. The profound truth is that our unity, holiness, and identity as church are not human achievements but divine gifts. We are being built together by God, brought near through Christ's blood, and made into a holy temple. When we confess belief in the church, we're not claiming perfection or denying our failures. Instead, we're acknowledging that God has made us one in Christ, regardless of our differences in worship style, cultural background, or even opinions about tacos. Our unity transcends politics, preferences, and personalities because it's rooted in the one Lord, one faith, one baptism we share. The call isn't to create unity but to keep it, to live into the reality God has already established. This means sitting beside those we disagree with, learning from believers worldwide who worship differently, and recognizing that anyone who names Christ as Lord is our brother or sister. The church's existence and identity flow from God's work, inviting us to declare His praises and become what He has already declared us to be.
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