Baptists are famous for their rejection of creeds.  "No creed but the Bible!" they say.  Still, when you ask them what they believe they often have a hard time putting it into words.  So, here's my attempt to put into words--for all us tongue-tied Baptists--not a creed but a statement of faith.  It's not finished.  I really only got to the Jesus part.  But tell me what you think.

• We believe in God. 
• We believe that God’s creative power brought the universe into existence; that he made us, and loves us, and wants us for his own. 
• We believe that God was most fully revealed in Jesus, who was special from the very beginning, full of the Holy Spirit, and passionate about the purposes of God.  He was, and is, God’s son.
• We believe that there are other ways to know God, but that if you want to know God as a loving, heavenly Father you come through Jesus.  In that respect he really is the way, the truth, and the life.
• We believe that Jesus was looking for people who were willing to learn the Way of Love—love for God, for neighbor, and for one another.
• We believe that Jesus is still looking for people who are willing to learn that Way, and that he has made us his partners in that mission.
• We believe that Jesus would not turn anyone away from the family of God.