THE REV. CHRISTOPHER AUGUSTUS BARBER
BRYN ATHYN, PENNSYLVANIA
I believe in the One God, the creator of all things, our Lord Jesus Christ
whose only desire is to form a heaven from the human race. All things that He
does reflect His purpose.
I believe that the Lord is the perfect union of Love and Wisdom and
that this union manifests itself in all realms of life, from the driving forces of
nature, the sacred state of conjugial love between married partners, and most
importantly, at the heart of the regenerated human.
I believe that the Lord withholds salvation from no one, but extends it to
all people who then are left in total freedom to accept it and the selflessness of
heaven, or reject it in favor of the selfishness of hell.
I believe that the Lord communicates with us most directly through His
Word, and that the Word is complex in that it contains a literal and an internal
sense which each charge people with the two great commandments: “Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind.” And, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
I believe that the Heavenly Doctrines of the New Jerusalem are the
doorway into the internal sense of the Word, a window into the spiritual
world, and an invitation to consider the mysteries of faith.
I believe the Lord’s priesthood is to stand for the Divine Revelation,
teach the truths therein, and thereby inspire good living according to those
teachings.
And I believe I am called to that priesthood in service of the Lord’s New
Church.
PRAYER
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
Psalm 51:10-13
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