We Believe

INTRODUCTION
“I do not seek to understand so that I may believe; but I believe so that I
may understand.”
—Anselm of Canterbury (11 th century)
Christian belief is not just a series of stale doctrines or cognitive
concepts. It is a way of being. Faith is a way of living that helps
us understand the world. This is what Anselm was getting at
when he wrote those words a thousand years ago. Christian faith
makes sense of our world and gives meaning to our life.
Over the next several weeks, during the seasons of Lent and
Easter, we are going to explore the basics of this faith together
through our weekly worship and the daily scripture readings and
reflections in this book. Let me offer a few words of introduction.
A Word about Lent and Easter
Lent is a forty-day season that leads up to Easter Sunday. It may
be strange and new to some or it may seem like an old ritualistic
practice to others, but really ‘lent’ is just the Old English word
for springtime. It has the same root as the word “length” and
refers to the “lengthening of days” that we experience this time
of year in the northern hemisphere.
In the early centuries of the church, the forty days of Lent became
a season of preparation for new believers to be received into the
community of the church through baptism on Easter. During this
period, new believers would prepare for their baptism by learning
the basics of faith, devoting themselves to prayer and fasting, and
sharing life in community with each other. For the rest of the
church, this season was a time to renew their faith by participating
in the same things as they anticipated the coming celebration of
the good news on Easter Sunday.
Easter itself is also a season. Lent is forty days, but Easter lasts
for fifty. If the time of preparation and renewal is good, the
season of celebration is better. This reminds us that no matter
how much of God’s goodness we can experience in this life, there
will always be more in the life of resurrection to come.