David Ker has challenged us (well, not me personally, but I took up the challenge anyway) to design a twitterable Christian Creed for the 21st Century.

The rules of the Tweet Creed Meme are:

1. Link to this post (and to David’s post, if you’re kind).

2. Publish your own Tweet Creed of 140 characters of less.

3. Tag five other people (I don’t like forcing people into things, but if you’re interested, give it a punt).

If someone sincerely confessed this creed you would:

1. Consider them to be a brother or sister in Christ.
2. Believe that they are true believers and inheritors of eternal life.

I’m going to go through my thought process here. Because I think that’s more interesting, and also because I think some of my intermediate creeds are pretty good. But feel free to skip to the end, because want you to let me know which one of my two finalists you prefer and why. They’re bolded, so just scroll down past the body and let me know what you think.

***

I began with the Apostles Creed, basically because I know it pretty well. It’s a very dense statement:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty. He shall come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

However, at 609 characters, I think there’s a lot that can go. Here’s my first try:

I believe in God the creator and his son Jesus Christ who died, rose again as the first resurrection of a new creation forgiving us our sins, and ascended into Heaven to rule with his father, bringing eternal justice and life. (226 characters)

What did I remove?

• Christ’s Birth narrative (conception, virginity)
• Divine titles (except for the sonship)
• Historical markers (like Pontius Pilate and crucifixion)
• Archaic phrases (’sits at the right hand’).
• I ignored the Holy Spirit altogether (that might have been a bad idea, but word limit!), so I had to pack in the entire ‘Holy spirit’ section under Christ. I did this by including concepts of ‘first resurrection’ (implying further), forgiveness of sins, and life and justice everlasting.

But it’s too long! Second try:

God created and his son Jesus Christ redeemed creation and mankind, through death, resurrection and ascension, forgiving us our sins, bringing eternal justice and life. (168 characters)

What did I change:

• ‘I believe’. The Apostles Creed is liturgical. This doesn’t need to be read out loud.
• I tried to make it more active, speaking of what God/Christ has done, so it’s more memorable.
• I tried to minimise repetition by combining creation and mankind, and reduced any desire to expand upon Christ’s actions and their repercussions.

But, it’s still too long. Third try:

God created and Christ redeemed creation and mankind, through death, resurrection and ascension, to bring mercy, justice and eternal life. (138 characters)

What did I change:

• Finally the title ‘God’s Son’ went. I should have taken that out long ago, if I was being consistent.
• ‘Forgiving our sins’ became ‘mercy’. It’s less Christianese, holds less connotations.

But to be honest, I’m just not happy with it still. Fourth try:

God created and in Christ redeemed both mankind and creation through his death, resurrection and ascension, granting us mercy, justice, eternal life and access to his Holy Spirit. (167 characters)

It’s important to me to include creation, and Trinity so I think that would be my ideal ‘super-short’ creed. But, as it’s 27 characters over, I think I need extra inspiration. The doctrine of Divinisation of St Athanasius comes to mind: ‘God was made man so that we might be made gods.’ This would remove the Trinity from my creed (bummer), but it would make it simpler, more memorable, and probably more poignant:

God created and redeemed mankind and creation through his death and resurrection, granting mercy and eternal life that we may be like Him. (138 characters).

***

So basically, I’ve come down to two 138 word Tweet Creeds:

God created and redeemed mankind and creation through His death and resurrection, granting mercy and eternal life that we may be like Him.

and

God created and Christ redeemed mankind and creation, through death, resurrection and ascension, granting mercy, justice and eternal life.

Do you think they satisfy the criteria that if someone sincerely confessed this creed you would:

1. Consider them to be a brother or sister in Christ.
2. Believe that they are true believers and inheritors of eternal life.

Which one do you prefer? Why?