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The Sparkle Creed is an affirmation of transgender ideology used in some theologically liberal churches, primarily in the United States. The Sparkle Creed is usually spoken in place of a traditional creed, such as the Apostles’ Creed or the Nicene Creed. The Sparkle Creed is most commonly recited in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a theologically and socially liberal denomination that has rejected the inerrancy of Scripture and departed from biblical teachings on gender and marriage.
There is no official text of the Sparkle Creed, primarily because it’s such a new development. No universal wording has been adopted for use across all churches. The following text, though, is commonly recited in some churches within the ELCA, especially during the month of June (which is “pride month” in the United States):
I believe in the non-binary God whose pronouns are plural. I believe in Jesus Christ, their child, who wore a fabulous tunic and had two dads and saw everyone as a sibling-child of God. I believe in the rainbow Spirit, who shatters our image of one white light and refracts it into a rainbow of gorgeous diversity. I believe in the church of everyday saints as numerous, creative and resilient as patches on the AIDS quilt, whose feet are grounded in mud and whose eyes gaze at the stars in wonder. I believe in the call to each of us that love is love is love, so beloved, let us love. I believe, glorious God. Help my unbelief.
The word creed comes from the Latin word credo, which means “I believe.” Simply put, a creed is a statement of beliefs about a certain topic or subject. Creeds have long been a part of church history and have played important roles in shaping Christian doctrine, especially in the early years of the church’s existence following the first century. Some of the most well-known Christian creeds are the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. These creeds are rich in theology and faithful to the truths of Scripture. To this day, many churches recite these creeds during their worship services, and many Christians memorize them as a part of their spiritual formation. Creeds are never meant to have authority over the Word of God, but they can be helpful in clearly stating Christian doctrine.The Sparkle Creed is nothing like the ancient, historic creeds. It affirms sinful behavior, reassigns roles within the Trinity, and anachronistically places modern categories onto ancient Christian doctrines. Rather than express faithfulness to the truths found in Scripture, the Sparkle Creed advances transgender ideology within the church. It is nothing short of a blasphemous decree.
The early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). The Sparkle Creed has nothing to do with the apostles’ teaching and is in fact far from it. Christians should not recite the Sparkle Creed or be involved in a church that recites it. It is much more profitable to study and recite the traditional church creeds alongside Scripture.
