I am not one to ascribe to, much less engender “credos”, but I don’t know what else to call this. My hesitancy emerges from the commandment:
“You shall not add unto the word…” (Deuteronomy 4:2).
Despite that, a certain line of reasoning emerged over a long period time, and then sort of crystalized through discussions on a Facebook page called

Catholic / Orthodox & Protestant Peaceful Dialogue

People would post all kinds of questions, and claims, and I would look them up, and then comment based on what I found. Slowly, a little at a time, the following picture emerged:

Let’s call it: Christ in you, the hope of Glory.

• Christianity is a spiritual event that happens to individuals.
  This event is orchestrated by God, not by man*
  and this spiritual event is the whole of Christianity.
  *(think of God sending Phillip to the Ethiopian Eunuch)
• A vast number of “practices” and “teachings” have emerged over time, but many of them are no longer spiritual in nature, we teach ideas and analogies, then we wonder why we do not get the effect we are looking for.
  Consider the example of Cornelius the first non-Jewish convert
  “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” (Acts 10:44)
  the Holy Ghost “fell” on them?
  When was the last time you saw that happen?
• consider also the question of Paul to the Galatians:
  “… Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law , or by the hearing of faith?”
  what does “works” of the law mean? Regulations? Religious ceremonies?
• finally, I arrive at a small discovery in scripture: The First Recorded Mass.
  This description emerges, not after a lengthy discourse on doctrine, but it is the conclusion to a lengthy passage which begins:
  “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”
  … gifts? Spiritual gifts? What gifts? Are Christians supposed to have “gifts”?
  Paul spends three chapters on this subject, with a small diversion in the middle which he basically says: I don’t care what you can do spiritually, if you are not a nice person – it doesn’t count! (I Cor ch 13)
  at the end of this discourse Paul describes how a Christian Gathering (or Mass) should proceed:

“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you have a psalm, have a doctrine, have a tongue, have a revelation, have an interpretation.” I Cor 14:26
notice the phrase … “each of you” …

• Here we see a vibrant living Church, where each member builds up the others with their “spiritual gifts”. We do not see a trained overseer (Greek word “bishop”) standing behind a pulpit and lecturing a “mute flock”, who stands up and sits down at his command, then repeats after him, and sings the songs he has prepared, and makes the statements that the speakers higher ups have created… etc.
  Instead, Paul shows us a “spiritual” group doing “spiritual” things. (The Bishops original job was simply to control who spoke next)

I have come to a really freaky conclusion:

-Somehow, the “spirit” has been drained out of God’s Church.
It has been “quenched” (see I Thessalonians 5:19)

I have become slowly convinced that what we (both Catholic and Protestants) are doing would not be recognized by anyone in the New Testament Church, I have also discovered that that over time, and in certain places, it has benefited certain gold-clad emissaries to make sure that no one really became born again because when someone gets born again – the Holy Spirit drives them to “declare” God’s word.

“For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”
Jeremiah 20 8-9

• This is what always happens when a person receives the Spirit; from the beginning until now! From Abel to Zechariah, to Peter, and Paul and the apostles, even to this present day (read: Chasing the Dragon, by Jackie Pullinger – founder and director of St. Stevens Society in Hong Kong since 1966)

Yet there have come times (centuries later) when those who were found to be filled with the spirit were burned at the stake in acts of flagrant power (Foxes Book of Martyrs).
Such were purposeful acts, carried out specifically to “quench the spirit”, because you cannot control a man who has been ordained by God – can you?

• Go, my friends! Seek the Lord!
  Read His word, and ask Him to teach you (“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, HE SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26),
  Ask for spiritual gifts
  ” …desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy” 1 Corinthians 14:1
  “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” – words of Christ, found in Luke 11:9
• A note to pastors. Having trouble coming up with relevant topics every Sunday? If the Church worked the way Paul described it in 1 Corinthians (each of you have a psalm, etc …), then you would not have to worry about what to teach: The Holy Spirit would orchestrate it for you. As Christians we are in a race – with each other (Hebrews 12:1), and in a battle against “principalities and powers” (Ephesians 6:12), which requires us to put on “spiritual armor” etc. (Ephesians 6:13). In battle your stance and position must constantly change, your thrusts and parries must come from all directions, and your blocks must be strong and unfailing. If, when we came together, The Holy Spirit was prompting Christians, edifying Christians, instructing Christians… our efforts would be coordinated from above. We would be stronger, lighter, and faster. We would not sit in church, and watch the guy next to us rehearse his golf swing while the preacher was talking… etc. Disinterest would vanish. Imagine that!
  and finally
• Do not fear “the world”, and it’s judgements of you.
  “The world” has spend 400 years “proving” that spiritual things do not exist.
  “The world” has declared that “God is dead”.
  Is He? Test Him. Let Him prove Himself real.
  However, you will not know Him as real, until you grapple with the question of whether or not the spiritual world exists, because:
  “God is a Spirit…” John 4:24

so, all that being said, I set before you, the scripture:

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” Hebrews 10:25

Remember:
“…God is love.” I John 4:8
… but He also owns a sword!
“If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.” Deuteronomy 32:41

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” Psalm 111:10

and lastly:
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God…” 1 John 4:1

We are on a spiritual journey, not a philosophical one. Walk in the spirit! (Galatians 5:18)

I pray that this may be of help and blessing.

Peace

a couple of afterthoughts:

a) I wish that all churches had Bible reading classes – not Bible instruction classes – but Bible reading classes. Insuring that the men and women whose spiritual well being you have been charged with have, at least once, read the Scriptures in their entirety. This should be of tantamount importance. Such practices should stir controversy and comment, during other functions, and allow the Holy Spirit to intervene.

b) A note to Pentecostals: Why do you allow your members to contravene scripture? Didn’t Paul tell us not to all speak in tongues at once? (I Corinthians 14:23) I grew up in those churches, and regret never asking that question.

c) I have been shocked by the astounding fall of some pastors (Wacko in Waco, Jim Jones, etc). It appears that, at some point in their ministry, they began taking short-cuts, (Oral Roberts: Seed Faith, Harold Camping: Logic), and God “gave them over” (Romans 1:28). This to me, is the most terrifying thing that could ever happen to a Christian. Every word I write, I write with fear.
Peace