(A Creed for Those Born Again to Be Wild)**
~I ride first and foremost because God has called me to do so.
~But, I also ride because I enjoy the freedom I feel from being exposed to the elements, the vulnerability to the danger that is intrinsic to riding, and the pure pleasure of it.
~I do not ride because it is fashionable to do so. Thus, I ride my machine, not wear it. My machine is not a status symbol – it exists for me by the grace of God.
~My machine is not a toy – it is a mechanical wonder in chrome and steel. As a good steward, I will treat it with all due respect. So, I will strive to understand all the inner-workings of my machine from the most basic to the most complex. I will learn everything I can about my machine so that I am reliant on no one but myself for its operation.
~I will strive to constantly better my skills and control over my machine. I will learn its limits and use my skill so that I may ride safe and stay alive. I am the master of this machine, and it is my servant. Working together in harmony, we will become a team.
~My machine should last longer than I do. Therefore, it is a legacy. I will care for it so that future bikers can enjoy it as much as I have.
~I do not fear death for my life is in God’s hands. He has ordered the precise details of my death. Thus, fear will be overcome by confidence in my Lord. I will, however, do everything possible to avoid death due to my own carelessness, inattentiveness, or recklessness.
~I do not ride to gain attention, respect, or fear from those that do not ride, nor do I wish to intimidate or annoy them. For such non-riders that do not know me, I simply ask for them to try and get to know me. And, for those that do desire to know me, I will share with them the truth about myself so that they might understand me and not fear me nor others like me.
~I will not judge other bikers on their choice of machine, their appearance, or their profession–I will see them only as bikers. I am thankful to God for who I am as a biker and for the machine that I ride, but I will not flaunt such before others. If others ask about who I am or what I do as a biker, I will share with them.
~I will show respect to other bikers more experienced or knowledgeable than myself. I will learn from them all that I can. Too, I will not show disrespect to other bikers less experienced or knowledgeable than me. I will teach them what I know.
~It will be my task to mentor new riders in the biker lifestyle so that our lineage may continue. I will instruct them just as I have been taught preserving and honoring the traditions of bikers before me; and I will pass on these traditions unaltered.
~I will never pass by a biker pulled over on the side of a road, but I will stop and be ready to assist as best that I can any biker that truly needs my help.
~I will never ask another biker to do for me what I can do for myself.
~I will never be the aggressor on the highway; nevertheless, should others mess with me, their aggression will be dealt with in a manner that will both honor Jesus Christ as well as protect other bikers and myself from them.
~I am not a part-time biker. I am a biker whenever and wherever I go. I am thankful to be a biker, and I hide my chosen lifestyle from no one. I ride because I love freedom, independence, and the movement of the ground beneath me as well as to better understand myself as God has created me to be. But the main reason that I ride is because I have been called of God to glorify Him by sharing the height and width and depth of His love to the bikers that He brings across my path.
*(In the world of MC’s, a “righteous biker” is one that has earned the respect and friendship of the respective club due to his genuineness as a real biker–he not only”talks the talk,” but even more, he “walks the walk.” Christians also value the title “righteous biker” for they know that such means that they have been given the righteousness of their Savior–and, thus, they “talk the talk” and “walk the walk” as a disciple of Jesus Christ.)
**(The original version of this credo was previously published in “Thunder Roads” magazine anonymously. It is been extensively adapted for use by CrossWind, and it is reserved in its present form for CrossWind. However, it may be used in its present form by any Christian biker–our prayer is that it may prove to be a blessing to many.)
Copyright @ 2007 CrossWind Ministry
