This is the 3rd article in a series called “Old Dead Faith“. Part 1 is here and Part 2 here.
The Question of this Catechism
A catechism is a teaching tool. The word means “instruction” or “teachings”. Throughout history it usually meant a small handbook of teachings.
And for Christians this has usually taken the shape of a series of questions and answers on different topics of theology and salvation.
The catechism that we are using as a church has a pretty boring title, “An Orthodox Catechism“. Orthodox means a set of teachings that is considered to be biblically correct. For this catechism it means sticking to the agreed upon teachings of scripture for most of the history of the church. When it was put together this catechism was also used to tie the Baptist church tradition into the Classical Christian Tradition.
It Sounds old because it is
This catechism was originally published in 1563 as the Heidelberg Catechism. And it has been used by “Reformed“ churches all over the world since its publication.
In 1680 it was republished as “An Orthodox Catechism“ by a man named Hercules Collins who saw this teaching tool as an encouragement to Baptistic Christians in England during a time of persecution.
For our use there may be very small things that are adapted for our context but it remains basically unchanged.
Wouldn’t it be Better if we only used the Bible?
This is a good question. Shouldn’t we just read the Bible, this makes sense.
Yes. Yes, we should read the Bible. Have you tried doing it lately? The most important parts as it relates to what Jesus has done for you can be understood. Even understood by someone who does not want to take it seriously.
But reading the Bible as a whole it can be confusing. You need a guide. You need the whole of the church; the local church, your current church tradition, and the historical church to being reading and studying along with you.
You will notice when the questions with their answers are posted each week that there are scripture references that you can click on and read. The purpose of those references are not only to show you where the questions and answer come from in scripture but also to get you to read the context of those verses and passages.
Another helpful thing that these scripture references do is guide you through scripture so you know where to look when you or others have questions.
Learning to Ask Good Questions (And Have Good Answers)
Some people say there are no bad questions.
There are a lot of bad questions. In fact bad questions usually lead to bad answers. Answers that never lead us to real learning or becoming informed enough to ask better or even good questions.
This catechism is full of good questions. I love the answers because they are biblical but I love the questions because some of them I am dying to have an answer for and some of them I would never have been smart enough to ask.
A catechism can help us keep from getting distracted on ideas in scripture that scripture itself is not focused on. For instance, when will the world end and what exactly will happen? Well the catechism wisely directs us back to Christ. Or how about the specifics of creation. We are taken back to our God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Good questions lead to good answers.
Pancakes and Theology Need Consistency
What if you come to church one week and the pastor says something, you take it as truth, and then the next week you return and he teaches something that does not agree with this “truth“ that he taught last week?
Which week are you going to ignore? Probably both.
It is important that we do not have too many conflicted teachings about God, his Word, and our Salvation. There must be consistency or else none of it will be taken seriously and like always we will, as a church or as individuals, decide to take part in “church community“ while shaping our own religious beliefs which leads us away from Jesus.
Using the Catechism
It may seem hard. It may seem strange. It may seem wooden. But you are smart enough to read through it and understand.
You are able to ask for help and for someone to go through it with you because your brothers and sisters in Christ need it to. They have things that you do not and you have things that they do not. We need one another and we are all here to help and serve one another.
It may seem like a strange way of learning or a strange set of questions but all new things are strange and it would be good for you to embrace.
And it may seem like studying the catechism is a discipline that is a little too wooden. A little too wrote and old. A little too disciplined. But built into this discipline there is also the freedom assurance, comfort, and knowledge. There is the freedom that comes with understanding The Faith and with better knowing what scripture teaches about God and his work. And more specifically about Jesus and what he has done for you.
Read a question or two at dinner. Discuss it with you spouse, with your kids, with you housemates. Whoever God has placed in or near your home. Think about the questions in terms of how your neighbour may ask them and practice them in your own home and mind so that you can take advantage of the opportunities for sharing the Gospel with those around you.
Your ancestors in The Faith have gifted you with this tool. Do not neglect it.