Benefit of Catechisms

Tim Challis posts on the Benefits of Catechisms. I particularly appreciate his posting on seeking God’s guidance. Lately I’ve been thinking about discerning God’s will - how do we do that. This is a great reminder.

As we memorize the Westminster Shorter Catechism - remember the benefits pay off for years

There is no substitute for investing in children when they are still young. The catechisms that have survived to this day and have stood the test of time are worth knowing. They are worth teaching to our children. They are worth teaching to ourselves.

Later in I began to examine Christianity outside of the Reformed fold. I was faced with terms and theology that were foreign to me. I had never heard of this thing called the rapture and burst out laughing the first time someone explained it to me, convinced that he was pulling my leg! One of my greatest surprises, and one I found most disconcerting, was the constant discussion in mainstream Protestantism about knowing God's will and receiving guidance from Him. Before leaving Reformed circles I had never heard anyone claim to hear from God nor had I really seen people wrestle with issues of God's guidance. These were foreign concepts to me.

It took me some time to figure out why this was not a struggle for me. I did not wrestle with issues of God's guidance because I had been taught firm principles from my years of catechetical instruction. Read these words by Sinclair Ferguson (taken from his book Faithful God):

Christians in an earlier generation rarely thought of writing books on guidance. There is a reason for that (just as there is a reason why so many of us today are drawn to books that will tell us how to find God's will). Our forefathers in the faith were catechised, and they taught catechisms to their children. Often as much as half of the catechism would be devoted to an exposition of the answers to questions like the following: Question: Where do we find God's will? Answer: In the Scriptures. Question: Where in particular in the Scriptures? Answer: In the Commandments that God has given to us.
Why were these questions and answers so important? Because these Christians understood that God's law provides basic guidelines that cover the whole of life. Indeed, in the vast majority of instances, the answer to the question 'What does God want me to do?' will be found by answering the question: 'How does the law of God apply to this situation? What does the Lord require of me here in his word?'

I think Ferguson is exactly right. I have seen Christians wrestle and fight almost to the death with issues of guidance. More often than not, they finally take refuge in some type of circumstance or irrelevant detail that provides only brief comfort or assurance. I know of a person who made a major, critical decision in life based upon tossing a Bible in the air three times and randomly placing his finger upon a verse on the page which the Bible had fallen open to. I know of people who have made decisions based on hearing a particular person on the radio at a particular time or based on stirrings, feelings and emotions.

The catechisms, based as they are on firm Scriptural principles, do not allow for any of this. They are firm: we find God's will in the Scriptures, particularly in the commandments. We listen and obey. God gives us great freedom to know and do His will within the situations in which He has placed us and by using the gifts and talents with which He has blessed us. Making decisions should not be difficult. Hearing the voice of God and receiving guidance from Him is as simple as opening the Scriptures.

This is just one of many examples in which I know that years of catechetical instruction have been a blessing to me and have helped me avoid the trappings of poor theology. I am grateful, now and always, that my father and theological forefathers were faithful in teaching and applying Scripture through the catechisms. I hope and pray that I will so bless my children.

I have been remiss in posting much here. Between Pulpit Search Committee, WIC, Bible Study...... I’ve needed to prioritize. I hope to post more as we talk about God’s Covenant promises in Chapter 7.

April 19, 2006  |  Permalink   |  Comments (3)   |  TrackBack (0)

Evolution, Creation and Heliocentrism

Creation and the Theory of Evolution certainly does spark passionate debate. Let me list two examples from today:

A $1000.00 check is being offered to the first person who can prove that the earth revolves around the sun. Catholic Apologetics International is holding the contest. In doing this they are reopening the science vs. the Bible debate regarding the Bible’s many references to the sun revolving around the earth. Here is a short clip:

If Scripture can be dismissed by claiming that it is mostly a collection of myths and fables from ignorant and primitive people; and if the Church can be faulted for siding with an aberrant view of cosmology; then modern man thinks he has found the ultimate excuse for relieving himself of being bound by either Scripture or the Church.
That is not all. If one examines the so-called "scientific proofs" for either Evolution or Heliocentrism, the proofs simply do not exist. Yet modern man, so desperate to find his excuses, has turned mere theories into "facts," and has thereby convinced the world that IT, not the Church or Scripture, is the king of truth.

I ask this question - can one challenge the theory of evolution using Genesis 1 - 2, and still accept science’s judgement that the earth revolves around the sun? This is the kind of emotional debate that brings us back to Chapter 1 of the Westminster Confession of Faith - The Authority, Inerrancy, Infallibility, and Sufficiency of Scripture. What we learned from Chapter 1, is that the answer to the above question is Yes and No.

The second example today is the celebration of Evolution Sunday by a number of churches - including one in my hometown (United Methodist Church of Sudbury). They are celebrating the 197th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.

On 12 February 2006 hundreds of Christian churches from all portions of the country and a host of denominations will come together to discuss the compatibility of religion and science. For far too long, strident voices, in the name of Christianity, have been claiming that people must choose between religion and modern science. More than 10,000 Christian clergy have already signed The Clergy Letter demonstrating that this is a false dichotomy.

Praise God that we can gather on this same Sunday and offer worship and praise to the one and only Triune God who created the universe.

What is the work of creation?
The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good. - Westminster Shorter Catechism

February 10, 2006  |  Permalink   |  Comments (1)   |  TrackBack (0)

Consistent with thy Eternal Counsels

How do we pray as believers who trust in God’s eternal decrees? According the the Westminster Shorter Catechism, “The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass”. Do we always just pray “if it is your will?” Sometimes that becomes a trite phrase due to constant repetition - is there not a richer way to pray?

In Valley of Vision there is a portion of a prayer titled “The All Good” that expands on praying for God’s will.

If it be consistent with thy eternal counsels,
the purpose of thy grace,
and the great ends of thy glory,
then bestow upon me the blessings of thy comforts;
If not, let me resign myself to
thy wiser determinations.

February 8, 2006  |  Permalink   |  Comments (0)   |  TrackBack (0)

Shorter Catechism Reflection

We are studying Chapter 1 "The Word of God", and at the same time, memorizing the first three questions of the Westminster Shorter Catechism . We haven't had time to talk about question one but, standing on it's own - it is the basis of our entire study.

Question 1 asks: "What is the chief end of man?" The answer: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."

It may seem to be an obvious question and answer to those of us steeped in the reformed tradition. But from Gene Edward Veith let me ask this question:

What is the difference between these two statements?:
I did my work for God's glory.
I did my work and to God alone be the glory.

The answer to this question gets to a key difference between Calvinistic and Roman Catholic theology. Any thoughts? I'm opening comments for this post.

October 17, 2005  |  Permalink   |  Comments (0)   |  TrackBack (0)