Thoughts from Dr. J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett

Catechism in the Contemporary Church

               Recently I gathered with a group of local pastors and enjoyed the time of fellowship.  I asked if any of them had thought about the renewed interest in catechism.  My Presbyterian (OPC) colleague and one Baptist friend who is reading the Heidelberg Catechism, answered in the affirmative.  Why bother?  To many of us in the gospel-centered evangelical part of the church we think: catechism?  Isn’t that Roman Catholic?  But it is a bible word that I came across in Luke’s introduction to his gospel when translating the first four verses the other day.  Not only does (katecheo) catechize appear but so does the word (paradidomi) handed down, which is often translated tradition.  Evangelicals are shy of anything that sounds Roman Catholic like catechism and especially that wreaks of tradition.

               It is right to stand with Luther and Calvin in seeking to shake off the man-made crust from the faith.  But today we bring people into the church when the traditional teaching of the gospel is not sufficiently taught (catechized) into the life of the members of the church.  I am facing the challenge of encouraging people to come to the six week course I have put together that roots them in the essentials of our denomination.  People are allergic to membership because they think of it in terms of a club rather than belonging to the body of Christ.   The rousing call to return to catechizing or discipling people into the faith together in community sounded forth by Packer and Parrett in the book Grounded in the Gospel is an urgent need in the church.  The drift that occurred in the mainline church, it seems to me, is now loose in our evangelical churches unless we heed the warning to teach the faith. 

               Our confusion arises from a misunderstanding of the practice of baptism recorded in the book of Acts where new converts were immediately baptized like the Ethiopian eunuch and Cornelius.  But we must remember, writes Packer and Parrett, that these anecdotal instances of baptisms were all of people already catechized: taught the biblical narrative from the Old Testament and worshipping God as “god fearers”.  They all had a biblical world view. But the next generation of Christians took a new approach.  They took a year to be catechized people considering the Christian faith before they were baptized into the faith.  This is not very “seeker friendly” but surely it is biblical and wise.  When Jesus gave the great commission he said teach them to obey all that I taught: catechize or disciple.  I am doing this with one of new people and he is eating it up! 

               We live in a modern era where most of our neighbors have more in common with pagan Romans and Greeks than with God-fearing Gentiles.  To expect them to jump from a secular world view to a biblical doctrinally based faith is unreasonable unless we spend time teaching the doctrine of the Bible. No wonder the studies of people like Christian Smith have shown that most evangelical youth are believers in “therapeutic, moralistic, deism” not Christians by profession.  Their sexual ethic is what it is because they are not rooted in the gospel that motivates forgiveness and a pursuit of holiness based on a life of gratitude.  What we wrestle with is the reality that our shallow gospel exposure is not capturing the imagination and heart of the next generation.  Young people are leaving at a quick pace because their faith is private and “god” is nebulous rather than real faith in the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the historic doctrine of Evangelical Creeds.  We evangelicals are guilty of priding ourselves that we claim Christ without creed or tradition, and the result is that many in our churches lack real faith in the Jesus of the gospel.  The gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are all ancient catechisms of the tradition passed down by the apostles and held to by the people of God. 

               Are we holding onto the gospel?  Are we teaching the doctrines of the church?  This is the challenge I face as a pastor in the congregation I serve to be more active in teaching the Westminster Catechism and Confession that focus our attention upon the core of our biblical faith.  I agree with Packer and Parrett that Catechism is desperately needed to root people in the faith and world view of the Bible.

               How can we modern evangelical pastors teach the doctrine of Scripture, God, Jesus Christ, fallen humanity, justification by faith, sanctification by faith and glorification in the new heaven and earth to people who have been fed a diet of spiritual inspiration without doctrinal foundation?   As a new pastor in a new Presbyterian denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, there is no more urgent need than to preach the Word of God in season and out.  To make sure people understand Trinity, Incarnation, Salvation in Christ alone by faith alone is the call of God.   Vibrant faith is rooted in heart and mind given to the evangelical truths of biblical doctrine.

               What changes do we need to make to insure the proper teaching of the faith in our Christian Education of adult, youth and children?  Should we take up Dr. Packer and Dr. Parrett’s challenge of reading three old books on pastoral care and teaching the faith; to every new book we read on how to build a healthy church (ala C. S. Lewis)?  Should we be using the Catechism more in our traditions?  I already have portions of the Catechism in the affirmation of the faith every Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, Redding when we worship.  Should we return to the old practice of Sunday evening worship with focus upon the Shorter Catechism weekly?  If not, how should we make sure that every generation is taught the faith on a level that cannot be done in one hour of worship weekly?