I grieve over the fact that many Baptists are unaware of the fact that Baptists have a catechism. When I mention to people that we have 'catechism' for children on Wednesday nights, I usually get a blank stare or a raised eyebrow. This is a tragedy! I tell the truth when I say that there are few things in this life that give me greater joy than hearing my son saying his catechism. He is four years old, and these are some of the truths he has learned so far:
1. Who made you?
God made me.
2. What else did God make?
God made all things.
3. Why did God make you and all things?
For His own glory.
4. How can you glorify God?
By loving Him and doing what He commands.
5. Why are you to glorify God?
Because he made me and takes care of me.
6. Is there more than one true God?
No. There is only one true God.
7. In how many Persons does this one God exist?
In three persons.
17. How did God create man?
God created man, male and female, after His own image.
So far, my son has committed 22 of these questions to memory. Every night before he goes to bed and before we pray, we go over these questions and answers. If I get in a hurry to tuck him in, he will hold up a finger and say, "Wait Papa. We have to say the catechism." I love it. What a magnificent discipleship tool for our children. How, oh how, did Baptists let it fall by the way-side?
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Two Voices
12 years ago
7 comments:
I had no idea we had a catechism! I was reading Richard Baxter yesterday and he was talking about the importance of our people knowing their catechisms. I wonder why baptists have neglected them.
Very Cool!
Catechism was neglected because it wrongly became a "confirmation" of regeneration thus giving many false assurances of conversion. Just because a wonderful child learns the catechism does not mean that they have been given a new heart.
With that being said, I think the catechism is a good thing as long as teaching it is accompanied by a strong biblical emphasis on the miraculous new birth.
That's awesome.
Phil Perkins.
Way to go! It is encouraging to hear of parents spending the time to train their children in the things of the Lord!
Well, it is said that bapstist people do not have cathechism but the Bible. I believe that we have no direct access to the Bible, because we do have some traditions that sometimes we can't realize. We have our way of thinking and teaching, so, in some way, we have catechism and we should check out our catechism in the light of Bible and our context. A radcal reform should be a constant in our church's life. Benjamin: benjarfe@yahoo.com
I'm interested in learning about our origins as baptist, so if you have papers written by anabaptist people you can write to me: benjarfe@yahoo.com Ben
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