02 December 2021
Catechesis: How to Teach It
These [the Ten Commandments, Apostles Creed, and Our Father] are the most necessary parts of Christian teaching that one should first learn to repeat word for word. And our children should be reciting them daily when they rise in the morning, when they sit down to their meals, and when they go to bed at night. Until they repeat them, they should not be given food or drink.—LC Shorter Preface 15, 16
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5 comments:
Should not the teaching of the Gospel also be considered among the most necessary parts of Christian teaching? Our Lord deemed it important, when He said, Luke 4: 43, … but he said to them, “I must preach the good news (Gospel. GAM) of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”
Luther writes in the section on the Ten Commandments of the Small Catechism, “God threatens to punish all that transgress these commandments,” and not a word about the Gospel. If our children were taught about the forgiveness they have received as baptized members of the Kingdom of God, they might be more willing to learn the Ten Commandment, and thereby avoid going to bed hungry.
The Small Catechism does teach the Gospel in the section on Baptism. Inasmuch as Baptism and its benefits are hallmarks of the New Covenant, should our children not learn about them at the earliest opportunity?
Peace and Joy!
George A. Marquart
Dear George, I think Luther believed quite strongly that the Gospel was taught in the Apostles’ Creed, remembering especially how he speaks of the three articles in the LC, how God gives Himself to us entirely.
Thank you, Will. That may very well be; however, it only becomes clear when you learn Luther’s answers to the questions, “What does this mean.”
Beginning with when I was eight years old, I went to church every Sunday, where I recited the Apostles Creed. Nevertheless, I still cut myself, because I was so desperate to show God how badly I felt about my sins.
Liberation came, 6 years later, when I received Confirmation instruction, and with it, the fullness of the Gospel.
However, just as Luther did not believe in the Gospel in an instance, so it takes time for false convictions to be overcome. My point is that making sure our children understand the pure Gospel as early as possible should be a documented priority, just like Luther’s.
Peace and Joy!
George
My dearest George,
I’m so sorry to hear of you passing through such a horrid time as a child. I can’t imagine how ghastly that must have been for you.
As I reflect now on my own grandkids’ experience: they certainly know the Apostles’ Creed, but I believe they also fully understand the joyful implications of that Creed which the liturgy and preaching at Church regularly unpacks for them. Plus they’ve all been exposed to Luther’s Explanation. In our school, for instance, they’re reciting the Creed and the Explanation together already from the get go. We start with it in preschool!
Blessed adventide, my friend!
Thanks for the kind words. I assure you, this phase did not last very long, maybe a few weeks. Then, somehow my conscience became dulled, and I did not deal with the matter until my Lord let me discover the joy of the Gospel. Thanks be to God, that phase has not ended.
My best wishes to you and yours for a blessed Advent season and glorious Christmas.
George
PS.: Google and I are fighting to the death about my correct account. My email ends with outlook.com. Somehow, I cannot rid myself of the old one.
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