Dear
Brothers and
Sisters in
Christ,
I have
often wondered what we might find
from members
of Zion if we
polled them on the purpose of catechism and confirmation. Here are some
ideas about the purpose of confirmation across our beloved Synod:
polled them on the purpose of catechism and confirmation. Here are some
ideas about the purpose of confirmation across our beloved Synod:
·
A personal relationship
with Jesus
Christ...
·
Develop a
moral sensibility
to help them
face life's
choices ...
·
Know the
Bible and what it says
...
·
Become
more fully identified
as a LUTHERAN Christian
...
·
Know Jesus
Christ as Savior
and Lord.
The
goals of many Lutheran parents
for their children in catechism
instruction and for their confirmation are not a whole lot different than the
goals for youth ministry at the local Baptistomethopentecostal church (okay,
so let's delete LUTHERAN from the second to the last item on the list).
instruction and for their confirmation are not a whole lot different than the
goals for youth ministry at the local Baptistomethopentecostal church (okay,
so let's delete LUTHERAN from the second to the last item on the list).
It seems
that many
publishers of Lutheran
catechetical material
agree with
these goals. Most of the time is spent on the Commandments, a significant
amount on the Creed, some time spent on Prayer but not a whole lot on
Baptism, the Keys, or the Sacrament of the Altar. That's not the case here at
Zion and that's why I will not use catechetical materials, ever again! We are
heavily invested in these areas but barely touch on such things as the way of
worship, the church history that bore the fruit of the Lutheran Reformation,
or our piety centered in the Divine Service and manifest in a life of regular
private confession and absolution. You and your children will see a marked
difference beginning next catechetical year, as we will "heavily (heavenly)
invest" in the Means of Grace, Lutheran worship, the Lutheran Reformation,
apologetics, private confession and absolution; in other words: Luther's
Small Catechism!
these goals. Most of the time is spent on the Commandments, a significant
amount on the Creed, some time spent on Prayer but not a whole lot on
Baptism, the Keys, or the Sacrament of the Altar. That's not the case here at
Zion and that's why I will not use catechetical materials, ever again! We are
heavily invested in these areas but barely touch on such things as the way of
worship, the church history that bore the fruit of the Lutheran Reformation,
or our piety centered in the Divine Service and manifest in a life of regular
private confession and absolution. You and your children will see a marked
difference beginning next catechetical year, as we will "heavily (heavenly)
invest" in the Means of Grace, Lutheran worship, the Lutheran Reformation,
apologetics, private confession and absolution; in other words: Luther's
Small Catechism!
It's
apparent that many in our
Synod
want catechism to help our
kids say
"no"
to premarital sex and drugs and we want them to be pious but more a piety of
prayer; than one centered in the Word and Body and Blood of the Lord.
to premarital sex and drugs and we want them to be pious but more a piety of
prayer; than one centered in the Word and Body and Blood of the Lord.
Many
expect that those
confirmed will have
a personal relationship
with
Jesus
Christ and confess
Him as Lord
as well as Savior
and live obedient
lives
to the commandments.
But this is NOT Lutheran at
all!
Dear brothers and sisters, the purpose of catechism is not to fill in a missing
morality, teach obedience to the commandments, or develop and encourage a
personal relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord. The purpose of
catechism is to equip the baptized children of God to live out their life and
faith within the realm of the means of grace (Word and Sacraments).
Personal morality flows from baptismal identity. Obedience flows from the
gifts of grace received by faith. Piety has its source in and flows from our life
together around the Word and Table of the Lord and within the framework of
confession and forgiveness.
morality, teach obedience to the commandments, or develop and encourage a
personal relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord. The purpose of
catechism is to equip the baptized children of God to live out their life and
faith within the realm of the means of grace (Word and Sacraments).
Personal morality flows from baptismal identity. Obedience flows from the
gifts of grace received by faith. Piety has its source in and flows from our life
together around the Word and Table of the Lord and within the framework of
confession and forgiveness.
Our kids already have a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" through
baptism and the faith imparted there by the Spirit. This is not a decision or
choice on their part (or yours!). Our children develop a "moral sensibility"
from their baptismal identity as the children of God, from their experience of .
confession and absolution, and from the 3rd use of the Law in which the
commandments function as guide to those declared righteous. Knowing the
Bible and "what it says" means knowing Jesus Christ who is on every page
and in every word of Scripture and Him we know by baptism and faith. If to
"know" Jesus as Savior and Lord means to ask Jesus into your life and
surrender your life over to Him, then we just might have more problems than
the hundred or so hours spent in catechism instruction can handle. How
baptism and the faith imparted there by the Spirit. This is not a decision or
choice on their part (or yours!). Our children develop a "moral sensibility"
from their baptismal identity as the children of God, from their experience of .
confession and absolution, and from the 3rd use of the Law in which the
commandments function as guide to those declared righteous. Knowing the
Bible and "what it says" means knowing Jesus Christ who is on every page
and in every word of Scripture and Him we know by baptism and faith. If to
"know" Jesus as Savior and Lord means to ask Jesus into your life and
surrender your life over to Him, then we just might have more problems than
the hundred or so hours spent in catechism instruction can handle. How
better to know and "identify as a Lutheran Christian" than by knowing how
and why we worship as we do, the character of the hymnody that forms the
soundtrack to this faith, and the efficacy of the Word and Sacraments that
actually do what they promise!!!
and why we worship as we do, the character of the hymnody that forms the
soundtrack to this faith, and the efficacy of the Word and Sacraments that
actually do what they promise!!!
So, what the point of this pastoral letter? Well, if you want your child to have
a relationship with Jesus Christ and fail to instruct them in or give them the
means by which our faith is nourished, sustained, and strengthened, you are
swimming upstream. Teach them of their baptism from birth. Teach them of
the Sacrament of the Altar from birth. Simply read to them the Word of God
and help them read it for themselves. Bring them to the worship of God's
House and instruct them in the Divine Service, the Church Year, and
hymnody. Then bring them to Concordia Weekday School (CWS) and
present them for confirmation. What a difference that will make!
a relationship with Jesus Christ and fail to instruct them in or give them the
means by which our faith is nourished, sustained, and strengthened, you are
swimming upstream. Teach them of their baptism from birth. Teach them of
the Sacrament of the Altar from birth. Simply read to them the Word of God
and help them read it for themselves. Bring them to the worship of God's
House and instruct them in the Divine Service, the Church Year, and
hymnody. Then bring them to Concordia Weekday School (CWS) and
present them for confirmation. What a difference that will make!
Your brother in Christ,
