Catechismal Christianity

1
CatechismalChristianity

• Are the people of God being destroyed for a lack
  of knowledge?

2
What is a Catechism?

• Oral instruction
• A manual for catechizing specifically a summary
  of religious doctrine often in the form of
  questions and answers
• A set of formal questions put as a test
• Something resembling a catechism especially in
  being a rote response or formulaic statement

3
Three Types of Catechisms

• Salvation Catechisms
• 5-step plan of salvation (Hear-Believe-Confess-Rep
  ent-Baptism)
• Baptism Only if not in word, then in practice
• Church Catechisms
• 3 works of the church (Evangelism-Edification-Bene
  volence)
• 5 acts of worship (Sing-Pray-Study-Lords
  Supper-Contribution)
• Doctrinal Catechisms
• Christian motto (Faith-Unity Opinion-Liberty
  All Things-Love)
• MDR (one man, one woman for life with one
  exception)
• Speak where the Bible speaks a Bible verse?

4
Catechisms Slippery Slope

• Catechisms become creeds
• The Pharisees were condemned for their creeds
  Matt. 151-9
• Their creeds often undermined the Word
• How many of our catechisms do likewise?
• Christians must speak as oracles of God 1 Pet.
  411
• We must learn to emphasize Gods word, not our
  synopses
• We must learn to quote Scripture, then explain
  the passage

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Catechisms Slippery Slope

• Catechisms breed spiritual weakness
• Spiritual strength starts with depth of
  knowledgeand ends with the application of that
  knowledge 1 Pet. 22 Heb. 512-14
• Dangers arise when watered down summaries replace
  solid, meaty, deep and principled teaching
• No depth of understanding among the general
  populace of Gods people cf. Eph. 414
• The bar of faithfulness (Rom. 1017) is lowered
  by the mean knowledge of Gods people

6
Catechisms Slippery Slope

• Catechisms create the wrong perception about the
  church of Christ
• Misplaced emphases lead to misunderstood
  positions and doctrine
• What happens when we emphasize baptism?
• What happens when we emphasize acapella singing?
• What happens when we emphasize evangelism?
• What happens when we emphasize certain doctrines
  over others?
• Are we guilty of straining out the gnats, while
  swallowing camels? Matt. 2323-24

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Catechisms Slippery Slope

• Catechisms remove the struggle of learning
• Christians cannot be lazy students of Gods
  word! 2 Tim. 215 Phil. 212 Acts 1710-11
  Matt. 724-29
• The power is in the word of God! Rom. 116-17
• The struggle of learning goes beyond the
  textbook
• The principles and expectations are set forth in
  scripture, but the lessons must be learned by
  practice
• Some common teaching and study practices that
  reinforce catechisms over genuine growth
• Skipping the verses
• Proof text preaching
• Oversimplifying Bible doctrines

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Catechisms Slippery Slope

• Catechisms stifle healthy, beneficial study and
  discussion
• A spiritually stifling and overbearing
  environment cultivates stagnation and error
• Apathy and indifference to all but catechisms
  will produce spiritual stagnation on other key
  elements of the faith cf. Rev. 31-6
• Catechisms are often not open to honest
  investigation, making them perfect hideouts for
  error John 320-21
• Debate and examination are beneficial
• Properly engaged debate can lead to deeper
  understanding and clarification Acts 15
• Examinations of doctrines and convictions are not
  only good, they are commanded 1 John 41 Rom.
  129

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Catechisms Slippery Slope

• Catechisms produce an unhealthy reliance upon
  traditions
• Not all traditions are bad, but not all
  traditions are good 2 Thess. 215 1 Cor. 112
  Matt. 156
• Have we become so rigid and inflexible in our
  traditions that we are strangling ourselves with
  them?
• Some traditions become doctrine, to the
  abhorrence of all other lawful and perhaps more
  expedient means
• Commonly seen in evangelism Mark 1615 Matt.
  2819-20
• Also seen in other collective acts of worship and
  work

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Final Thoughts

• Are we going backward, instead of forward?
• Not a sign of growth, but decay 2 Pet. 318
• Not indicative of work, but laziness Phil. 212
• Not typical of diligence, but indigence 2 Tim.
  215
• Many churches have already taken the catechismal
  road
• While they might be able to maintain strict
  adherence to their catechisms, their reliance on
  them has significantly weakened the faith of
  their people!
• Faithfulness to catechisms will never truly save
  souls John 831-32