| The education of a child is of the utmost priority in our society. Children are often run through PSAT’s as early as their sophomore year
hoping to secure a spot in one of the nation’s finer schools. Yet the Christian community is sorely lacking in the area of educating its young people in the
fundamentals of the faith. The Bible places the responsibility of educating children in the things of God squarely upon the shoulders of parents: "And these words
. . . shall be on your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when
you lie down and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
While instructing a child in the faith is primarily the responsibility of parents, the church can and should assist them in this great task so that our young people might know what and why they believe. While opportunities for fellowship and devotional stimulation abound, an educational strategy designed to instruct them in the fundamental theological and apologetic issues vital to every believer’s stability is needed. Catechism, an elementary summary of the doctrines of the Christian faith, was of great importance to the Reformers, especially to John Calvin. He wrote: "Those to whom God has given the honor of having children, let them know that they are all the more obligated to take pains that their children are duly instructed. Thus if they wish to have good instruction it is always necessary to begin with faith. For children could give the appearance of having all the virtue in the world, but that would be worth nothing, unless God be feared and honored by them." Calvin was so convinced of the importance of catechism that he wrote one in 1537. In it, he clearly explained his intention: "The order which we advise being set up is that there be a brief and simple summary of the Christian faith, to be taught to all children, and that at certain seasons of the year they come before the ministers to be . . . examined, and to receive more ample explanation, according as there is need to the capacity of each one of them, until they have been proved sufficiently instructed." Many of us are familiar with the term catechism from our roots in Roman Catholicism, but catechism has been a vital part of the Protestant Church since its inception in 1517. Martin Luther wrote both a Large Catechism and a Small Catechism for instructing young people in God’s Word. This ministry, so important to Luther, Calvin and the Reformers, has unfortunately largely fallen into disuse in the Bible-believing churches of our day. As a result, today’s Christian youth often lack the stability that a solid understanding of what and why they believe would provide. After all, Paul wrote that God has given us "pastors and teachers" so that we might no longer "be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:11-14). Only sound teaching will give them the confidence to stand in the face of incessant attacks against their Christian heritage. I wholly agree with Calvin’s conviction that "a brief and simple summary of the Christian faith . . . be taught to all children," and, to that end, have developed a two semester catechism for our teens, ages 13-19. Our text for the course is the Westminster Shorter Catechism, broken into two parts and taught over two semesters. While our Doctrinal Statement agrees with the Westminster Shorter Catechism in virtually all its points, our minor differences will be explained in context. Each year from January to May we conduct Catechism classes that alternate between Part One and Part Two of the Catechism. Students are welcome to join at the beginning of either part. A copy of the Westminster Shorter Catechism will be supplied to each student. Registration is required for enrollment, but there are no fees. Please contact me if you have any questions about this program. For information about the next Catechism cycle, call the Church office at 401-766-1777 or e-mail us. May the Lord bless us as we labor for our most precious resource: our children! Yours in the Victorious One, Pastor Gene Giguere |