The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Evangelizing our children

Michele,

First of all you should go here: Read about and download Refcon3. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Now, as to your specific questions:

1) QUESTION: What authority do the Confessions & Catechisms have?
ANSWER: They are secondary in authority to that of the Scriptures. As the Westminster Confession of Faith puts it, the Bible is the "sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice". Thus we are to read all man-made documents in light of the Bible, God's inerrant and infallible Word. Accepting that as a given, the Confessions and Catechisms are summaries of the Bible's teaching which have been written down for our instruction and edification. ALL men have a "creed" (credo=I Believe). For example, if someone should ask you, "Who is Jesus Christ?", the answer you give in reply would be your "creed" concerning the Lord Christ. Thus these historical documents are a great aid in both educating us in the truth of the Scripture's teaching and to guard against heresy.

2) QUESTION: How are we to use these Confessions and Catechisms for our own instruction as well as that of our children?
ANSWER: They are to be used as a "tool" to instruct us so that we may come to a true knowledge of Christ and what God requires of us who believe to live a holy life before God.

Now, what I have to say next is something which I am quite adamant about because I feel it is fundamental to the rearing of children. Some of the Catechisms, e.g., the Heidelberg Catechism are written from the perspective of a believer; the questions and answers are written in the FIRST PERSON. It is here that I believe that many churches have erred in teaching children for the presume the salvation of their offspring and thus the children are subject to having a false assurance given to them. Therefore I much prefer to use a Catechism that is written in the THIRD PERSON to teach children. Why? because they are objective rather than subjective in their teaching. Practically speaking, one should teach the truths of God's Word objectively, i.e., the doctrinal truths are made known regardless of the spiritual state of the catechumen. Then it is up to the Holy Spirit to apply these truths to the hearts of the student as they are impressed upon their minds by the teacher. In this respect, I believe that the Westminster Shorter/Larger Catechisms are superior for the purpose of teaching children.

I have lots more to say about the teaching of children, but perhaps that would be better reserved for another topic. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,