Proper Catechesis

Tuesday of Easter 7
18 May 2010

Catechetical instruction is not a Lutheran invention. The ancient church recognized that the church's children need continual instruction in the faith. If the church's faith is not taught, then Satan's will be. Luther says that wherever God builds a church, the devil builds a chapel. If we are to be protected against false teaching, we will need to know the true teaching. If we want to avoid a false Christ we will need to recognize the true Christ. The armor that God gives to turn aside heresy is nothing other than the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit. So let us put our hand to the sword of the Spirit and not be wearied in catechizing.

A good foundation and orderly presentation of the faith is crucial to quality catechesis. The teachings of the faith are all intimately inter-related. For example, we begin with the ten commandments to teach the reality of sin. Sin must be confessed that the forgiveness given in baptism might be treasured as a true relief from the wrath of God and the fear of death. Here Cyril of Jerusalem pleads with his catechumens that they would listen carefully to the catechetical lectures and listen to them in their specific order. Other sermons can be studied repeatedly and in whatever order, but not the catechetical sermons. They are the baptismal foundation of the faith, and if the foundation is not well laid and in the right order, the result will be a poor construction. The whole house will founder if not well founded.

Cyril of Jerusalem

"Study our teachings and keep them forever. Do not think that they are the ordinary homilies; for though they also are good and trustworthy, yet if we should neglect them today we may study them tomorrow. But if the teaching concerning the font of regeneration delivered in a consecutive course be neglected today, when shall it be made right? Suppose it is the season for planting trees: if we do not dig, and dig deep, when else can that be planted rightly which has once been planted ill? Suppose that catechizing is a kind of building: if we do not bind the house together by regular bonds in the building, some gap may be found, and the building become unsound. Then even our former labor is of no use. But stone must follow stone by course, and corner match with corner, and by our smoothing off inequalities the building must thus rise evenly. In like manner we are bringing to you stones, as it were, of knowledge. You must hear concerning the living God, you must hear of judgment, must hear of Christ, and of the Resurrection. And many things there are to be discussed in succession, which though now dropped one by one are afterwards to be presented in harmonious connection. But unless you fit them together in the one whole, and remember what is first, and what is second, the builder may build, but you will find the building unsound."

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 7.3