Over the past nine years I have encouraged the use of The New City Catechism (hereafter NCC), which debuted in 2017. This catechism derives from both the Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647, hereafter WSC) and the Heidelberg Catechism(1563). The NCC is more useful for contemporary users since it has only fifty-two questions (as opposed to the one hundred, seven of the WSC), its length makes it possible to memorize and/or to go through in one year, it has a free app that also makes it easier to use, the app can be put in children’s mode and used with younger readers, and it gives a great overview of the key doctrines of the Bible.
Professing Christians who have been in Evangelical churches any time at all may think it odd that anyone is encouraging the use of a catechism. There is not only a prejudice against such tools, but a great deal of misunderstanding. Many conclude, “Catechetical instruction is one of those religious hoops to jump through in cold, sterile congregations!”[1] Like any tool, a catechism can be misused and sometimes is. However, this does not negate their helpfulness if utilized properly—namely to ground a person in the basics of the gospel and the Scriptures.
The lack of biblical and theological understanding among the Church today is well documented.[2] Part of this stems from a misunderstanding of grace, one which suggests we should exercise easy belief (mere mental assent) in Jesus Christ as Savior and then try to stay away from study as far as we can, lest we become legalistic and/or make our Christianity something less than a relationship. It is almost as if the less we know, the more we can claim, “Hey, it’s all about a relationship with Jesus!” The lack of biblical literacy also stems from the fact that the contemporary Church has made little use of theologically substantive training materials that can aid believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Catechisms are just such a tool. They are designed to root and ground children, new saints, and inquiring unbelievers in the basics of the faith and the gospel. In fact, since it was so common in the early church for those who had professed faith in Jesus Christ eventually to turn away from their profession, catechisms were developed to help the person “decide if he still wanted to submit to Christian baptism and gave the church opportunity to discern (as far as human observation can do this) the genuineness of his, or her, conversion…. This use of catechisms served as a safeguard for the purity of the church.”[3]
The term catechism is taken from the Greek word katecheo, which means “teach” or “instruct”. To catechize “simply means to teach Biblical truth in an orderly way. Generally, this is done with questions and answers accompanied by Biblical support and explanation.”[4] Catechetical instruction is not something done only in Roman Catholic or cold liberal churches. In fact, it was one of the factors which enabled the Reformation of the 16th-17th centuries to remain on solid footing and to spread successfully.[5]
The use of the NCC fits in our church since we are a church serious about having a biblical, experiential knowledge of God, we value making disciples, and we value parents equipping their children for the Christian life. This tool helps with each of these values.
Because of all this, I will take us through the NCC in my newsletter articles over the next year. There may be occasional weeks I will break from this and write on something else. But for the most part I will write on one question and answer a week.
My prayer is that God will use these articles in your life, the life of your children, and the lives of those whom you are discipling. I also pray that He, His Word, and the truth of the gospel, will be opened up in new and fresh ways for your delight in Him and for His glory.
Joyfully Catechizing With You,
Tom Barnes
[1] Tom J. Nettles, Teaching Truth, Training Hearts: The Study Of Catechisms In Baptist Life (Amityville, NY: Calvary Press, 1998), 15, draws attention to the reality many evangelicals are suspicious of catechisms.
[2]For example, David Wells, No Place For Truth (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993), 4, wrote: “I have watched with growing disbelief as the evangelical Church has cheerfully plunged into astounding theological illiteracy.”
[3] Nettles, Teaching Truth, 16.
[4] John Piper, A Baptism Catechism (Desiring God Ministries), 1. He lists Acts 18:25; 1 Corinthians 14:19; Galatians 6:6 which all use the verb katecheo to speak of biblical instruction.
[5] Nettles, Teaching Truth, 17.
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