Catechism
The Small Catechism for By Rev. William M. Cwirla
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e’re taking a bit of a break from studying the parts of the Small Catechism to talk about a use for the catechism that many people don’t realize: evangelism tool. Now, when I say “Small Catechism,” of course, I don’t mean that blue- or burgundy-colored book with 300 or so questions and answers and lots of Bible verses. That’s the Small Catechism with Explanation. And while that’s a very good book and useful for teaching, reference, and study, it isn’t the sort of thing one just hands out to anyone. They’re kind of expensive, for one thing. What I’m talking about is the actual Small Catechism as Martin Luther wrote it for the heads of families to teach the Christian faith to their households. It’s the catechism most of us learned by heart at some point in our lives as Lutherans. Concordia Publishing House sells them in packs of a dozen for $5. That’s less than fifty cents a copy. Think about what the Small Catechism essentially is: everything that a Christian should know about his or her salvation in Jesus in a simple, compact form. Christianity 101. The Rock Bottom Basics. Look at the three chief parts of the Small Catechism: The Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Our Father. Sin, God, and Prayer. That’s an afternoon of great conversation right there. What does God desire of us? What does “fear, love, and trust in God above all things” look like? Why do we say we are “sinners”? The Ten Commandments cover everything concerning our hearts, heads, and hands—what we say, do, think, desire—you name it. We should fear and love God so that we don’t this and do that. It covers God’s Name, Word, authority, human life, sexuality, property, reputation, desire. All of human life in all its fallenness is laid out like a spiritual MRI diagnosing our sinful condition. The Apostles’ Creed. Who is God and what does He do? The Creed summarizes the great mystery of the God in His “triunity” – three Persons, one Being. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And it describes God’s three great works: creation, redemption, and sanctification. God is our Maker, Provider, and Protector. He is our Redeemer in the Son who died and rose to save us from sin, death, and hell. And He is our Sanctifier who, by His Spirit, makes us holy with the gifts of Christ in His Church. Personally, I think the Small Catechism’s meaning of the Second Article is the greatest personal testimony you can give to the world:
H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 28
“I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.”
