Teaching Kids Doctrine: the Usefulness of Catechisms
Parenting... what an incredible blessing! Parents have been given the wonderful gift of children to love, care for, and enjoy. Being “Papa” to my four kids is one of the greatest joys of my life, yet it is one of the most challenging things I do.
You see, Dad and Mom, being a parent involves more than us solely enjoying and building relationships with our children. It goes beyond family activities, or the kids’ involvement in sports, or encouraging and supporting an education for a future career. Though all these things can certainly be good and beneficial, as parents we have a much greater responsibility. We have been called by God to teach the Scriptures to our children. Consider the following verses:
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children...”
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go...”
Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
2 Timothy 3:15 “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus...”
The Bible is very clear about our responsibility to teach our children, but how do we go about this in everyday life? I want to encourage you to consider a very effective tool that has been used for centuries: catechism.
What Is Catechism?
If the word “catechism” sounds strange or foreign to you, don’t be too surprised. It’s not used as commonly today as it was in the past. During the Reformation of the 16th century and also the Puritan era, parents felt strongly about catechizing their chil- dren. This method was used by the people in the church to teach their children God’s Word.
Catechism comes from a Greek word found in the Bible, “katacheo”, that simply means “to teach”. The word is used in the New Testament to refer to teaching someone in a systematic way with questions and answers. Luke, at the beginning of his gospel refers to this. He speaks of “the things you have been taught, (or catechized)”. His purpose in writing his gospel is that those who have been taught, (or catechized) in the doctrine of Christ, might have, “...certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Lk. 1:4). In other words, Luke’s gospel serves as a means of catechiz- ing believers.
In short, catechism is an organized approach to teaching doc- trine through memorized questions and answers drawn from the Scriptures. The questions and answers develop a basic un- derstanding of topics such as God, sin, Christ, salvation, the Bi- ble, the church, and so forth, with each answer being supported by Scripture references.
Here’s an example from the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Question: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God,(1) and to enjoy Him forever.(2)
Scripture references: (1) 1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 11:36 (2)
Psalm 73:24-26; John 17:22, 24
Why Use Catechism?
There are many great reasons why we should use catechism to instruct our children. Here are just a few to consider:
Catechism Is Biblical
As noted previously, one of the reasons we should catechize our children is because we find this method in the Bible. In addi- tion to Luke’s reference, we see that Paul also used the concept in Galatians 6:6 when he said, “Let the one who is taught (katacheo) the Word share all good things with the one who teaches (katacheo).” In Acts 18:24-25, Paul said that Apollos was, “an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed (katacheo) in the way of the Lord.”
More importantly, even the Lord Jesus used catechism. Jesus regularly asked questions to make others think about important topics and to help them understand who He was and what He had come to do. Before entering Jerusalem to face His death on the cross, Jesus asked His disciples one of the most important questions ever posed, “Who do the people say that the Son of Man is?” (Mt. 16:13). When a somewhat ambiguous answer was given, he asked a follow-up question, “But who do you say that I am?” Pe- ter then responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus’ questions lead the disciples to a deeper understanding of divine truth.
When reading the gospels, you’ll find that Jesus often asked very penetrating questions to different audiences to induce a re- sponse. The answers would then be used for testing or rebuk- ing, but primarily for teaching. As parents, we would do well to follow the example of the greatest teacher who ever lived. The Lord Jesus instructed others in essential biblical truth using catechism, therefore we ought to implement this method with our children.
Kids Naturally Ask a Lot of Questions
“Papa, who created God?” “Mama, why does God let bad things happen?” Not long after our children learn to speak, they start asking questions. They are filled with curiosity, eager to learn more and they expect parents to have the answers. We need to be prepared for these questions, especially the spiritual ones, because the answers will shape our children’s view of God, their need of a Savior, and their perspective of the world around them. Using catechism is an effective tool that gives us simple ways to explain complex biblical truths to our children. Not only will it equip them with answers to some of the most important questions they’ll ever ask, catechism will also encourage more questions and discussion about the Christian life.
Additional Reasons to Use Catechism:
They help provide a solid biblical foundation
They help explain clearly what the Gospel is
They help guard against false doctrine
They encourage critical thinking
They help our children understand how to apply Biblical truth
They teach that the Christian life is the God-centered life.
Choosing a Catechism
Biblically Sound
It’s important to use a biblically sound catechism; one that focuses on gospel basics. Our family has used The Westminster Shorter, the Heidelberg, and New City Catechisms. All of these are available online to download and there’s even a great phone app for the New City Catechism so you can always have it with you.
Age Appropriate
Keep in mind that you want a catechism that is age-appropri- ate. Both adult and children versions are available for most cate- chisms in which vocabulary and sentence structure is simplified for younger children.
Using a Catechism
Establish a Routine
Decide upon a day and time that your family will gather. For example, we typically catechize during Saturday morning break- fast. Whether it be daily, or weekly, consistency is the key. Chil- dren will look forward to the time together as they like routine and predictability.
Review
Before teaching the next catechism question and answer, we review all that we have learned. I ask the questions and the kids jump in with the answers. Sometimes we go around the table and each answer a question, other times the first one to raise his/her hand gets to answer. You’ll be surprised at how eager the children are to learn. The key is to review the material repeated- ly until it is memorized. Get creative and make this fun!
Teach
I introduce the next question and its answer. Our children take turns reading the Scripture references aloud which teaches them to always search God’s Word for answers. When kids read the Bible references, they interact with the text and better grasp the Biblical truth presented. The goal is not simply to quote ev- ery catechism question and answer, but to demonstrate a clear understanding of each truth.
Apply
The catechisms have major implications for believers. This is where we get to talk about practical application and encourage our families to live out the truths of God’s Word. The doctrines of the Bible were never intended to be an end in themselves, but rather a means to an end, which is a transformed life.
As parents, if we are to train up our children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), the next natural question is “How?” I’ve found the catechisms mentioned above to be an invaluable resource to accomplish this goal. My hope for my children is that they, like Timothy, would know “from childhood... the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus...” William Beveridge, a 19th centu- ry theologian who was raised with catechism instruction, said these words near the end of his life: “The older I grow – and I now stand upon the brink of eternity – the more comes back to me the first sentence in the Catechism which I learned when a child, and the full- er and deeper its meaning becomes: What is the chief end of man? To glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”
May God receive all glory as we strive to lead our families in His ways. Romans 11:36