Luther’s “methodism” or the importance of being well-catechized
We must ever live and dwell in the midst of such mighty enemies like the devils…
In years past, if someone spoke about the importance of being well-catechized it would have meant little to me. I would have made some mental leap to reference of boring adolescent catechism classes and being taught by someone else’s mother from a book which was written by a man and not scripture. I would have been right and wrong. Yes, that is how I was catechized, and, No, that is not what catechism should be. To be well-catechized is to thoroughly know scripture, taught foremost by your own pastors and assisted by a very well-educated pastor, and know what you believe about God as put forth in holy scripture. Confirmation classes and the ceremony are just the beginning of catechism. Catechism is a life-long process, with the last class hopefully taking place on your death bed with your pastor at your side.
In Finishing What I Began, Nothing Better to Teach, RevFisk posts this reminder from Martin Luther of the importance of daily catechism and what catechism is:
If this were not enough to admonish us to read the catechism daily, God’s command should suffice to compel us. For God solemnly enjoins us in Deuteronomy 6 that we should meditate on his precepts while sitting, walking, standing, lying down, and rising, and should keep them as an ever-present emblem and sign before our eyes and on our hands. God certainly does not require and command this so solemnly without reason. He knows our danger and need; he knows the constant and furious attacks and assaults of the devil. Therefore, he wishes to warn, equip, and protect us against them with good “armor” against their “flaming arrows,” and with a good antidote against their evil infection and poison. Oh, what mad, senseless fools we are! We must ever live and dwell in the midst of such mighty enemies like the devils, and yet we would despise our weapons and armor, too lazy to examine them or give them a thought! …
If they show such diligence, then I promise them—and their experience will bear me out—that they will gain much fruit and God will make excellent people out of them. Then in due time they will make the noble confession that the longer they work with the catechism, the less they know of it, and the more they have to learn. Only then, hungry and thirsty, will they for the first time truly taste what now they cannot bear to smell because they are so bloated and surfeited. To this end may God grant his grace! Amen.
- Excerpt from Martin Luther’s Preface to the Large Catechsim
Luther’s admonition reminds me a little of what I read at Norman’s Demesne on Wesley’s reaction to reading Luther’s commentary on Galatians. It is easy to think that we can acheive some sort of perfection if we just follow a set of rules or behaviors. I think that Luther was talking about the opposite thing, though. In our desparation of our inability to do anything apart from Christ and in our joy of being saved by His Grace alone, we should diligently study scripture. Maybe a fine line…
