Catechism

[gb93433]

What do you think if Baptists banded together to destroy the illiteracy among their churches by teaching a catechism such as what Broadus wrote listed on http://www.geocities.com/baptist_documents/catechism.broadus.html

Years ago I worked with kids and had the fastest growing and largest kids group in the city. I simply taught the Bible. They memorized one verse each week. The lesson was on the same verse. Eventually there were kids who were old enough to move on but wanted to stay and help because of what they were learning.

The days of emotional appeals and baby sitting need to come to an end if we expect our children to live the Christian life.

 

[Rippon]

That's a very good idea.You realize of course,that John Broadus was a dreaded Calvinist?

The following is taken from page 195 of Tom Nettles' By His Grace And For His Glory.

His catechism,first published in 1864 by the Southern Baptist Sunday School board,was billed as a document that "brings out the doctrines of grace and the views of Baptists."Indeed,it was so,and was endorsed by John Broadus as an excellent little work,which has been a good deal used,and deserves to be used very widely."the question-answer exchanges on "election" demonstrate the Calvinistic soteriology espoused:

1. What name is given to those whom God effectually calls to salvation?
They are called the elect or the chosen ones of God.
2. Why are they so called?
Because God,before the foundation of the world,chose them unto salvation through Christ Jesus.
3. Did God make this choice because He foresaw that these persons would be pious and good people?
He did not;for the goodness and piety of any are due to the influence of the Spirit.
4. Was it,then,because He foresaw that they would believe?
On the contrary,it was through His choice that they are led to believe.
5. What,then,was the ground of that choice?
His own sovereign will.

 

[gb93433]

That's a very good idea.You realize of course,that John Broadus was a dreaded Calvinist?

I am more committed to knowing scripture rather than what someone else teaches. It is amazing how many times when I have seriously studied a passage that the preacher is wrong by taking it out of its context and preaching his pet theology.

For being a calvinist Broadus did not line up with many calvinists believe. I did not get the impression that he believed God created evil. The Bible does teach that God created evil.

 

[Rippon]

For being a calvinist Broadus did not line up with many calvinists believe. I did not get the impression that he believed God created evil. The Bible does teach that God created evil.

So you think that most Calvinists think God created evil?You're wrong.God is not the author of sin.John Calvin called it blasphemy for anyone to say that God authored evil.

The Lord ordains evil to do His bidding.He has a purpose for evil.

But we're getting off the track.I wholeheartedly endorse a solid Calvinistic catechism such as the John Broadus model.

 

[gb93433]

So you think that most Calvinists think God created evil?You're wrong.God is not the author of sin.John Calvin called it blasphemy for anyone to say that God authored evil.

The Lord ordains evil to do His bidding.He has a purpose for evil.

But we're getting off the track.I wholeheartedly endorse a solid Calvinistic catechism such as the John Broadus model.

Do you not believe the Bible when it says God did create evil?

How could good exist if there were no evil?

Did God not create everything?

If not then explain:
Amos 3:6, “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?”
Lam 3:38, “Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?”

Ex 32:14, “And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.”

Jonah 3:10, “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”

2 Sam 24:16, “And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite.”

Isa. 45:5-7, "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."

 

[Alive in Christ]

There is no need for a catechism.

We have the scriptures. Teach the sciptures. :thumbs:

Gods way is always the best way.


:godisgood:

 

[gb93433]

We have the scriptures. Teach the sciptures. :thumbs:

Gods way is always the best way.

Of course but the problem is that few have and most have replaced the Bible with playtime.

Can you imagine what students then were required to learn compared to today and that is in church while they complain about the public school.

 

[J.D.]

What do you think if Baptists banded together to destroy the illiteracy among their churches by teaching a catechism such as what Broadus wrote listed on http://www.geocities.com/baptist_documents/catechism.broadus.html

Years ago I worked with kids and had the fastest growing and largest kids group in the city. I simply taught the Bible. They memorized one verse each week. The lesson was on the same verse. Eventually there were kids who were old enough to move on but wanted to stay and help because of what they were learning.

The days of emotional appeals and baby sitting need to come to an end if we expect our children to live the Christian life.

YES, YES, YES! Catechism is a great idea. Many consider Spurgeon's catechism to be the best. Tom Ascol has three versions of it broken down by grade level. (but I personaly prefer the "shorter" and "longer" formats such as the Westminster follows).

 

[Rippon]

I don't think catechisms are thought of too fondly by non-Cals in Protestanism.The only good ones are Calvinistic.

 

[OldRegular]

Rippon

I believe that the catechism was actually the work of James Boyce.

 

[Jim1999]

I am becoming more afraid of those who claim they only use the Bible........

I grew up with a catechism in the Church of England. I have never forgotten what I learned then, and yes, it was biblical.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Rippon]

Rippon

I believe that the catechism was actually the work of James Boyce.

You're right.John Broadus endorsed what Dr.Boyce had written.Although in 1892 Broadus released his own Catechism of Bible Teaching.

 

[gb93433]

I am becoming more afraid of those who claim they only use the Bible........

I grew up with a catechism in the Church of England. I have never forgotten what I learned then, and yes, it was biblical.

That is great that you had a much different experience than I had in the Catholic Church. I memorized about four to six responses each week to the questions in the catechism and learned nothing about the Bible. What I did learn in catechism caused me to question what I was learning as I asked questions along the way. Later when I read the Bible I felt like so ignorant that I did not dare say anything for fear that I would repeat what I learned from catechism rather than what I learned from the Bible. Numerous times they conflicted. For one year it was awful trying to figure out which one was right and what I should know.

Over and over as I have talked with my family I took them down the road of what the Bible says rather than what the Catholic catechism taught. That is the very reason why I try and stick close to scripture and try to spend a lot of time studying the historical background rather than reading theological books first. It is because of reading the Bible that I realized the truth of the faith. What man told me was not the same as what the Bible taught. To this day I have little trust of what is said by anyone from the pulpit. When I come home from church it is typical for me to take a look at the pasage again. When I go to Sunday School I study the passage before going to class.