Encore Post: The cornerstone of Lutheran Doctrine is Luther’s Small Catechism. In it the reformer summarized the teachings of Holy Scripture in simple terms, designed to help fathers and pastors teach their children. So successful was this work and its companion, the Large Catechism, it became the foundation of instruction in the faith for all Christians. For the last few years, What Does this Mean? has run this series each just before each Lent and into the Easter season. We’re getting a head start on it this year. [First is a series of posts on Martin Luther’s Small Catechism] Martin Luther was troubled. On a formal visit to the churches in Saxony, he discovered that Christian education in the faith was almost non-existent. Even the pastors could not recall the Lord’s Prayer or the Creed. For this reason, he wrote his Large Catechism and Small Catechism. A catechism is a book that explains the basic truths of the Scripture, typically by asking and answering questions. In the preface to his Large Catechism, Luther answered the common objections to memorizing and meditating on the catechism in this way:
“I am also a doctor and preacher … yet I do as a child who is being taught the Catechism, and ever morning, and whenever I have time, I read and say, word for word, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Psalms, etc. And I must still read and study daily, and yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism, and am glad so to remain.” — Martin Luther, Large Catechism, Preface 7
If an athlete hopes to compete at the highest level and perform at the top of his game, he needs to work out daily. Most of his routines are basic skills performed over and over again. It is not that he has forgotten them or never learned them, but that they must be second nature to him and done in perfect form. Only then can he execute the most complicated of his moves well. The same thing is true for a musician. She will run through scales and warm-up exercises to be sure that she will produce the notes perfectly when she attempts the most beautiful and complex pieces.
For Luther and for us, daily meditation on the catechism works the same way. As we review the basics of the faith, we are able to understand better what God wants us to believe and how he wants us to live. Building on these things helps us to face whatever challenges come are way each day and to enjoy the blessings he gives to us.
©2018 Robert E. Smith. All rights reserved. Permission granted to copy, share and display freely for non-commercial purposes. Direct all other rights and permissions inquiries to cosmithb@gmail.com
Glad to read this. I feel like my brain don’t work so well. 😉 I always have to re-engrave what I learned, and my learning on scripture, even the parts I want to learn and keep, I have to keep re-learning. Luther was right in this. That’s how I feel, and oddly, that encourages me. Blessings.
Exactly where I am at. Writing this blog has been such a blessing. And with you all holding my feet to the fire, I seem to be able to keep up my self-imposed pace.
Rev. Smith,
Thank you for taking the time to go through this!
I feel that it is most necessary that the parishes in our general Lutheran Church body return to and remain in the teachings of the Catechism. In fact, I believe that the lack of proper catechesis has resulted in the loss of confessional practice and belief in our Synod. I pray that this series reaches many who desire to learn more! Thank you!
Thank you!