tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post8903512287118133190..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Some Thoughts About Catechetical InstructionPastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-20705327313031155792010-09-20T17:58:29.073-05:002010-09-20T17:58:29.073-05:00We need to train seminarians how to teach the Cate...We need to train seminarians how to teach the Catechism practically to confirmation students, often the 5th-8th graders. They need to review what the DCEs or others are teaching the confirmands. I am meeting too many ex-Lutherans in my day-to-day activities. I believe this all begins because they are not receiving the correct emphases in confirmation. I am in favor of an incorporated approach with the Catechism.Ted Badjehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220879004715648795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-69188587717274074922010-09-20T13:12:30.120-05:002010-09-20T13:12:30.120-05:00Yes, Rev. Peters, I do. Thank you for a very thou...Yes, Rev. Peters, I do. Thank you for a very thoughtful posting.<br /><br />There is no question in my mind that God has used Martin Luther’s Small Catechism as a tool to bring untold millions to faith. But it continues to amaze me that there are people who know the Small Catechism by heart, including the “what does this mean” segments, and really do not have a clue what they really mean. For all of my adult life, it has been my conviction that the reason for that is that we fail to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom clearly. <br /><br />We are not overwhelmed by the cosmic miracle of an infant emerging as a child of God from the waters of Baptism, because we are not taught very clearly what has happened. The Catechism speaks of “regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit”, but it does not tell us clearly that the Holy Spirit has come to live in us to the end of our days on earth. We are not taught what the consequences of that are throughout our lives.<br /><br />Even though I yearn for the Eucharist on those days on which it is not celebrated in our congregation (LCMS), I remain convinced that the proper proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom is essential to obtain the full benefits of this Sacrament. Without it, we run the risk of having it viewed as “ex opere operato”.<br /><br />Finally, Luther’s explanation of what “Thy Kingdom Come” means could use some improvement. But once we decide to be “quia” confessors, we are no longer allowed to think that something may be amiss, and so we memorize something that really is not what it should be. <br /><br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. MarquartAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-24747346330264199702010-09-20T11:48:10.232-05:002010-09-20T11:48:10.232-05:00If you look at "Exploring Luther's Small ...If you look at "Exploring Luther's Small Catechism" by Robert C. Sauer, you can see how much time is spent on the commandments and how little on the sacraments and confession. I think we need an update to Sauer's work.Clint Hoff & Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05507981725645411901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-63870885095032065472010-09-20T00:37:33.470-05:002010-09-20T00:37:33.470-05:00One thing that I have come to realize is that we a...One thing that I have come to realize is that we are not teaching the Catechism...we are teaching the Bible...if one sees it from that view then the concerns expressed in this entry take on a different perspective...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08902545914497080245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-49364226140461538742010-09-19T18:44:01.918-05:002010-09-19T18:44:01.918-05:00I agree in principle. I totally agree that most c...I agree in principle. I totally agree that most catechism books spend WAY too much on the 10 davarim as compared to the rest (one that doesn't is bender's Lutheran Catechesis, BTW). Another reason for the overemphasis on the 10 is that there are 10 of them. There are only 3 articles, the petitions are easy to treat two at a time, but the 10 commandments seem to need their own exposition.<br /><br />I think of the catechism as "what it means to be a christian." However much information there is, I think of it as proclamation for one's whole life. We need to hear the law. We need to hear what God has done (in creation, salvation, etc.). We need to hear how we can talk with God.<br /><br />But you're right on the money that we also need to hear how God has blessed and will bless us in the sacraments.<br /><br />I came to a church using Faith Inkubators... never mind its overall good or bad qualities, it struck me extremely hard that there's no section which explicitly talks about Confession! For 3 whole years, 30 lessons per year -- not one explicitly about confession. Not that it can't be worked in, and not that there aren't a couple weeks where it fits nicely. But even then -- 90 lessons, only 2 on confession?<br /><br />Anyhow, thanks for posting. The catechism is a great blessing to us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-8177409957163014092010-09-19T07:29:55.689-05:002010-09-19T07:29:55.689-05:00Good thoughts.
I read your blog regulary and am...Good thoughts. <br /><br />I read your blog regulary and am amazed how often your thoughts "meander" in the same direction as mine. Thank you for giving a voice to your thoughts.<br />It is encouraging to read them.DRGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433676781717891166noreply@blogger.com