I was just reading the Heidelberg Catechism (for the first time) and the WSC (which I have read multiple times), and I noticed that the Heidelberg seems more personal, especially for training a child to internalize its truths. Now, don't get me wrong, I love both of them, but for an example of what I mean, look at the first three questions in the WSC:
compared with the first three in the Heidelberg:
I especially like how the HC has the child speak in first person about his or her own spiritual condition, and I was just thinking that since, Lord willing, I plan on having children someday and catechising them, I thought maybe the Heidelberg might be (for lack of a better word) "better" for them in terms of making the concepts more personal to them, spiritually speaking. What do you think? Which should I use? Or should I try using both when I have kids? What do you do with your children?
And for a somewhat unrelated question, I read a quote recently that said something about Protestants only rising in numbers because of catechising - Does anyone know what quote I'm thinking of, who said it, and where I can read it? Thanks in advance.
Note: Since tomorrow's the Lord's Day, I may not be on here much, but if that happens then I will bump the thread on Monday.
-----Added 10/24/2009 at 10:59:57 EST-----
I also noticed that the HC seems to outline justification sola gratia, sola fide in more detail, with explanation of how works fit into the picture of the Christian life, than the WSC as well, and more detail on the sacraments. I don't know, maybe I'm just expecting from the WSC what the WLC was designed to be.
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
compared with the first three in the Heidelberg:
Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.
Question 2. How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?
Answer: Three; the first, how great my sins and miseries are; the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.
Question 3. Whence knowest thou thy misery?
Answer: Out of the law of God.
I especially like how the HC has the child speak in first person about his or her own spiritual condition, and I was just thinking that since, Lord willing, I plan on having children someday and catechising them, I thought maybe the Heidelberg might be (for lack of a better word) "better" for them in terms of making the concepts more personal to them, spiritually speaking. What do you think? Which should I use? Or should I try using both when I have kids? What do you do with your children?
And for a somewhat unrelated question, I read a quote recently that said something about Protestants only rising in numbers because of catechising - Does anyone know what quote I'm thinking of, who said it, and where I can read it? Thanks in advance.
Note: Since tomorrow's the Lord's Day, I may not be on here much, but if that happens then I will bump the thread on Monday.
-----Added 10/24/2009 at 10:59:57 EST-----
I also noticed that the HC seems to outline justification sola gratia, sola fide in more detail, with explanation of how works fit into the picture of the Christian life, than the WSC as well, and more detail on the sacraments. I don't know, maybe I'm just expecting from the WSC what the WLC was designed to be.
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