Catechized by our Culture

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

Traditionally, Christians have practiced what is known as catechesis, or catechetical training. Catechesis comes from a Greek word meaning “to teach/to instruct” (Galatians 6:6). It carries with it the idea of in-person training from a knowledgeable instructor. A catechumen in the early church was a person who was under the teaching and training ministry of the church, in process of becoming confirmed in the faith, and so be received into the church as a member.

This catechetical training has taken various forms throughout the centuries and has been manifested in various ways in differing Christian traditions. However, historically, every Christian denomination has prioritized the catechetical process and has had some form of catechesis. Sadly, though, this is generally no longer the case. In most instances, emotions, experience, and “sincerity” have replaced this training. Being formed in doctrinal content (what we believe) and Christian practice (how we behave) has been downplayed in favor of a more emotive and consumer-oriented approach.

But this does not mean that Christians are not being formed in their thinking and character. They are. It just means that they are not being formed in the gospel. To be formed in the gospel requires both truth and intentionality—on the part of the teacher and the one being taught. We must subject ourselves to a process of learning the faith with our whole being—head, heart, and hands. For weeds to grow requires no effort. However, a good crop of vegetables requires intentionality and care.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

~Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV)