NEW TOPIC!

A Christian teacher is…
A MIND through which Christ THINKS.
A VOICE through which Christ SPEAKS.
A HEART through which Christ LOVES.
A HAND through which Christ HELPS.

Summer 2005. Sowers & Seeds

LUTHER QUOTE

The Catechism is the Bible of the laymen. In it the entire body of Christian doctrine, which every Christian must know in order to be saved, is contained. . . . Therefore we should by all means love and esteem the Catechism and diligently impress it upon youth; for in it the correct, true, ancient, pure divine doctrine of the holy Christian Church is summarized

Luther, Martin
Plass. What Luther Says 1:359.

LUTHER QUOTE

[O]ne who does not know it [the five parts of the Catechism] should not call himself a Christian, but belongs body and soul to the devil, and it will never go well with him here and hereafter.

Luther, Martin. Sermon for First Sunday in Advent – Nov. 29, 1528
Luther’s Works American Edition, Vol. 51, p. 137
cited by: Korthals, James F. The 475th Anniversary of Luther’s Catechisms, p. 71
Winter, 2005. Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly – News & Comments, Vol. 102, No. 1

Comments: Luther wasn't bragging about his Catechism. Since the Catechism contains the basics of Christian knowledge, if a person claiming to be a Christian doesn't know these things AND doesn't desire to know these things, really has no place with Christ.

Others have described Luther’s precious little book as “the Bible of the laymen” or “the Gem of the Reformation.” I prefer to call it “my catechism.” Never will I outgrow my need for it. Never can I learn too much from it.

Lauersdorf, Richard. Where’s my CATECHISM? p. 15
October 2004. Forward in Christ, Vol. 91, No. 10

Comment: When I went through Catechism, I used my brother's catechism. I left it out and our dog chewed on the corner of it. Boy was my brother mad. He considered his catechism very important - not just as a book, but as the teachings of Christ. Our dog had the right idea -- the catechism is really worth chewing on... our whole life long.

NEW TOPIC - CATECHISM

LUTHER QUOTE

Those who do not want to learn these things (the Small Catechism) — who must be told how they deny Christ and are not Christians — should also not be admitted to the sacrament, should not be sponsors for children at baptism, and should not exercise any aspect of Christian freedom, but instead should simply be sent back home to the pope and his officials and, along with them, to the devil himself. Moreover, their parents and employers ought to deny them food and drink and advise them that the prince is disposed to drive such coarse people out of the country.

Luther, Martin. Preface to the Small Catechism
Luther’s Works American Edition, Vol. 43, p. 193-211
cited by: Korthals, James F. The 475th Anniversary of Luther’s Catechisms, p. 71
Winter, 2005. Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly – News & Comments, Vol. 102, No. 1

Comment: How many Lutherans would this attitude impact? How many call themselves Christian, but don't know or practice the faith they claim? Luther exposes the seriousness of rejecting Christ by our lack of concern to know him better.