Why another reformed catechism?Many reformation-based catechisms have been composed and disseminated in the church throughout the centuries, but the three most significant and widely used in the Reformed and Presbyterian churches have been the Heidelberg and the Westminster Shorter and Larger. Yet these were produced hundreds of years ago. This is not to say that these tools have fallen out of favor or become obsolete - to the contrary. They are very much as significant now as ever. But they don't speak to every point of doctrine, and frankly, they tend to be a little weak in the area of sanctification, the doctrine of how the Christian faith is played out upon the stage.
You will find within these pages an emphasis on the content of faith and the means of grace, particularly the way in which the concepts of glory, hope, and suffering interact for the Christian in our daily pursuit of holiness. There is a strong emphasis on the role of sacraments in this pursuit, on man's purpose in dominion, on the battle against the kingdom of darkness, and on the need for loyalty to Christ in relation to the grace of assurance. This is meant to be a tool. Having two hundred sixty questions and fifty-two sections, it is designed to be broken up into five questions a week for a year. It might be used in family devotions, or teaching lessons, or even Lord's Day liturgy. It is meant to be personalized and is accompanied by further questions for the purpose of stirring up self examination. This catechism is in no way meant to replace the Heidelberg or the Westminster, but is merely an attempt to compliment those great resources with a vision for the church moving forward, keeping always reformation in mind where it is needed.
