2. Why is the Heidelberg Catechism for us?
By Gerry Straker, 12 Jan 2024
In our first article we thought about:
- What is a catechism?
- Where does the Heidelberg Catechism come from?
- What was the Heidelberg Catechism for?
- What is in the Heidelberg Catechism?
In this article we answer this question: ‘Why would a 460-year-old catechism from Germany be for us today in Morecambe?‘ Three reasons: the Heidelberg Catechism is Biblical, for the people, and has stood the test of time.
1. Biblical
First it is Blblical. It was designed not to replace the Bible, but take us deeper into the Bible. Jerry Bridges says this: ‘A catechism is never out of date as it seeks to teach us the eternal truths of the Scripture.’[1] If something is teaching us God’s Word (and is understandable), it never grows old.
Hermann Friedrich Kohlbrugge, a Dutch theologian considered by many one of the greatest theologians of the 19th Century wrote this about the Heidelberg Catechism:
‘The great truth has not been expressed in any book of instruction adopted by the Reformed Church as clearly as in this document, namely this truth: that man is saved without himself contribruting anything in the process, out of pure, free grace through Christ, and that for the entire life of faith, the life of sanctification and of good works, Christ is the Omega and Alpha, the last and the first. In this way man is entirely bypassed in this doctrine of salvation; it is solely and exclusively the work of almighty grace.’[2]
2. For the people
Second, it is for ordinary people to bring them comfort.
- Addressed to you
It’s personal. Question 1 asks ‘What is your only comfort in life and death?’ And the answer begins: ‘That I am not my own…’ It’s written for the people.
- Simple
It was for the ordinary people and for young people: it’s simple. We haven’t found what we’ve been saying on Sundays very difficult – even though it was written centuries ago.
- Warm
We can see that immeditely in question 1:
Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?
A: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has set me free from all the power of the devil.
He also preserves me in such a way
that without the will of my heavenly Father,
not a hair can fall from my head;
indeed, all things must work together for my salvation.
Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life,
and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.
Then, here's the last question, question 129:
Q. What does the word "Amen" signify?
A. "Amen" means
It is true and certain.
For God has much more certainly
Heard my prayer
Than I feel in my heart
That I desire this of him.
‘Amen’ trusts that God has heard the prayer more certainly than we want him to hear it! This reassures our weak faith: God truly has heard my prayer. But this is also reassuring if we have strong faith because God’s hearing is always stronger than our asking!
Take a look at another question, question 27 which asks:
Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?
A. God’s providence is his almighty and ever present power,
whereby, as with his hand, he still upholds
heaven and earth and all creatures,
and so governs them that
leaf and blade,
rain and drought,
fruitful and barren years,
food and drink,
health and sickness,
riches and poverty,
indeed, all things,
come to us not by chance
but by his fatherly hand.
The catechism is meant for comforting God’s people. The first section, ‘Our Sin and Misery’ is much shorter than the second ‘Our Deliverance’ and third ’Our Thanksgiving.’ It starts with our sin and guilt to give us the true comfort of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Question 40, in the section on the Apostles’ Creed, asks:
Q. Why is there added: He descended into hell?
A. In my greatest sorrows and temptations
I may be assured and comforted
that my Lord Jesus Christ,
by his unspeakable anguish, pain, terror, and agony,
which he endured throughout all his sufferings
but especially on the cross,
has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell.
It’s deep and it’s warm, to bring comfort to people. Truth that is taught to heads and hearts. To help us live in Christ and also, to help us die in Christ. Susanna Bickes (1650-1664) died a believing teenager and as she lay dying she said this to her father:
My dear Father, I desire that thou wilt promise me that thou wilt go to Rev. De Witte and Rev. Ardinois and thank them that they have taught me catechism classes…and tell them that those beautiful Scriptures that they have taught me…have brought me so much comfort on my deathbed, indeed have brought me salvation. Oh! Oh! Those wonderful and lovely catechism classes that I always attended with so much joy…[3]
The Heidelberg Catechism helps us live and gets us ready for death.
Almost every church tradition has its own catechism. There are other fantastic catechisms readily available, such as the Westminster Larger Catechism and Westminster Shorter Catechism (written between 1643-1647). But the Heidelberg is especially known and loved for its personal, simple and warm nature.
3. It has stood the test of time
When it was published, Lutherans opposed it and Catholics hated it. Frederick had to defend it in 1566 at the Diet of Augsburg – to the Emperor and most of the other princes who opposed him. But it didn’t take too long before it took off, notably in the Netherlands. Petrus de Witte (1622-1669) probably in 1650 published in Dutch his book The Teaching of the Heidelberg Catechism. This was Intended for use for catechism teaching after the Sunday afternoon worship service. In 1697 the 33rd edtiion appeared of his book, meaning his book on the Catechism was ‘probably the most frequently used textbook among the Reformed community in the 17th century.’[4]
And it has continued to be popular among Reformed Churches today. After the Bible, John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progess, Thomas à Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ, it is thought the Heidelberg Catechism is the most widely circulated publication in the world![5]
The original reasons for it’s writing, are still needs of the Church today. And we need to learn again what the Church has already learnt – to delight in Christ Jesus and be protected from false teaching. Kevin de Young writes: ‘The chief theological task facing the Western Church is not to reinvent or to be relevant but to remember. We must remember the old, old story. We must remember the faith once delivered to the saints. We must remember the truths that spark reformation, revival and regeneration.’[6]
Work has been done for us here. There is treasure to find here. Truths that will clear our heads and enlarge our hearts. We need to know the Bible more and this old tool helps us do just that, and as we know the Bible more so know and love Jesus more.
Read the Catechism
The Heidelberg Catechism is not the Bible. It’s not perfect. You may find one or two things you are not sure about. It’s not comprehensive – it doesn’t cover everything. But it’s Biblical, it’s for the people - addressed to us, simple, warm, and, it has stood the test of time.
This Spring, 2024, read with us the Heidelberg Catechism. Kevin de Young writes:
'Come and see what vintage faith is really all about. Come and see if the cool breeze from centuries gone by can awaken your lumbering faith…The Heidelberg Catechism is a giant of mind-sharpening, Christ-worshipping, soul-inspiring, devotion. Stand on its shoulders and see more of Christ.[7]
It’s easy to read, the questions and answers are short, it’s broken up into short sections. This version we’re reading as a Church has the Bible references, so you can look them up and reflect on them, and pray – including if you’re not sure about something.
The 129 Questions are divided into 52 Lord’s Days. So you could do a section a week in a personal Bible time this year; or indeed on Sundays themselves. You could do the questions with your family (if you do, the 17th century Dutch reformed would be very happy with you)! You could phone a friend. You could do it every day for nearly two months. In whatever way that suits I hope our Church family enjoy the comfort of the Heidelberg Catechism in 2024.
As Petrus de Witte (1622-1669) prayed:
Blessed be this godly work, blessed be the hearts that first conceived it, the mouths that articulated it, the hands and pens that recorded it and brought it to such a desirable conclusion. Through God’s blessing . the churches have reaped the desired benefits of this. [8]
[1] Jerry Bridges, 'Foreword', in Kevin DeYoung, The Good News We Almost Forgot, (Chicago: Moody, 2010), 10.
[2] Willem van 't Spijker, 'The Continued Relevance of the Heidelberg Catechism' in The Church's Book of Comfort, (ed Willem van 't Spijker, Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2009), 270.
[3] Quoted in Marinus Golverdingen 'The Catechism in Church Education', in The Church's Book of Comfort, (ed Willem van 't Spijker, Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2009), 223.
[4] Ibid, 220.
[5] Kevin DeYoung, The Good News We Almost Forgot, (Chicago: Moody, 2010), 16.
[6] Ibid, 13.
[7] Ibid, 14, 19.
[8] Quoted in Marinus Golverdingen 'The Catechism in Church Education', in The Church's Book of Comfort, (ed Willem van 't Spijker, Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2009), 221.