In response to 2013 Resolution 3-13A, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations is undertaking an update to Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, last revised in 1991. The resolution calls for the revision due to the “many changes in the understanding of morals, civil law and natural law in church and society” since the Explanation’s last revision.
Update to Explanation of the Small Catechism
Print page
The LCMS
LCMS Communications
Share This
Previous Article
Movie review: 'Insurgent'
Next Article
I really applaud this effort and I have just responded to the on-line survey. Could you please publish e-mails and phone number for the project team members so we can more easily engage? Better yet would be too difficult to stand-up a discussion group here at this site for broadened collaboration.
Have we asked our African and other third world synod members how they see this document being drafted? Our Seminary Presidents and all our seminary students should be required to review all drafts.
Are we drafting this document with multiple formats in mind: print, web and mobile applications supported with robust use of social media?
If we just print a new book it will seldom leave that 13 year olds book shelf! Put it on the web and in Apple, Android and Windows mobile phone apps and promote across social media and now its with our teenagers wherever they go – ever see a teenager without their phone these days?
Have we explored getting the current small and large catechisms as well as the Concordia – The Lutheran Confessions on-line in robust usable and searchable web and mobile formats at this site as we work to develop a this new of the small catechism.
NOTE: Any discussion about Concordia Publishing House sales erosion on their printed counterparts is a non starter!
As the old saying goes, “the more things change the more they stay the same”.
Yes it is very important ,especially for our young people, to keep the Explanation of the Catechism up to speed as the “Kingdom of the World Changes.” While the Catechism remains true to the scriptures, the way, the truth, and the life still equip us with just what is needed to deal with the same old secular motivator wearing various outfits from a new wardrobe of “sheep’s clothing”.
Adding the Connections and Application section is critical for highlighting contemporary conditions . Conditions that recall church lessons learned in not being proactive in dealing with a secular world that has crossed the “Caesar/ God Line”(Luke 20:25) and Kingdom of God and Kingdom of the World line in Luther’s treaties on Secular Authority -“there is a time to resist and a time not to resist.” “…We must obey God rather than man”(Acts 5:29).
From the Memoir of Dietrich Bonheoffer in “The Cost of Discipleship”.
“Both modern liberal theology and secular totalitarianism hold pretty much in common that the message of the Bible has to be adapted more or less, to the requirements of a secular world. No wonder, therefore, that the process of debasing Christianity as inaugurated by liberal theology led in the long run, to a complete perversion and falsification of the essence of Christian teaching by National Socialism.”
Sounds pretty much like the liberal theology that exists today and of course it is the same old secular world except in new “Sheep’s Clothing”. Today the lines are being crossed by creeping Secular Socialism in the form of: Political Correctness and Intellectual (Academia)/Government intimidation instead of Government force (so far).
Now that the secular world is suggesting we are living in the post Christian Era, it is time (STAT/ASAP) for the church to become proactive and see to it. ” See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8
For those churches who did not see to it and knuckled under to PC or Intimidation and adopted secular beliefs the Lord has this to say: “I know your works: you are neither cold or hot. Would you were either cold or hot! So, because you are neither hot or cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Revelations 3: 15&16
Most mature Christians well versed in scripture, faith, forgiveness and sin don’t have problems countering the evils of Abortion and Homosexuality no matter how the secular world tries to justify them – unless they are soft on theistic evolution.
Much of the focus to derail Christianity is on brainwashing Christian youth in secular colleges and universities.
Here is some advice to help the student discern where the line is that intersects what is Caesars and what is Gods.
“Generally speaking, faith intersects an academic discipline at the point where it asks its most fundamental questions. Faith intersects where a discipline appropriates its most fundamental assumptions, from whatever source they may come. Faith intersects at the point where a discipline adopts a philosophical position to guide it or to provide a structure for its theories, data, and explorations. Faith intersects where a discipline establishes its core values, upon whatever basis they are founded. One could argue that faith is the fundamental basis for all human knowledge, without which rationalism and empiricism could not function.“—Harry Lee Poe, Christianity in the Academy
The Christian’s Critical Thinking Objective*
“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”
But we *have the mind of Christ”. 1Corinthians 2:16