tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post5843344805965047399..comments2024-03-23T05:42:07.516-04:00Comments on The Deliberate Agrarian: The Westminster CatechismIn CartoonsBy Vic LockmanHerrick Kimballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-48440785881865605982013-12-11T13:23:04.320-05:002013-12-11T13:23:04.320-05:00Have you ever checked out the Heidelberg Catechism...Have you ever checked out the Heidelberg Catechism? I grew up on both the Westminster and the Heidelberg. If you haven't, the first Q and A for the Heidelberg is:<br /><br /><br />"Q. What is your only comfort<br />in life and in death?<br /><br />A. That I am not my own,<br />but belong—body and soul,<br />in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.<br /><br />He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.<br />He also watches over me in such a way<br />that not a hair can fall from my head<br />without the will of my Father in heaven;<br />in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.<br /><br />Because I belong to him,<br />Christ, by his Holy Spirit,<br />assures me of eternal life<br />and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him."<br /><br />Both of these have had a huge impact on my life as a believer. <br /><br />This is a huge generalization, but I do believe the baptists/pentecostals tend to be very good at getting people saved, but I also believe that the presby/reformed tradition tends to help people's faith grow deeper and wider. The Gospel of Jesus Christ speaks to each and every area of our lives.<br />Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15023858336293019185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-11671356709179338312013-12-03T17:57:23.619-05:002013-12-03T17:57:23.619-05:00Catechisms come out of the best of Medieval tradit...Catechisms come out of the best of Medieval traditions: the scholasticism that was 'faith seeking understanding.'<br /><br />Christian scholars inspired by their faith, sought to articulate, as Peter in his letter urges us to do, the reason for their belief.<br /><br />In doing this they gave us this tradition of catechesis (which word comes from the Greek 'catechumen' which was the person who sought instruction in the prayers and doctrines of the Church in preparation for baptism).<br /><br />The Baltimore Catechism has as its first question:<br /><br />"Who made you?<br /> Answer: God made me"<br /><br />second question:<br /><br />"Why did God make you?<br /> Answer: To know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this life, and to be happy with Him forever in the next."Ezekiel Mossbackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17425503222995116603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-90003957424354612072013-12-01T00:59:43.434-05:002013-12-01T00:59:43.434-05:00I recommend G.I. Williamson's Westminster Conf...I recommend G.I. Williamson's Westminster Confession of Faith, study guide. The BEST on the subject...<br /><br />LarryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-38015287010906861832013-11-29T08:22:44.521-05:002013-11-29T08:22:44.521-05:00Great post, Herrick.
My family and I are Reformed ...Great post, Herrick.<br />My family and I are Reformed Baptists holding to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith and attending a Reformed Baptist church here in southwest Arkansas. I don't think one person in our fellowship grew up with reformed Baptist theology ... but here we are now; and that thanks to God's sovereign and guiding grace. We now realize the importance of fathers having the responsibility of chief spiritual teachers in the home, and not relying solely on someone else to do it, and "catechising" is key (we use Spurgeon's revision as the Owen family mentioned above). Based on the comments above, it appears that our Lord's grace is moving in the hearts of many ... here there and yonder. There's much to be thankful for this November!<br />Yours,<br />Pa MacPa Machttp://www.farmhandscompanion.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-75694404947016339882013-11-28T08:30:33.592-05:002013-11-28T08:30:33.592-05:00I too attend a baptist (independent) church. Some ...I too attend a baptist (independent) church. Some years back I found a copy of C.H. Spurgeon's "A Baptist Catechism" and I have really enjoyed it. It's based on the Westminster shorter but is also baptistic.Owen Family at Far Better Farmsteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14733511720859169232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-62941467246433980262013-11-28T00:44:45.986-05:002013-11-28T00:44:45.986-05:00I left the Evangelical world and began attending R...I left the Evangelical world and began attending Reformed churches over ten years ago (starting when I was about 25) for many of the reasons you cite here. Sanctification, or being made holy, which is to say being made more and more like Christ, is precisely the process of living more and more the kind of human life that God intended from the beginning. The way of life that is advocated on this blog - one which centers on God, community, family, and land - is not merely reactive: something we have to do because God demands it or because our dark times demand it. We live this way because there is no better way to live, despite all the temptations of the world which say the opposite. The Catechism encourages spiritual wholesomeness, which is at the heart of a wholesome way of life. "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself." No higher calling than that, and no more beautiful life than that. Tomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-27251742663650957042013-11-27T20:41:57.494-05:002013-11-27T20:41:57.494-05:00I had never heard of sanctification until I became...I had never heard of sanctification until I became a Presbyterian (PCA) in my late 20s after being raised in the Southern Baptist church. I also thought only Catholics used catechism. But once I read the Shorter Catechism and the Confessional I was blown away by how amazing it was to have such important doctrine spelled out so clearly and yet so powerfully. We have been working with our 4 year old son to memorize the children's catechism at breakfast every morning. He's got about half of the questions and answers down pat. My husband and I are both jealous when we think about how much training like this would have helped us in our early years. Thanks for highlighting this!Ivy Maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02710115244981471767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-87338673530560365312013-11-27T19:55:42.166-05:002013-11-27T19:55:42.166-05:00Such great comments!
Thank you everyone for rea...Such great comments! <br /><br />Thank you everyone for reading and posting a response to today's blog. You've added a lot to this subject and I appreciate it very much.<br /><br />Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-25338909400969310382013-11-27T15:33:38.630-05:002013-11-27T15:33:38.630-05:00Mr. Kimball,
I'm so thankful for your blog. Y...Mr. Kimball,<br /><br />I'm so thankful for your blog. You are spot in your connections of tending the land while bowing the knee to Christ. I recently found Vic Lockman as well and we use it on Sunday afternoons. As a 29 y/o father of 4 (and husband of 1), I'm so thankful to God for the men that have gone before us in the Faith. The WCF is such a wonderful tool to guide us through the Scriptures. I come from a similar Baptist background, but have since submitted to more reformed theology and worship in a Presbyterian church. <br /><br />Anyway, God bless you and yours in Christ. I just wanted to let you know that I am very encouraged by your blog and even though I don't comment all the time, I pray that you know that you bless many people through it. I hope you keep it up.<br /><br />-Adam from TXAdam Grimesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-8300070556997826942013-11-27T12:42:34.207-05:002013-11-27T12:42:34.207-05:00I moved towards the "Reformed" side of t...I moved towards the "Reformed" side of the spectrum some years back when I got tired of the endless end times stuff and loosy-goosy Christianity elsewhere. I love the catechisms. <br /><br />Also - Vic Lockman is amazing. He did an awesome Biblical economics comic book. It's a must have. It was so good, when I gave a copy to my pastor... he ordered a box to give out to everyone in the church.David The Goodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10198938190820294516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-915316597470114762013-11-27T09:37:06.060-05:002013-11-27T09:37:06.060-05:00I also never heard of sanctification in all the ye...I also never heard of sanctification in all the years I spent in Pentecostal, Apostolic, and "Full Gospel" churches. That's my background, along with a short period in a charismatic ("charismania") church. I am SO thankful that the Lord led me out of that confusion and into the writings of the Puritans and Reformed men of God, although I don't identify with any denomination. I believe that the reason that sanctification is not taught in most churches is because they no longer represent Christ, but have become apostate. That's a radical thought to most people, but the shallow and often erroneous gospel preached today would be anathema to the Puritans and Reformers of the past.<br /><br />The chief end of man is to glorify God: Yes, and how can we glorify Him without sanctification, which is really the development of holiness in our Christian walk. <br /><br />Here you and I are, in our 50's, still seeking to know the Lord's truth. That's a good thing! It's far better and more pleasing to God to be seeking Him like a little child than to be content in self-righteousness.<br /><br />Well, I could go on and on...but thank you for sharing this :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-21837167531288598942013-11-27T08:33:02.711-05:002013-11-27T08:33:02.711-05:00Great post. I think that the focus on evangelism ...Great post. I think that the focus on evangelism stems from the great commission of Christ. I also go to an evangelical, Baptist, and family-integrated church so I identify with the focus on "winning souls". That said, I believe that striving to live godly life (sanctification) is in and of itself a very powerful form of witnessing.timfromohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-48059698658250390052013-11-27T07:17:59.620-05:002013-11-27T07:17:59.620-05:00Just one more reason to recommend your blog! We us...Just one more reason to recommend your blog! We used these in the catechizing of our children, as they are truly *full* of the rich theological truths that deepen one's understanding of the Word and the Christian life. Mr. Lockman's illustrations are fantastic. <br /><br />Wishing you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving. :)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14760735212107263086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-56860165015110798842013-11-27T06:15:32.327-05:002013-11-27T06:15:32.327-05:00Herrick, your blog post today does resonate with m...Herrick, your blog post today does resonate with me. I have had this drive for a long time now. That "the church" is somehow missing the mark. Why keep preaching the same "repentance of sin" sermon time after time to the same people. Where is the "how to live our daily lives as Christians" and what that really means. <br /><br />Thanks for the link.... I have grandchildren...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09586330044953097637noreply@blogger.com