Heidelberg Catechism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
History
Elector Frederick III, sovereign of the Palatinate from 1559 to 1576, appointed Zacharius Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus to write a Reformed catechism based on input from leading Reformed scholars of the time. One of its aims was to counteract the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, basing each of its statements on the text of the Bible. Another aim was to find common ground between the Lutherans and the Reformed.
Commissioned by the sovereign of Palatinate, it is sometimes referred to as the Palatinate Catechism.
The Catechism is divided into fifty-two sections, called "Lord's Days," which were designed to be taught on each of the 52 Sundays of the year. The Synod of Heidelberg approved the catechism in 1563. In the Netherlands, the Catechism was approved by the Synods of Wesel (1568), Embden (1571), Dort (1578), the Hague (1586), as well as the great Synod of Dordt of 1618-1619, which adopted it as one of the Three Forms of Unity, together with the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dordt.[1] As such elders and deacons were required to subscribe and adhere to it, and ministers were required to preach on a section of the Catechism each Sunday so as to increase the often poor theological knowledge of the church members.[2] In many Dutch Reformed denominations this practice is still continued.
Structure
In its current form, the Heidelberg Catechism consists of 129 questions and answers. These are divided into three main parts:
I. The Misery of Man
This part consists of the Lord's Day 2, 3, and 4. It discusses:
The Fall,
The natural condition of man,
God's demands on him in His law.
II. The Redemption (or Deliverance) of Man
This part consists of Lord's Day 5 through to Lord's Day 30. It discusses:
The need for a Redeemer
The importance of faith, the content of which is explained by an exposition of the 12 Articles of the Christian faith, known as the Apostle's Creed. The discussion of these articles is further divided into sections on:
God the Father and our creation (Lord's Days 9-10)
God the Son and our salvation (Lord's Days 11-19)
God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification (Lord's Days 20 - 22)
Justification
The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
III. The Gratitude Due from Man (for such a deliverance)
This part consists of the Lord's Day 31 through to Lord's Day 52. It discusses:
Conversion
The Ten Commandments (Lord's Days 34 - 44)
The Lord's prayer (Lord's Days 45 - 52)
Lord's Day 1
The first Sunday section should be read as a summary of the catechism as a whole. As such, it beautifully illustrates the character of this work, which has a devotional rather than dogmatic quality. This can be seen in the first question, which is:
"What is your only comfort in life and death?"
The answer is:
"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."
Use in Various Denominations and Traditions
The fact that this booklet was also meant to form bridges between Lutheran and Reformed Protestants in Germany can for example be seen from the role the Law takes as both the source of knowledge of human depravity and misery (first part of the Catechism) and the 'rule for gratitude', the source of knowledge of God's will for a holy life. It would be until the early 19th century, however, before King Frederick William III united significant portions of the Lutheran and Reformed churches in Germany, and much of that union took on a pietistic rather than a confessional character.
The influence of the Catechism extended to the Westminster Assembly of Divines who, in part, used it as the basis for their Shorter Catechism.
Several Protestant denominations in North America presently honor the Catechism officially: the Christian Reformed Church, the United Reformed Churches, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, (a successor to the German Reformed churches), the Reformed Church in the United States (also German Reformed) the Free Reformed Churches of North America, the Heritage Reformed Congregations, the American and Canadian Reformed Churches, and several other Reformed churches of Dutch origin around the world.
February 18, 2008
Why Was The Conservative Resurgence So Important?
The strong belief in inerrancy assisted Adrian Rogers to convince the people that Calvinism was wrong without using the facts of scripture. He cunningly devised sound bites to lure the congregation away from the truth.
Dr Rogers: "Calvinism is wrong, because I know it is wrong, and if I know it is wrong it is wrong, right?" (drum sting)
the people: "What a preacher!"
Dr Rogers: "I'm a Bible believer, right? Right!" (drum sting)
the people: "What a preacher!"
Dr Rogers: "Well Yes, I defend the inerrant Word, don't I?" (drum sting)
the people: "Oh yes, what a preacher!"
Dr Rogers: "I say Calvinism is wrong, right?" (drum sting)
the people: "What a preacher!"
Dr Rogers: "I say what the Bible says, right?" (drum sting)
the people "Always!"
Dr Rogers: "If I say Calvinism is wrong then the Bible says it is wrong, right?" (drum sting)
the people: "What a preacher!"
Dr Rogers: "So don't argue with me, take it up with God!" (drum sting with cymbals)
the people: "Amen and amen!"
Dr Rogers: "Calvinism is wrong, because I know it is wrong, and if I know it is wrong it is wrong, right?" (drum sting)
the people: "What a preacher!"
Dr Rogers: "I'm a Bible believer, right? Right!" (drum sting)
the people: "What a preacher!"
Dr Rogers: "Well Yes, I defend the inerrant Word, don't I?" (drum sting)
the people: "Oh yes, what a preacher!"
Dr Rogers: "I say Calvinism is wrong, right?" (drum sting)
the people: "What a preacher!"
Dr Rogers: "I say what the Bible says, right?" (drum sting)
the people "Always!"
Dr Rogers: "If I say Calvinism is wrong then the Bible says it is wrong, right?" (drum sting)
the people: "What a preacher!"
Dr Rogers: "So don't argue with me, take it up with God!" (drum sting with cymbals)
the people: "Amen and amen!"
February 16, 2008
Bellevue Baptist's Embeded Ridicule
We all now know that as of September 11, 2001 there were sleeper terrorist cells embedded throughout our American cities. We cannot doubt there are many more cells waiting futher instructions for attacks against American targets. In like manner A sleeper cell was embedded in the Bellevue church in the person of Paul Williams.In a vision I saw a chair and an angry voice saying "Adrian Rogers sit in this chair and watch your beloved Bellevue crumble and be distroyed" From heaven he watches with teary eyes his followers in angry fashion disburse throughout Memphis searching for a church that preaches the "illusive faith" of their deceased pastor. He pleads with heaven to send someone to Memphis to tell them to stay with Bellevue.. His tears increase when he hears of the aggressive behavior of those who victimize Steve Gaines and make him bear the consequences unjustly. His heart breaks with the peace the man who sabotoged his legacy experiences in new environments in Fayette County. He cries for vindication for the sake of the son Paul sodomized. There will be a time when God wipes the tears from his eyes and assures him that wrongs will be punished.
Words Of A Pedophile
Starting in 1987-88 Paul Williams discipled his young son in the ways of sexual perversion, teaching him to observe all the perverse skills of homoeroticism. It took 12-18 months but he accomplished it by a basic day by day consistency. A little here a little there, line upon line, precept by precept. (Isaiah 28:13) The young lad received instruction he would never depart from. Not only was Paul perverse he took pleasure (Rom 1:32) in the perverting of his own young son he had conceived together in a loving relationship with his wife.
Would you expect a pedophile to say anything spiritually profound? NO! Everything he says is self-serving. At Dr Rogers memorial service he said:
"We've got people who appreciate the fact that this is a preacher that was teaching the Word of God and he was teaching it not simply as head knowledge or heart knowledge but he was stressing to our people, here is the way that you can practically apply the Word of God on a consistent day by day basis and what he was speaking of did not simply affect our people's lives on Sunday morning or sunday night but from Monday mornings through saturday evening and so it was a seven day a week relationship that wasn't just a religion but a relationship with Christ."
The summary of this message at the memorial service by Paul Williams is: "A relationship with Christ can be established by a practical application of the word of God on a consistent day by day basis." This is a semi-pelagian subliminal message embedded into an otherwise perfect memorial service for Adrian Rogers. It is embedded into unerasable archives that will forever ridicule the faulty American Fundamentalistic message that Dr Rogers preached. It says that human free will determines destiny.
Would you expect a pedophile to say anything spiritually profound? NO! Everything he says is self-serving. At Dr Rogers memorial service he said:
"We've got people who appreciate the fact that this is a preacher that was teaching the Word of God and he was teaching it not simply as head knowledge or heart knowledge but he was stressing to our people, here is the way that you can practically apply the Word of God on a consistent day by day basis and what he was speaking of did not simply affect our people's lives on Sunday morning or sunday night but from Monday mornings through saturday evening and so it was a seven day a week relationship that wasn't just a religion but a relationship with Christ."
The summary of this message at the memorial service by Paul Williams is: "A relationship with Christ can be established by a practical application of the word of God on a consistent day by day basis." This is a semi-pelagian subliminal message embedded into an otherwise perfect memorial service for Adrian Rogers. It is embedded into unerasable archives that will forever ridicule the faulty American Fundamentalistic message that Dr Rogers preached. It says that human free will determines destiny.
February 14, 2008
For The Thing Which I Fear Cometh Upon Me
I attended the memorial service for Adrian Rogers at Bellevue. Anyone unaware what the service was about would have known that whoever was enclosed in the casket had a greart God! Jim Whitmire directed a superb worship portion of the service. I had nerver heard more elegant worship than the choir that night. Music was awesome. To my great satisfaction there was no applause after each song! It was reverential! The Holy Spirit was in the arrangements and Dr Whitmire reflected that spiritual aura. I felt that this was a historical worship event that should be repeated every Sunday at Bellevue.
Anyone unaware who was enclosed in the casket would have know by the remaining lenghty portion that the man was a great man as elder after elder enunciated. I felt that even Adrian himself grew tired of the enless display after such heavenly worship.
Was the Holy Spirit involved in the programing of elder statesmen? I personally think so. There was one man whose remarks spoiled the program as everyone now knows. It was an unerasable disgrace embedded in the evening. I enclose the remarks:
"We've got people who appreciate the fact that this is a preacher that was teaching the Word of God and he was teaching it not simply as head knowledge or heart knowledge but he was stressing to our people, here is the way that you can practically apply the Word of God on a consistent day by day basis and what he was speaking of did not simply affect our people's lives on Sunday morning or sunday night but from Monday mornings through saturday evening and so it was a seven day a week relationship that wasn't just a religion but a relationship with Christ."
These words set in concrete were the words of a man not seeking to honor a man he loved but words to galvanize his future against going to jail. The death of Dr Rogers must have struck a fear in him that the realization of what he greatly feared for the last seventeen years was the uncovering of his secret past. Something in Dr Rogers seemed to guarentee his secrecy and he knew that Steve Gaines spelled trouble for him. Dr Rogers was a smooth predictable man and Dr Gaines was jagged and unpredictable!
He had assurance from Dr Rogers that he wasn't going to hell and his only worry was going to jail. Was the Holy Spirit in the program? I believe so. He is also sovereign isn't He?
Anyone unaware who was enclosed in the casket would have know by the remaining lenghty portion that the man was a great man as elder after elder enunciated. I felt that even Adrian himself grew tired of the enless display after such heavenly worship.
Was the Holy Spirit involved in the programing of elder statesmen? I personally think so. There was one man whose remarks spoiled the program as everyone now knows. It was an unerasable disgrace embedded in the evening. I enclose the remarks:
"We've got people who appreciate the fact that this is a preacher that was teaching the Word of God and he was teaching it not simply as head knowledge or heart knowledge but he was stressing to our people, here is the way that you can practically apply the Word of God on a consistent day by day basis and what he was speaking of did not simply affect our people's lives on Sunday morning or sunday night but from Monday mornings through saturday evening and so it was a seven day a week relationship that wasn't just a religion but a relationship with Christ."
These words set in concrete were the words of a man not seeking to honor a man he loved but words to galvanize his future against going to jail. The death of Dr Rogers must have struck a fear in him that the realization of what he greatly feared for the last seventeen years was the uncovering of his secret past. Something in Dr Rogers seemed to guarentee his secrecy and he knew that Steve Gaines spelled trouble for him. Dr Rogers was a smooth predictable man and Dr Gaines was jagged and unpredictable!
He had assurance from Dr Rogers that he wasn't going to hell and his only worry was going to jail. Was the Holy Spirit in the program? I believe so. He is also sovereign isn't He?
February 13, 2008
When Saints Are Devilish!
keith solomon said... Bratton Report -9:27 AM, February 08, 2008; 2:20 PM, Feb 09, 2008; 8:52 PM, Feb 10, 2008
"I just dropped by the 'savingbellevue' site to see what all the ruckus was about the videos that the interns put together, and this is the headline on the story (which links to the videos): See if you can find the gospel in this production made with the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent for the media depart on equipment and salaries paid for by your tithe money. This is a perfect example of why I've opposed Jim Haywood's and Integrity Does Count's efforts from day one. Those efforts are built on lies. As anyone who has ever taped a recital or a birthday party can tell, the videos were made with a hand held camcorder and edited with off-the-shelf software. Haywood is tech-savvy, and he knows that perfectly well. Implying that the video was made by Jim Barnwell's staff and that the cost was enormous is a deliberate, malicious lie. The amateur editting and audio/video quality aren't anywhere close to Bellevue video productions, as Haywood knows perfectly well. I suspect he thought that the videos were so inane that people wouldn't feel insulted enough, so Mr. Haywood decided to help the truth out a little. Haywood has long been a critic of the Purpose Driven Church movement, saying that they don't teach what sin is. I wonder why it is that JH doesn't seem to understand what holiness is? Can't he understand that God is not honored by deception? I wonder where he got the justification for the name 'Integrity Does Count'? I just can't help but wonder how things might have unfolded if deceivers like Haywood, Sharp, and Emerson hadn't been allowed to sneak around with their recorders and spread rumors, innuendos, and lies. We needed men with the mind of Christ to step up during the conflict, but instead we got men with the mind of Jacob. Lucky us."
Keith, my perspective on all this, I'm sure you know, is different than yours. The posters on New Bellevue Baptist Church Open Forum as well as the above mentioned have learned situational ethics from semi-pelagian ministries. Dr Rogers, maybe unconsciously, resorted to this tactic when he fought against Calvinism using a straw man fallacy to argue his points.
You ask, why didn't Jim Haywood understand God's holiness? Didn't he understand that God is not honored by deception? Can't you see where all this came from? Where did these men learn to sneak around with recorders, spread rumors, lies and innuendos? Sometimes zeal for the truth perverts men's minds and especially if there is a belief that men are not so bad and they are redeemable by personal choice.
All around us we are seeing this saturate the fundamental Christian community. You can't tell the world from the church. Sometimes the world displays more character than the church!
Has an unbeliever in Memphis sodomized his own young son? I haven't heard about any. An ordained associate pastor at Bellevue did, not once, but repeatedly for 12-18 months. He walked the halls of Bellevue for 17 years maintaining his secret evil crime!
So don't be surprised by what followers of Adrian Rogers are liable to do!
"I just dropped by the 'savingbellevue' site to see what all the ruckus was about the videos that the interns put together, and this is the headline on the story (which links to the videos): See if you can find the gospel in this production made with the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent for the media depart on equipment and salaries paid for by your tithe money. This is a perfect example of why I've opposed Jim Haywood's and Integrity Does Count's efforts from day one. Those efforts are built on lies. As anyone who has ever taped a recital or a birthday party can tell, the videos were made with a hand held camcorder and edited with off-the-shelf software. Haywood is tech-savvy, and he knows that perfectly well. Implying that the video was made by Jim Barnwell's staff and that the cost was enormous is a deliberate, malicious lie. The amateur editting and audio/video quality aren't anywhere close to Bellevue video productions, as Haywood knows perfectly well. I suspect he thought that the videos were so inane that people wouldn't feel insulted enough, so Mr. Haywood decided to help the truth out a little. Haywood has long been a critic of the Purpose Driven Church movement, saying that they don't teach what sin is. I wonder why it is that JH doesn't seem to understand what holiness is? Can't he understand that God is not honored by deception? I wonder where he got the justification for the name 'Integrity Does Count'? I just can't help but wonder how things might have unfolded if deceivers like Haywood, Sharp, and Emerson hadn't been allowed to sneak around with their recorders and spread rumors, innuendos, and lies. We needed men with the mind of Christ to step up during the conflict, but instead we got men with the mind of Jacob. Lucky us."
Keith, my perspective on all this, I'm sure you know, is different than yours. The posters on New Bellevue Baptist Church Open Forum as well as the above mentioned have learned situational ethics from semi-pelagian ministries. Dr Rogers, maybe unconsciously, resorted to this tactic when he fought against Calvinism using a straw man fallacy to argue his points.
You ask, why didn't Jim Haywood understand God's holiness? Didn't he understand that God is not honored by deception? Can't you see where all this came from? Where did these men learn to sneak around with recorders, spread rumors, lies and innuendos? Sometimes zeal for the truth perverts men's minds and especially if there is a belief that men are not so bad and they are redeemable by personal choice.
All around us we are seeing this saturate the fundamental Christian community. You can't tell the world from the church. Sometimes the world displays more character than the church!
Has an unbeliever in Memphis sodomized his own young son? I haven't heard about any. An ordained associate pastor at Bellevue did, not once, but repeatedly for 12-18 months. He walked the halls of Bellevue for 17 years maintaining his secret evil crime!
So don't be surprised by what followers of Adrian Rogers are liable to do!
February 11, 2008
Dr John C. Ryland, Jr.
1 O LORD, we would delight in Thee, And on Thy care depend; To Thee in every trouble flee, Our safe, unfailing Friend.
2 When human cisterns all are dried, Thy fulness is the same; May we with this be satisfied, And glory in Thy name.
3 Why should we thirst for ought below, While there's a fountain near, A fountain which doth ever flowThe fainting heart to cheer?
4 No good in creatures can be found; All, all is found in Thee: We must have all things and aboundThrough Thy sufficiency.
5 Thou that hast made our heaven secureWilt here all good provide; While Thou art rich, can we be poor --- Thou who for us hast died?
6 O Lord, we cast each care on Thee, And triumph and adore; O that our great concern may be To love and praise Thee more.
Dr. Ryland's advice to young academicians:
"Mind, no sermon is of any value, or likely to be useful, which has not the three R's in it. — Ruin by the Fall; Redemption by Christ; Regeneration by the Spirit.
STEM Publishing : Hymns : Spiritual Songsters : Dr. John Ryland, D.D. 1753-1825
2 When human cisterns all are dried, Thy fulness is the same; May we with this be satisfied, And glory in Thy name.
3 Why should we thirst for ought below, While there's a fountain near, A fountain which doth ever flowThe fainting heart to cheer?
4 No good in creatures can be found; All, all is found in Thee: We must have all things and aboundThrough Thy sufficiency.
5 Thou that hast made our heaven secureWilt here all good provide; While Thou art rich, can we be poor --- Thou who for us hast died?
6 O Lord, we cast each care on Thee, And triumph and adore; O that our great concern may be To love and praise Thee more.
Dr. Ryland's advice to young academicians:
"Mind, no sermon is of any value, or likely to be useful, which has not the three R's in it. — Ruin by the Fall; Redemption by Christ; Regeneration by the Spirit.
STEM Publishing : Hymns : Spiritual Songsters : Dr. John Ryland, D.D. 1753-1825
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
