Sunday, August 2, 2009

Catechesis for Life in the Royal Priesthood

Pless, John T. "Catechesis for Life in the Royal Priesthood."  A Reader in Pastoral Theology. Fort Wayne: Concordia Theological Seminary Press, 2002.  63-70.

Catechesis - that's a word that we NEVER used when I was one of those "broad Evangelicals."  It must be something the "liberals" do rather than study the Bible.  If we think about catechesis, though, it is merely a fancy word for systematic training in the faith.

"The goal of our catechesis is to shape the baptized to live in Christ as members of the Royal Priesthood.  Catechesis does not result in the formation of the autonomous spiritual ego, but in a priest living in the company of fellow priests under a common High Priest and sharing in a common cultus" (p. 63).  Pless observes this is a lifelong process.

How do we engage in this catechesis?  Luther's Small Catechism is one of the very valuable tools we have.  Of all the brief summaries of Scripture available, this is a very clear and reliable one.  It gives us a clear Law/Gospel focus.  It shows our place of honor in Christ and our place of service to our neighbor.  It shows our identity in Christ and his day to day provision for us.  We can learn the priestly work of biblical exposition, repentance, prayer, and thanksgiving in the Small Catechism.

Pless observes that one great hindrance to lifelong catechesis is pastors who are forced to act as a CEO, life coach, or therapist rather tan as a pastor.  We would do well to recover that shepherding view of the pastor.  Of course, even with that missing, individuals can commit to being lifelong learners, catechumens, people who are seeking to soak up the Scripture in an organized manner.  Who knows?  If enough people catch this vision, maybe they won't ask their pastors to do things other than be pastors any more.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com


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