Teaching Your Child the Westminster Catechism

In our August Bible study time, our CASM children learned the first four questions and answers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. You may never have heard of this catechism until now; maybe you thought to yourself: ”What exactly is the catechism? Why is it important and how do I help my child?”

What is the catechism?

The catechism is a way to systematically teach children biblical truths of Christian doctrine. To help with memorization, the Westminster Shorter Catechism is composed of 107 questions and answers broken down into six categories:

God as Creator
Original sin and the fallen state of man's nature
Christ our Redeemer and the benefits from our redemption
The Ten Commandments
The Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion
The teaching and explaining of the Lord's prayer

During the Protestant Reformation, children and new believers were taught the essentials of the Christian faith using this practice. It was a way of instructing Christians in the basics of their faith and was a part of the life of the church. Despite the revival of the catechism by the Reformers, the practice has declined in the 21^st century.

Why is the catechism important?

While it may seem old-fashioned, the benefits of the catechism are many for both children and parents. The catechism deepens both our knowledge of Scripture and the Lord’s will in our lives, as well as our faith and confidence in Him. The chief benefit to children is that it requires them to state the truth, instead of always hearing the truth stated by others. As they mature, it cultivates their own reflecting upon and wrestling with the truth, because it’s always ready at hand (in their own minds) for them to work with. It also helps parents to know where their children might be struggling to remember and understand biblical ideas.

The catechism is more than rote memorization; it is designed to engage children in studying and understanding biblical truths. It provides a well-rounded understanding of the Christian faith because it requires the children to cover the wide range of Christian truth.

The catechism can also challenge the faith of parents by causing us to think about our understanding of the catechism questions and answers. Our clear understanding helps us to better respond to questions our children may pose.

Helping your children

Developing a catechism routine for your family doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If your children are very young, begin with the Catechism for Young Children or Big Truths for Little People. If they are school-aged and older, use the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Each question and answer is great to use for your family devotion if you don’t already have one in place.

By approaching the catechism with both joy and patience, you can use this important practice to build your children’s knowledge of Christ and the Bible. Don’t pressure yourself (or your children) to pack a lot of words and ideas into their minds in a short time span. Also, remember your joy should be evident so that memorizing the words and ideas is not drudgery.

Catechism might seem more 16^th century than 21^st century, but the practice in your home will be profitable to the growth and understanding of your and your children’s Christian faith.

Teaching Your Child the Westminster Catechism