Grounded in the Gospel

I regularly listen to White Horse Inn.  There are some programs that I consider exceptional because they pertain to vital matters for the church.  On Sunday, Michael Horton interviewed J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett who co-authored a book to be released in April entitled Grounded In The Gospel: Building Believers The Old-fashioned Way.  The interview can be heard here.

The authors' purpose is to renew the practice of catechesis.  Here is a descriptive blurb from the publisher's website:

Historically, the church's ministry of grounding new believers in the essentials of the faith has been known as catechesis—systematic instruction in faith foundations, including what we believe, how we pray and worship, and how we conduct our lives.  For most evangelicals today, however, this very idea is an alien concept.  Packer and Parrett, concerned for the state of the church, seek to inspire a much needed evangelical course correction.  This new book makes the case for a recovery of significant catechesis as a non-negotiable practice of churches, showing the practice to be complementary to, and of no less value than, Bible study, expository preaching, and other formational ministries, and urging evangelical churches to find room for this biblical ministry for the sake of their spiritual health and vitality.

This is a subject dear to my heart.  I have watched as well-meaning Bible teachers feed both adults and children sound doctrine that ends up as useless, because no comprehensive foundation is laid: overview of Bible books, doctrines, theological concepts, etc.

To be sure catechesis of any kind is difficult and time-consuming work.  The instructor needs to arrange the material in workable fashion that can be absorbed, retained, and regurgitated.  Yet despite the work involved, this was once a regular feature of any local church.

I really do not know if the contemporary church dismisses the practice as irrelevant, old-fashioned, or not worth the investment, but cults and other world religions have no difficulty indoctrinating their adherents.  Maybe Christians should rejoin the bandwagon.