Introduction

Not long ago, I signed to write and publish a discipleship curriculum with H&E publishing titled Confessing Sound Words: A Discipleship Curriculum Through the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith. The basis of this curriculum is the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (2LBCF) and The Baptist Catechism (BC).  I’m still in the early stages of the research and writing process of this work. 

That said, even before signing to publish the work, I was writing it for use in the church I pastor. I have been privileged to take two men of my church through the first few chapters of the work. By doing it this way, I ensure the work is practical and achieves the purpose for which it is being written, namely to equip the saints with the truths of God’s Word, the reformation of churches, a retrieval of Baptist Confessional heritage, and to glorify God. Over the last two months, I’ve seen two men encounter God in His Word and converse with the framers of the 2LBCF and BC and me. The early results are already promising. 

While working on this project, I was asked and thought to my self, “Why use historic confessions and catechisms for the basis of a discipleship curriculum?” In the remainder of the post below, I will answer this question by defining confessions and catechisms, give reasons for their use for discipleship. In a second article, I will list the benefits of using the 2LBCF and BC for discipleship.  

Confessions and Catechisms Defined

To begin with, a confession of faith is a summary of doctrines logically ordered that are confessed by an individual church or group of churches. In other words, it is a statement of what a group believes the Bible teaches on various topics in a succinct, orderly, and comprehensive manner. A catechism is a series of questions and answers written for teaching and memorization. A Christian Catechism aims to teach people Christian truth or doctrines in a memorable manner. Both confessions and catechisms have been used for great profit by Christians throughout church history. 

Reasons to Use Confessions and Catechisms for Discipleship

Now that confessions and catechisms have defined, it is time to consider why you or your church might use them for discipleship. Below are four of what could be many more reasons. 

They were written for Discipleship

Even if confessions and catechisms weren’t intended by their original framers for discipleship, we still might find them of use. However, the framers themselves wrote them for this very purpose. Consider the two documents used in my curriculum as examples below. 

First, the farmers of 2LBCF say their rationale for publishing the confession and include that it is for the spiritual formation of those who read it. 

One thing that greatly prevailed with us to undertake this work was (not only to give a full account of ourselves to those Christians that differ from us about the subject of baptism, but also) the profit that might from thence arise unto those that have any account of our labors, in their instruction and establishment in the great truths of the gospel; in the clear understanding and steady belief of which our comfortable walking with God, and fruitfulness before him in all our ways is most nearly concerned.¹

Second, both of the general assemblies of the Baptists in London and Bristol of 1693 mention the catechism that would eventually be published. The fourth resolution in the minutes of the London Assembly states it was resolved “that a Catechism be drawn up, containing the substance of Christian religion, for the instruction of children and servants, and that brother William Collins be desired to draw it up.”²

The Bristol Assembly in a letter stated their desire that the London Churches would “remember [their] agreement at [their] last assembling, and minuted in the narrative that brother Collins should draw up a catechism and that it should be printed, a thing so needful and useful that the country have been longing to have it, and are troubled at the delay of it, and earnestly desire that you will hasten the printing of it.”³ The Bristol Assembly thought the catechism would sell, covering the printing cost, and “They think [the London Assembly] cannot do anything that will be of more general use.”⁴

They Work for Discipleship

Next, confessions and catechisms work for discipleship. This reason is straightforward but is it true? Do confessions and catechisms work for discipleship? The answer is yes. In saying yes, I do not intend to imply that confessions and catechisms are the only things necessary for Christian discipleship. I intend to say that they are immensely helpful at assisting a Christian embrace the system of doctrine as we find it in the Bible. Catechisms and confessions can do this because they are structured in an orderly way, Catechisms can be memorized with some discipline, and each provide the clearest Scripture references to support the doctrine being promoted. 

As I have taken two gentlemen from my church through the BC, I’ve noticed that almost immediately, they were able to articulate what the catechism is saying in their own words. In the curriculum, I provide discussion questions that promote delving deeper into the truth stated in the catechism and some implications it has. With a study Bible, Scripture cross-references, and the scripture references within the BC, they can answer these questions with accuracy. That is not to say that it is easy. They put in the work, but the results have already been positive. Moreover, both the BC and 2LBCF work well to facilitate discussion, which in turn, cultivates relationships between those involved. By developing relationships and probing theological inquiry and discovery, confessions and catechisms are useful tools that promote discipleship and growth. 

They are Sound

Not only do confessions and catechisms work for discipleship, but they are sound. They articulate the healthy and life-giving doctrines of the Scripture. They structure and formulate doctrines in a way that is logical and orderly. Take the order of the 2LBCF and BC as an example: first-principles (Chapters 1-6 and Questions 1-22), the covenant (Chapters 7-20 and Questions 23-92), God-centered Christian living (Chapters 21-30 and Questions 93-114), and last things (Chapters 31-32). 

Also, if one goes back and reads some of the discussions and debates that went on in the Westminster Assembly, one will see that the framers of the Westminster Standards sought to be sound and precise in their presentation and summation of the doctrines of the Bible. Furthermore, their Annotations on Scripture provide the exegetical rationale for why they formulated the doctrines as they did. The Westminster Standards serve as one of the foundations of the 2LBCF and BC. 

My reason for mentioning the debates and Annotations is that they show that what we find in the 2LBCF and BC, following The Westminister Standards, wasn’t adopted hastily. Where the 2LBCF and BC differ from The Westminister Standards, we may consult Baptist writings of the day on those subjects. Where they are the same, we may look at the writings consulted and written by the Assembly or those who accepted its confessional documents. The 2LBCF and BC, following their theological cousins and Christian brothers who formulated The Westminister Standards and The Savoy Declaration, sought to provide a sound summary of Biblical doctrine. In my estimation, they were successful. 

The framers of the 2LBCF, in stating why they affixed Scripture references to points made in the 2LBCF, show that they saw the Scriptures to be the sole infallible authority in matters of faith and obedience, 

We have also taken care to affix text of Scripture, in the margin for the confirmation of each article in our confession; in which we have studiously endeavored to select such as are most clear and pertinent, fo the proof of what is asserted by us: and our earnest desire is, that all into whose hands this may come, would follow that (never enough commended) example of noble Bereans, who searched the Scriptures daily, that they might find out whether the things preached to them were so or not.⁵

Conclusion

The intent in producing and soundness of the 2LBCF and BC, coupled with the fact that they work for discipleship, are ample reasons one should consider using them for personal and corporate discipleship. I have already found them beneficial for my walk with Jesus and the discipleship of some within the congregation I pastor. These reasons are why I have gone forward in editing and publishing a curriculum using them. You might find them useful too.