The Second Helvetic Confession
- Chapter 25
Of Catechizing and Comforting
and Visiting the Sick
Youth To Be Instructed in Godliness. The Lord enjoined his ancient
people to exercise the greatest care that young people, even from infancy, be
properly instructed. Moreover, he expressly commanded in his law that they
should teach them, and that the mysteries of the sacraments should be explained.
Now since it is well known from the writings of the Evangelists and apostles
that God has no less concern for the youth of his new people, when he openly
testifies and says: Let the children come to me; for to such belongs the kingdom
of heaven (Mark 10:14), the pastors of the churches act most wisely when they
early and carefully catechize the youth, laying the first grounds of faith, and
faithfully teaching the rudiments of our religion by expounding the Ten
Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the doctrine of the
sacraments, with other such principles and chief heads of our religion. Here let
the Church show her faith and diligence in bringing the children to be
catechized, desirous and glad to have her children well instructed.
<John Calvin wrote, “I wish
we could retain the custom, which as I have observed, existed in the early
Church, before this abortive mask of a sacrament appeared. It would not be such
a confirmation as they pretend, one which cannot even be named without injury to
baptism, but catechizing by which those in boyhood, or immediately beyond it,
would give an account of their faith in the face of the Church. And the best
method of catechizing would be, if a form were drawn up for this purpose,
containing, and briefly explaining, the substance of almost all the heads of our
religion, in which the whole body of the faithful ought to concur without
controversy. A boy of ten years of age would present himself to the Church, to
make a profession of faith, would be questioned on each head, and give answers
to each. If he was ignorant of any point, or did not well understand it, he
would be taught. Thus while the whole Church looked on and witnessed, he would
profess the one true sincere faith with which the body of the faithful, with one
accord, worship one God. Were this discipline in force in the present day, it
would undoubtedly whet the sluggishness of certain parents, who carelessly
neglect the instruction of their children, as if it did not at all belong to
them, but who could not then omit it without public disgrace; there would be
greater agreement in faith among the Christian people, and not so much ignorance
and rudeness; some persons would not be so readily carried away by new and
strange dogmas; in fine, it would furnish all with a methodical arrangement of
Christian doctrine.” (Institutes 4.19.13)
Note Calvin called for this
profession at age ten or just beyond. This would require the church and more
especially the parents to have paid serious attention to the matter of teaching
their children at an early age. It is a sad statement that as little as 5% of
the so-called evangelical children today have had any such training, much less
having recited the catechism of the church. The percentage is mine and drawn
from a broad exposure to the teachings of the church and personal experience. I
do not have an acceptable study to prove this. Nonetheless I leave in place this
sad commentary and challenge the whole of the church to prove this poor servant
wrong.
God has never released parents
from the responsibility of educating their children. God has not relieved the
church of her responsibility to make sure all her members are proficient in the
things of Christ. To then deny home schools, church schools and such public
confirmation of training in the church is to deny the Scriptures. The church to
my knowledge has never excommunicated a member for this lack of discipline.
Perhaps it is time the church did take a much more visible and firm stance on
the catechism training of her youth. This sounds good and proper, I know it is
in accord with the Bible. In practical application it will fail as it has over
and over again. To restore this biblical teaching of the young, the church must
find her own heritage in the reformation and as the prophet of the Old Testament
rejoice and purge herself of impurity and move forward in a new zeal concerning
the adult members, heads of house. Then will come the children following in the
footsteps of godly parents.
I have avoided extensive quotes
here, assigning most to the footnotes by reference only. However this topic is
so crucial for the church today I felt the deviation acceptable. Calvin’s
words are of such I feel all can understand them. His beginning point concerning
sacraments means that the Roman Church had taken the outward application of
sacraments as accomplishing what inward knowledge of the Lord would. Their
profession then became the sacrament, not what love and knowledge lay within the
person. With this explanation I
think all can handle the rest of the quote. If you have not read this slowly and
in prayer, please do so now. This is crucial to the church and our children.
>
The Visitation of the Sick. Since men are never exposed to more
grievous temptations than when they are harassed by infirmities, are sick and
are weakened by diseases of both soul and body, surely it is never more fitting
for pastors of churches to watch more carefully for the welfare of their flocks
than in such diseases and infirmities. Therefore let them visit the sick soon,
and let them be called in good time by the sick, if the circumstance itself
would have required it. Let them comfort and confirm them in the true faith, and
then arm them against the dangerous suggestions of Satan. They should also hold
prayer for the sick in the home and, if need be, prayers should also be made for
the sick in the public meeting; and they should see that they happily depart
this life. We said above that we do not approve of the Popish visitation of the
sick with extreme unction because it is absurd and is not approved by canonical
Scriptures.
<Paul said to the church they
were to comfort one another with his words concerning the end times.
The church was facing doubt and temptation because of wrong doctrines being
taught. We are also instructed to comfort one another in sickness as God has
comforted us. We do this with the
sure testimony of God working in our lives, standing firmly on the promises of
the Bible. Not in some silly assumption or presumption on God as denounced here.
God allows adversity into the lives of His own children just for this reason.
Paul goes so far in Romans five to say that we rejoice in these adversities
because they teach us patience before the Lord. Patience before the Lord
allowing God’s providence to take charge gives to us the experience needed to
make these words of God our own. In experience of God in our own life, hope is
awakened and we know the love and peace of God. Why all this process?
Without hope man is most miserable. The saints by their own experience
have this lively hope. God has then brought the saint through this process where
they may testify of God’s goodness and the sureness of the reveal Word of God,
especially to the sick and dying. Believers can and must share the hope God’s
has given to them. It is no large jump then to put visitation of the sick high
on the list of the duties of the pastor. However, it is the duty of every
believer not just the pastor to visit and care for the weak in the congregation.
As policy it should fall first to the deacons and elders of the church and
involve the pastor only where the need is greatest. One person, the pastor,
cannot visit the whole congregation routinely and attend to the Word and
sacrament as proper in his calling. Thus, the responsibility belongs to the
whole church. There is also a sense in which the responsibility to initiate the
process lies with the sick as James says the sick are to call for the elders.
This however does not relieve the church of the responsibility to know and care
for the whole flock. Also often the sick are unable, or have sank so low they
see no need in calling the elders. I then give the emphasis to the words of
James that says, “the elders coming…” There is much wisdom and power in
the proper visitation of the sick. James chapter five is most advantageous to
the church or person who would practice true religion, taking care of the widow
indeed, being the metaphor for all who are sick and in weak spiritual condition.
>
