Life

Knowing the answer to the first shorter catechism question, "What is man's chief end?" has always given me comfort. Not only is it a sure way to let people know I was raised in the reformed tradition (it's like a secret handshake), but it reminds me of who I am. Before I even knew that the shorter catechism existed, I was learning answers to the children's catechism like, "Of what were you made?" (dust), "And what does that teach you?" (to be humble and mindful of death). I would always mix up dust and death for the answer of that last one...The premature existentialist in me reasoned that if life was made of dust and ended in dust, then dust and death were pretty much the same anyway.

The whole point to digging into my childhood is to point towards the answer to this week's question: "To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." A lifetime of meaning, perhaps more than one lifetime, is contained in these eight simple words.

First off, what does it even mean to "glorify" something? We don't really use the word in everyday language. We may call something a glorified version of something else. Or, we may talk about a man's past glory. But I certainly don't go around telling people I glorify this thing or that thing. (Even if I actually do glorify that thing by putting it above all other thoughts in my mind.) I like to think of keeping the actual term, to glorify, as sacred. What actually happens, while I'm keeping this word holy for God, is that I actively cultivate its meaning toward less than glorified pursuits. I may hold a word, as sacred, but do I hold the only Being in the world worthy of its usage as sacred in my heart and mind?

The second purpose given to us for our "end" in this life, is enjoyment. Some might say that we as humans know the meaning of this word all too well. We strive to eat, see, drink and do as many things as possible that we enjoy, filling our stomachs, heads and hearts with all sorts of tactile, sensory things. How many times do we think of enjoyment in terms neither tangible nor visual? What does it mean to enjoy something without the aids of sight, sound or touch?

The real crux of this argument for life's purpose, however, is not in the actions it demands, but rather toward whom those actions are directed. You see, no matter how many times I step through the threshold of a church, or read the words in my Bible or sing a Bible Song, if my actions, thoughts and words are not directed toward God, they mean nothing. The crucial part of it all is whether or not I even notice the difference. Many times I'll read the Bible, take a moment, whisper a prayer, and then pat myself on the back. Or, I'll sing a song with my best voice, close my eyes, maybe even raise my hands, while in my mind I'm wondering if I hit that last note well enough, or if the person in front of me even noticed.

As humans, we were not made to fulfill this first catechism answer's mandate. We are ill-equipped at best to glorify and enjoy a God whom we doubt, no matter how long we've known Him. Firstly, we have trouble with the whole concept of glorifying anything fully, when all of the ways in which we glorify God also double as ways to glorify ourselves, whether it be to others or even to our own egos. Secondly, we've watered down the idea of enjoying something to an altered mental state, a loss of inhibition, a thrill or a good feeling. Basically, I don't mean to be a downer, but we as humans are pretty much out of luck.

The good news is that we as Christians have a fighting chance at experiencing this way of life, where we truly glorify God and enjoy Him forever. That fighting chance is Jesus. He came down here and lived in and among our debauchery. He knows our weaselly spirits inside and out. He chose to die for us, knowing that we wouldn't even think about his death for us more than we thought about our own lives, thinking to ourselves that somehow the two things weren't inextricably connected. He lets us think we can run away, while he slowly and gently pulls us closer to Himself - closer to God. Our purpose in this life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. How do we do this? By asking Jesus to teach us. He's done it for generations before us, and when you think about it, our generation is not very different at all.

a catechismal journey

I have always wanted to have a blog, but feared I might not have enough to say, enough to reveal, enough to give to potential readers. I find that while my life might not be exciting or interesting to the world 'o bloggers, I believe that the Word has more than enough to say, reveal and give to anyone who wants to hear about it.

For this reason, I have decided to start blogging about a companion guide to the Bible in the reformed, Christian world, called the Westminster Shorter Catechism. While I have written a curriculum about the catechism, the Word and its meaning evolve, and I don't believe that a true understanding of the Bible, its stories and its lessons, can be kept in a curriculum box. I believe that while each of us learns and delves into the depths of all the meaning the Bible has to offer, we should share as much of our understanding of it as we can. I believe that we, as Christians, are well-equipped. The Bible can be transformational literature, if we allow the Holy Spirit to take over our minds, as we read the Truth.

I'd like to give a shout out to the kids at Second Presbyterian Church, the three fearless high-schoolers, who let me teach them a little bit about the catechism last year, and to the kids at Westkirk Presbyterian Church who will wade these waters this fall, using this inaugural curriculum from this inaugural curriculum writer.

My plan is to blog once a week about a question from the catechism. May my words be not mine, but those that are given to me by the Holy Spirit, and may He bless you with them. May we all be tools, broken vessels for Truth in a broken world.

Catechismal Kaleidoscope

Reclaiming black and white words and teaching them in color for a new generation

What if the words of the question “What is man’s chief end?” meant something to our youth? What would happen if we taught the antiquated language of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, while discussing God’s relevance in our lives today? Catechismal Kaleidoscope is a 15-week high school curriculum attempting to do just that: breathe life into nearly lost Christian verbiage. The curriculum examines a few catechism questions each week by searching relevant scripture, or “proofs,” and discussing here-and-now application.