Quite a few people who were raised Lutheran know a great deal about the Small Catechism. It may bring back memories of doing memory work, reciting commandments and explanations. If you're like most people, you probably did that cramming on your way to confirmation for that day, and it may have leaked out almost as soon as you finished speaking it.
However, in general, I have discovered that most people aren't familiar with the Large Catechism. Earlier this year, I started taking the elders of the congregation through it, and one of them mentioned that he didn't even know there was a Large Catechism, and he has been Lutheran all his life. I really do wonder how little the Large Catechism is know.
In some ways, it makes sense that it's not as well known as its little brother. The Large Catechism was written primarily for parish priests, giving them a guide to help explain the Small Catechism in their congregations. While it's not written at a much higher level than was most people today could understand, it does go into a little more depth than the Small Catechism.
Also, the Large Catechism spends most of its pages talking about the proper understanding of the commandments. Over half of the book deals with the Ten Commandments, leaving the Apostles' Creed, Lord's Prayer, Confession and Absolution, and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper with relatively little press each. For some, this may seem to give too much credence to the role of the Ten Commandments, though in future posts, I hope to supply some rather helpful ways of understanding why this is a good thing.
As a final thing, part of the reason that the Large Catechism may never have really caught on is because the Small Catechism is so brief and covers the basics. Sure, there will always be points that theologians, pastors, and Christians can discuss and argue about ad nauseum, but the content of the Small Catechism is relatively straight forward, thus making it an easier resource to utilize in teaching. But maybe, just maybe, the day will arise when the Large Catechism will begin to get its due credit as well.
However, in general, I have discovered that most people aren't familiar with the Large Catechism. Earlier this year, I started taking the elders of the congregation through it, and one of them mentioned that he didn't even know there was a Large Catechism, and he has been Lutheran all his life. I really do wonder how little the Large Catechism is know.
In some ways, it makes sense that it's not as well known as its little brother. The Large Catechism was written primarily for parish priests, giving them a guide to help explain the Small Catechism in their congregations. While it's not written at a much higher level than was most people today could understand, it does go into a little more depth than the Small Catechism.
Also, the Large Catechism spends most of its pages talking about the proper understanding of the commandments. Over half of the book deals with the Ten Commandments, leaving the Apostles' Creed, Lord's Prayer, Confession and Absolution, and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper with relatively little press each. For some, this may seem to give too much credence to the role of the Ten Commandments, though in future posts, I hope to supply some rather helpful ways of understanding why this is a good thing.
As a final thing, part of the reason that the Large Catechism may never have really caught on is because the Small Catechism is so brief and covers the basics. Sure, there will always be points that theologians, pastors, and Christians can discuss and argue about ad nauseum, but the content of the Small Catechism is relatively straight forward, thus making it an easier resource to utilize in teaching. But maybe, just maybe, the day will arise when the Large Catechism will begin to get its due credit as well.
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