STUDY HELPS ON THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM, by Rev. Norman L. Jones. Published by the Publications Committee of the Eureka Classis, Reformed Church in the U.S., P.O. Box 486, Eureka, SD 57437, 1981, Paper, 284 pages. Price $4.50 including postage. May be obtained from Rev. Norman L. Jones, 317 So. Garfield, Pierre, SD 57501.
BIBLE DOCTRINE STUDENT WORKBOOK, AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE, by J . R. Beeke and J. W. Beeke, based on the Compendium. Published by Netherlands Reformed Book and Publishing Committee, c/o Bert Harskamp, 1020 N. Main, Sioux Center, Iowa 51250, 137 pages, paper, discount price $3.50 by individuals (retail $6.00) or $3.00 for book dealers.
Reviewed by the editor.
Although the Christian Reformed Church Order still says that “The Heidelberg Catechism and its Compendium shall be the basis of instruction” (Art. 64c) in the churches’ catechetical instruction, this method was “consciously abandoned” in the synod’s adoption of the “United Church School Curriculum” (Acts 1979, p. 232) which reduced this formal doctrinal teaching to two years. Few if any would dare to claim that this radical reduction in systematical doctrinal teaching a decade ago has trained church members to better understand and live the Biblical doctrines of the Reformed faith. Some in our churches, like many outside of them, consider studying and teaching such “doctrines” an “irrelevant” waste of time in our changing world. Many of us, however, are convinced that much of the churches’ current confusion and weakness are results of growing ignorance among their members about what the Christian faith really is. We must know something before we can practice or promote it. Therefore systematic teaching in the Bible’s “sound doctrine” along the lines of the Catechism instead of being discarded needs to be upgraded and improved. For that purpose we continue to require catechism books. A few of these are still produced by the denominational publishing house; others are printed privately; the OUTLOOK continues to sell a number of them.
The two books under review have been provided by other denominations to help in teaching the catechism. The first comes from the Eureka Classis, Reformed Church in the U.S., and the second from the Netherland Reformed Congregations. Both are concerned about careful teaching of the doctrine in considerable detail, referring to Scripture and the creeds. The second is a workbook of 568 questions designed to be used with A Treatise of the Compendium by Rev. G. H. Kersten as textbook, along with A Specimen of Divine Truths by A. Hellerbroek, as well as the King James Bible, the creeds and the compendium. The first, by Norman L. Jones contains brief, clear explanations of the Heidelberg Catechism citing Bible references followed by questions for the students to answer. I wish that it had been available at the time I was teaching such classes. It appears to be considerably better than anything I could find at that time. Any who are trying to find a good textbook for teaching the Heidelberg Catechism should try this book. It should be very helpful.
