The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum A study of the Heidelberg Catechism

1. My assessment of a comparison of the two catechisms is: The WSC is written in the 3rd person, i.e., from an objective perspective. The HC is written in the 1st person, i.e., from a subjective perspective.

2. Since #1 is indisputably true then it must also be true that ONLY professing believers, i.e., those who have made a biblical, credible profession of faith should be taught the Heidelberg Catechism. To use the HC to teach children and those who haven't made a biblical, credible profession of faith would be to convey a false sense of assurance to those who are unworthy and who are yet under the just wrath of God. Those who hold to "presumptive regeneration" would strongly disagree, of course, by the very fact that they believe that covenant children are to be presumed regenerate or at least have the "seed of faiith" within them and thus the HC applies to them and the assurance of salvation belongs to them unless they totally repudiate the faith sometime in the future.

It used to be that such a view was held predominately by those in the Continental Reformed Churches, i.e., the Dutch Reformed denominations. But over the past few decades, this view has been adopted and practiced, albeit perhaps not officially on the books within a number of Presbyterian Churches and other independent churches. The consequences of this view has been disastrous in that these churches are filled with unregenerate members who have a false assurance of their spiritual condition and of eternal life.

Okay, so to get straight to the point, it is my firm and unwavering conviction that the Heidelberg Catechism should ONLY be used as a teaching aid for those who have made a biblical, credible profession of faith and who are members of a local church. Let me stress also that I include "biblical" as an inseparable part of a credible profession of faith, especially in our present day due to the proliferation of false gospels within the vast majority of churches, not just the evangelical variety, but sadly also within the Reformed denominations. Thus, I see the WSC as being a more universal source for teaching biblical truth regardless of the spiritual condition of those being taught. And, the HC is a special and narrow source reserved for those who have been effectually called by God, regenerated by the Spirit, united to the Lord Christ through a living faith and who are seeking a life of holiness before God. The Heidelberg is a personal and particular statement of one's own faith in Christ and thus it should be reserved for those who profess a Spirit-wrought faith but also have the marks of that faith.

Just so you know, I love the WSC, WLC and the Heidelberg catechisms. I just believe they should be used to teach particular types of people.