CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Luther’s 1529 Small Catechism

I found the introduction to this creed (also called a catechism) absolutely astounding. As Martin Luther traveled among Christians, he noted that the average person in the Church knew “absolutely nothing about the Christian faith.” He berates in the introduction of the creed/catechism that because the affirmed Christians did not know the basics of the faith, that they lived like “simple cattle or irrational pigs.” His words. Not mine. He then takes the bishops, pastors, and lay leaders of churches to task imploring them to take their roles in the Church seriously. He encourages them to stick with wording with people so that they learn the basics of the Bible, faith, and life in the Church without any confusion. He states very plainly that if someone attends church and does not want to learn the items he lays out… they aren’t Christians.

Woah!

Research has shown that Americans struggle to name: The four gospels, more than two or three of Jesus’ disciples, and even half of the Ten Commandments. Christian is now a very generic term that means nothing. Bible literacy is at an all-time low. It would seem that 1529 and 2025 have a lot in common.

Martin Luther’s The Small Catechism (1529)

Martin Luther lays out some important aspects of the Christian faith to understand and internalize:

The Ten Commandments: Luther explains the moral law as revealed in the Ten Commandments, emphasizing what God requires of believers in their actions, words, and thoughts. Each commandment is followed by a brief explanation of its meaning.

The Apostle’s Creed: This section summarizes Christian beliefs about God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Luther provides a straightforward interpretation of each article of the Creed, focusing on creation, redemption, and sanctification.

The Lord’s Prayer: He breaks down the Lord’s Prayer into its seven petitions and explains their significance. He emphasizes prayer as a means of communicating with God, seeking His will, and relying on His provision and protection.

Baptism: Luther discusses the meaning and significance of baptism, highlighting it as a means of grace through which God forgives sins, delivers from death and the devil, and grants eternal salvation to those who believe.

Communion: This section explains the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, where believers receive Christ’s body and blood under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins and strengthening of faith.

Confession: He emphasizes the importance of confessing sins and receiving God’s forgiveness. He underscores the role of absolution as God’s act of grace through the pastor. We see his Catholicity sneaking through here for Protestant folks.

Daily Prayer: Luther provides simple morning, evening, and mealtime prayers to instill regular devotional practices in daily life. They are not long prayers or complicated so that people could learn them and incorporate them into their lives.

Duties in Life: The last section outlines biblical instructions for various roles in society, including pastors, parents, children, workers, and authorities, emphasizing the Christian responsibility to live according to God’s will in every vocation.

What do we think about this?

In the end, Martin Luther is a mover and a shaker in Christendom. He had (and has) influence. Yes, he lived long ago, but time does not diminish someone’s impact in the Kingdom of God. See Augustine for a reference on that in all the areas he has influenced over the centuries. Luther was among Christians in the pews and noted a severe lack of knowledge about the basics of faith.

How about you? The above 8 areas a church leader a long time ago considered to be very important. Do you know them? Do you practice well communion and confession? Do you know the Ten Commandments? Do you pray before you eat? Do you submit to your spouse? Do you know that baptism is essential for salvation?

Please don’t live like “simple cattle or irrational pigs.” Martin Luther wouldn’t want you to!

TMB