Their book, The Gospel Way Catechism: 50 Truths That Take On the World, provides 50 questions and answers to teach modern Christians how to think about the assumptions that undergird modern society. Each short chapter provides a question, the brief answer, then a longer devotional on the topic. This is followed by a few thought questions and several appropriate scripture references.
I can think of a couple of natural questions people will have. First,
"Cat-e-what-now?"
A catechism is a set of questions-and-answers used to teach children and disciple new believers and even adults raised in the church important truths of the faith. "That sounds kind of Catholic." Yes, Roman Catholics do use a catechism, but Protestants have also used them from the very beginning. There are Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican, and Baptist catechisms.
"So why another?"
Fair question. This one stands out is because it is a counter-catechism, "a way of presenting Christian truth as opposed to the dominant beliefs"1 of today's culture.
Counter catechesis is a way of saying, Christianity is this but not that. It's saying, Here's what the world says, but look at what the Bible says. It's also saying, You think what you've heard is good, but let me show you how Christianity is better. ...
In The Gospel Way Catechism, we offer the old truths of Christianity is a way that identifies cultural narratives so they can be seen and considered, affirmed for the ways they rightly embody some aspect of the biblical story, subverted and critiqued for not going far enough in delivering our deep desires of joy and fulfillment, and finally shown only to be fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ.
Their goal is to teach the basics of the faith to new believers and help longtime Christians see how our faith speaks to this age. So how do they do that?
Q1: What is the center and point of everything?
A1: God is the center and point of everything. In him, all things come to be and are held together. He has no rival.
This is followed by a page of elaboration on the truth that we're not the center of the universe nor do we determine our own fate. "The Bible pushes back against an overly individualistic, human-centered way of thinking and living. Instead of making meaning, defining our identity, and coming to God on our own terms, we discover meaning, receive an identity, and meet the God who comes to us on his terms."
The reflection questions then encourage the reader to think about what this means in their life: "How does acknowledging God as the center and point of everything challenge the contemporary notion that life is all about us? ... How does this truth shape your understanding of your identity and purpose?"
Some scriptures that support this truth are then offered for further study and meditation, such as Genesis 1:1, Psalm 46:10, and Matthew 6:33.
The questions are divided into the categories of God, Creation and Identity, Fall and Sin, Story of Redemption, Salvation by the Spirit, The People of God, and Future Hope. They address things the culture gets wrong or causes people to doubt the Christian faith. For example, one emphasizes that God is "a holy God filled with fatherly love", rather than being a mother, all angry, or only wanting us to be happy. Two questions answer those who think Christianity means not caring about the earth. Another teaches that work is not inherently bad, oppressive, or a punishment from the Fall and that it's meant for service, not greed.
How did they do? Some of these work better than others, naturally. In several questions, the wording is quite subtle, and you may not realize what it's supposed to be countering until you read the devotional. But they really do want you to read that devotional. Their intention is that the reader should spend a week on each of these 50 questions, and you'd probably read the devotional at least a couple of times, then spend some time wrestling with the questions, which would be good journaling topics.
There are, of course, Answers I would have worded differently and topics I would like to have included, but overall I like what they've done here. Because the Q&As are so subtle at times, I wonder whether young kids would get much out of the counter aspect of this catechism, but it's worth a try. And it would definitely be good for older kids and adults; we need to face our cultural assumptions and see how they run contrary to biblical truth.
In addition to this book, they have also published The Gospel Way Catechism Workbook. Same questions and answers, but the page-long devotional is replaced with a one-paragraph summary, which does seem to really get to the heart of the issue. There are discussion questions, but instead of the ones in the main book, they're based on excerpts from the devotional. I'm not sure why they're not the same but the questions in the workbook (from what I can see online, I didn't buy it) seem to be good material for reflection, there are more of them, and there's a little room to write. Then there are fewer verses, but there is space to write about them in the workbook, too.
I believe either of these would benefit you, though I think I prefer the longer explanations in the main book. However we accomplish it, we need to address the ways our culture has corrupted our thinking. These books would be a good tool to help with that.
1 All quotations, emphasis is in original.
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