The Church of God will never preserve itself without Catechism - John Calvin (Reformed Quote)

Acting on his main concern of establishing the Word of God in the Reformed sense, Calvin would always have as his priority catechizing the youth. In 1537 Calvin wrote his first catechism, Instruction in the Faith. This way of learning using questions and answers was designed to teach the young the Christian faith. He wrote, "The Church of God will never preserve itself without Catechism." "'True Christianity' should be taught in 'a certain written form.' Such catechetical instruction would promote unity, supply deficiencies even of some 'pastors and curates' and help people not to be led astray by 'presumptuous persons.'" Not only did Calvin spend his Sunday afternoons teaching children the catechism, he also had the council of Geneva insist that parents assume a major responsibility in the  process. About four times a year, church leaders would meet with children and their parents to evaluate and examine their progress in the teaching.

 

- Charles Dunahoo, John Calvin: The Reformer and Educator