Why are the Reformed confessions and catechisms useful for the church today?
“Confessions and catechisms help in at least three ways. First, they can be used to clearly articulate and proclaim what we believe. We want to be transparent about our convictions, and there is nothing clearer and more transparent than a shared public confession. Second, confessions hold us accountable. False teachers often change their convictions and then act as though everyone else should change with them. But confessions hold us to a standard. They enable us to assess true teaching and hold accountable teachers who veer off course. Finally, they are one of the most useful means of teaching our faith to newcomers and to those who are being raised in the church—especially to children. Having succinct biblical answers to the most important questions enables us to pass along a coherent account of the faith to those who are learning and growing.”
Tabletalk Magazine, Equipping Churchmen: An Interview with Jonathan L. Master