Catechesis, Contrition, Font, Full Gospel, Shout

Word Definitions and Meanings

ver. : 05 April 2008

What is : catechesis, contrition,
font, shout, full gospel.

What is Catechesis ?

catechesis [ < Greek katekhesis (teaching by spoken words) < katekhein (to teach by spoken word) < kata- (out, down) + ekhein (to sound)] Oral instruction, especially in teaching core or basic matters.

To today's church, catechesis means teaching new believers a Christian way of thinking and behavior. The word usually refers to the formal process of education and training that comes before a non-infant baptism, making sure they know the core teachings of the faith. It is, of course, only the beginning part of life-long learning, and it goes along with mentoring and repeated practice, plus other less formal ways to learn. It is one of the tools the Spirit uses to transform us, and to lead us to live the faith in a disciplined and deliberate way.

A catechist is someone who teaches in that formal process. A catechumen is an adult or older child who is being prepared for Baptism. The catechumenate is the classification or status category of the new Christian who is preparing for baptism. A catechism is a book designed to teach "official" church teachings within the process.

These words are used almost exclusively among "liturgical" churches, most especially the Roman Catholics. Luther wrote his own catechisms Large and Small, in order to teach people about Christ. The Small Catechism became an educational classic because of the question-and-answer format and how simple it was to use and understand. In the early days, the catechumens were sent out of worship gatherings when Holy Communion was given, because they were not yet deemed ready for the sacramental mysteries of the church. This practice ended when the whole of Mediterranean society had become Christian, converts were few, and everyone had already been baptized as infants. Today, most churches realize that catechumens quite often grasp those mysteries better than most of those taking communion, sometimes including the officiating ministers.

mousecheesis (pronounced "maus-e-cheese-iss") : [Northeast US] the educational preparation for becoming a church mouse. (The process for cats goes by the same name as the human one.)

What Is Contrition?

contrition [ < Latin contritus < conterere (to crush, grind against) < terere (to grind). Akin to 'thresh' and 'thrash'.] True repentence for wrongdoing. Other words in this word-field are penitence, repentance, regret, remorse, and compunction.

Contrition is when you realize that you've done something bad or harmful or cruel, and you feel crushed or ground-up inside. This causes you to turn away from this act and others like it -- that is, repentance. Notice that it is not the contrition that causes us to be forgiven by God; the brokenness does us gain only when it leads to an actual changing of ways. In Roman Catholic thought, "perfect contrition" is when you turn away from sin because you love God; such contrition is held to justify even without the sacrament of Penance. In liberal Protestant theology, contrition leads to self-improvement, which is the process by which we are saved. In Evangelical thinking, there is no conversion to faith without our being crushed by sin, for conviction over sin is what leads to repentance which leads to salvation. Charismatics stress that it is the Holy Spirit who leads us to become keenly aware of our wrongs, and that crushes our stubborn heart, which leads to repentance and change.

You can also check for 'contrition in the dictionary.

What Is a Font ?

font : in traditions that do infant baptisms, a font is the basin that holds the water which is poured or sprinkled onto the infant. The font is usually somewhere up front and to one side, though some newer churches sometimes leave it near the entrance to the worship hall in order to serve as a reminder of what happens in baptism. Those which baptize only adults usually do so by immersion, which is done in a pool or tub, sometimes in a stream or lake. Those churches have no fonts.

You can also check the dictionary.

What Is A Shout ?

shout : A 'shout' is both an individual thing and a thing of the gathered worshippers. While worshipping at a service or event, the worshipper starts to experience the presence of God, and it builds up inside until it can't be restained and bursts forth in loud noises (whoops, stutters, short praise phrases and such, with raised arms and shaking hands) in praise to God. The noises are often followed by dancing, running, singing, or even fainting. In many African-American and Pentecostalist churches, it is an accepted and even cherished act of worship at certain times during the event or service. It becomes extra-special when people all over the sanctuary/auditorium/tent break out in shouts, losing themselves fully into praise. When that happens, it is both fun and joy.

Some churches work hard to stage-manage a shout, which often leaves worshippers who are familiar with shouts wondering 'what's this?'. And then there are individual worshippers who regularly do the display of shout praise, to the attention of all. In either case, if the Spirit isn't moving the soul to do it, then what good is it?

What is "Full Gospel" ?

'full gospel' : It refers to the idea that where the 'manifestations' are taking place, the Spirit has restored the gospel message in all its power. Charismatics and Pentecostalists connect the Gospel message and the full power together very tightly; they always come together. The trouble is that the focus quickly shifts from the gospel to the power, from the fruit of the Spirit to the manifestations. The power itself does not signify that the gospel is any more 'full' than it's ever been. The gospel is very short and simple : the Executed and Risen Jesus, here for you and for all, to re-create the relationship between God and humanity. Many believers have discovered through experience that God is eager to fulfil the promises to anyone who uses their gifts to act to do the tasks God gives them. The gospel is full wherever it is shared and lived, whether subtly or with powerful effect. When that happens, God knows what will happen next!

Some mainline-Protestant church leaders feel offended by the Pentecostalist use of this phrase, because they see it as being an implied criticism of their churches. Well, it is an implied criticism, and while it's not at all accurate to apply it to all or even most mainline-Protestant churches, it is an accurate critique of a rather large proportion of them. Not only by the Pentecostalist standard of not seeing anything powerfully effective for Christ coming from them, but also by the more reasonable standard of their not living and sharing what Christ has given. The critique also applies to the ones who made it -- many of them too are sharing and living a different message that in some ways runs against the gospel. On both fronts, much of the Christian church is full of something else.