The Sacraments -- From the Shorter Catechism of Craig

The Larger Catechism of Craig was first printed in Edinburgh in 1581.  The General Assembly (that's the ruling Presbyterian body) endorsed it and asked John Craig, the author, to shorten it a bit.  This catechism was then used until the Westminster Catechism became the standard in 1649.  (The Westminster Catechism is still used by most Presbyterian (and Anglican/Episcopalian ?) churches today.)

I thought the bit on the sacraments in Craig's catechism was interesting.  I'm not a huge fan of sacraments, mostly because they seem utterly meaningless to me in the form they're often administered in now-a-days. But I found John Craig's take on them worth a double take.  I wonder if most Presbyterians would agree with him today.  The following is taken from Philip Schaff's book, The Creeds of Christendom. The bolded parts are the bits that intrigued me most. 

Q: What is a Sacrament?

A: A sensible sign and seal of God's favor offered and given to us. 

Q: To what end are the Sacraments given?

A: To nourish our faith in the promise of God.

Q: How can sensible signs do this?

A: They have this office of God, not of themselves.   

Q: How do the Sacraments differ from the Word?

A: They speak to the eye, and the Word to the ear.

Q: Speak they other things than the Word?

A: No, but the same diversely. 

Q: But the word doth teach us sufficiently?

A: Yet the Sacraments with the Word do it more effectually.

Q: What, then, are the Sacraments to the Word?

A: They are sure and authentic seals given by God.

Q: May the Sacraments be without the Word?

A: No, for the Word is their life.

Q: May the Word be fruitful without the Sacraments?

A: Yes, no doubt, but it worketh more plenteously with them. 

Q: What is the cause of that?

A: Because more senses are moved to the comfort of our faith. 

If a Sacrament is a "sensible sign" I wonder what an insensible sign was? 

In the 3rd question, he refers to the Sacraments almost as if they have a life of their own. They're not the ones that have authority, God is.  They're just followers of God's orders.  And later he says the Word is their life.  What an organic and dynamic way of referring to what many make obscenely dull and lifeless!  

I love how in the 6th question his answer begins with "yet."  Today we'd say, "Yeah, but...." It's like a little teeny slap in the face to anyone that wants to diss the Sacraments.  

And in the end, why are Sacraments so important?  Because they take the truth of the Scriptures and make them physical to the rest of our senses.  God made us sensual beings, craving taste, touch, sound, sight and smell.  Our faith should be appealed to throughout all of our senses, not through our intellect alone.  How many Presbyterian churches today would believe as much?  Not many that I know of. (OK, so they're big on music and preaching, but sight, touch, taste or smell?)