Catechism is not theoretical study of dogmatic theology, catechism, memorization of “quotes on the topic…”! We often remind you of a being (Satan, the devil) who knows all the Scriptures (the Bible and the Writings of the Holy Fathers in their originals) by heart, all theological systems, all heresies… and remains a demon, an enemy of God, the antichrist! Or a doctor of theology who does not believe in Christ (such pagans-atheists, “Christians”: doctors, professors, academicians – entire theological spiritless burses-academies (even recognized, licensed by the pagans of “Sodom and Egypt”); we testified about one such bursa (spiritless academy) of the synagogue of Satan (current …) in Part III). An atheist (religious scholar), a doctor of theology, does not believe in Christ, although he can lecture for hours, talk about the Holy Trinity, about Jesus Christ, about commandments, about dogmas, about heresies, about saints – and even everything by letter can be Orthodox (we said this with a margin; by the way, in the heretics (with tomos and licenses) professors, doctors – heretical darkness of ignorance: see Part III), that is, the entire theory (“theology”) is logically correctly built, without contradictions: each statement is derived from the texts of Scripture (the Bible and the Writings of the Holy Fathers) and consistent with all of Scripture (here is nothing personal with God, Christ – just a competent scientific processing of texts: Sources (Scripture) and literature (theological works: monographs, dissertations, articles by religious scholars, theologians, philosophers…))! The devil knows all the teachings (not the Essence-Spirit, but the letters-forms of Tradition) of the Orthodox Church by heart, knows all the Scriptures in the originals to the letter-iota, knows all the prayers by heart, all the rites of services… he is super-Orthodox, a super-doctor-academician of theological sciences – can recount everything, catechize everyone with word-theory… and remains the devil, Satan, an enemy of the Church and Christ!!!
Once again I say: catechism is not theory-philosophy-theologizing, but practical knowledge of one’s infirmity-ruin-catastrophe-godlessness (and God’s Love for the sinner (the catechumen), who receives the Lord’s help, salvation, in the fight against passions, symptoms of sin)! Jesus Christ is the Savior, not a philosopher-theorist-writer. The Church is a Hospital, not a philosophical-theological school (bursa-academy), where professors discuss God, principles of being, solve eternal philosophical and theological problems. The Church is life in God, in the Holy Spirit, it is God-seeing, it is the Eucharist, not talking about God! Christianity is the Lord Jesus Christ – Doctor-Savior-Lord-Friend-Bridegroom! There is no other saving, purposeful sequence of spiritual life. And he who competes illegally, runs on the spiritual track-race not by the rules, will not receive the crown (cup), will be disqualified! Do not deceive yourself that we are already near the finish line, near paradise, that the medal and cup are already in our hands, but while there is still time, let’s run to the start and begin anew – let’s begin to catechize, lay the foundation of repentance (as all the saints did, that is, Christians who crossed the finish line, entered the Kingdom of God), let’s become slaves-catechumens, and let Jesus Christ be for us Doctor-Savior-Lord! And then, if we keep faithfulness to Christ, everything will go well! Do not deceive yourself with ranks (I am a patriarch, I am a pope, I am the most blessed, the most holy, I am a bishop, I am a father, I am a teacher, I am…), degrees and honors (doctor, academician, professor, candidate… theologian)… – this all has no relation to Christianity (where the high is to be a slave, a servant to all, to be the last, and in humble true love to serve everyone!), but let’s hurry to the start, let’s begin to prepare for Baptism, let’s become slaves of Jesus Christ, catechumens! Let’s use the time because the days are evil! God is Love, waiting for the repentance of all His children! Do not deceive (priests and professors, “theologians”) neither yourself nor those who blindly, recklessly trust you – the blind-dead (pagans who call themselves Christians – this is a double deception-blindness!).
Let’s say a few words about the order of preparation for Baptism. The Holy Spirit sends (leads) a person to the Church for catechism. During catechism, the Holy Spirit baptizes the catechumen, who in the process of catechism (preparation for Baptism) has become capable (by faith (trust) in Jesus Christ, with a humble and contrite heart) to receive the Holy Spirit. And the rite of the Sacrament (baptism with water…) is the issuance of a certificate of baptism by the Holy Spirit (conception from God by the Holy Spirit), a testimony before the Church about the birth into the Body of Christ of a new member, a participant of the Eucharist! As an example, we can cite the baptism by the Holy Spirit of the centurion Cornelius, described in the book of Acts of the Holy Spirit (Acts of the Holy Apostles in the Holy Spirit) in the tenth chapter. The Holy Spirit, having found Cornelius (“a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (see Acts 10:2)) capable of becoming a Christian, believing in Jesus Christ (“Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God” (see Acts 10:4)), sent, directed him to the Church for catechism (“Peter will tell you words (Cornelius is already righteous and God-fearing (10:2, 22) – by deeds he is already catechized by the law of the Old Testament, Old Testament commandments of God – he is humble and merciful, – it remains to hear the Gospel about the Lord Jesus Christ, to believe in the Savior), by which you and all your household will be saved” (see 10:5-6)). The Holy Spirit, Who sent Cornelius to the Church, informed the Church about Cornelius (“The Holy Spirit said to Peter: Behold, three men are seeking you; arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them” (see 10:20)). Note the condition for entering the school of catechumens (we talked about this above in the section on listening – learning to listen and obey precedes catechism): “We are all present before God, to hear (= fulfill) all the things commanded you by God (readiness to fulfill all the will of God: I am the Lord’s servant! Let it be to me according to Your word!)” (see 10:33). Then Peter catechizes Cornelius (and all the catechumens in his house), preaching about Jesus Christ, Whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; and eventually they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (see 10:34-43). During the catechism, in the process of catechism, “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word,” all the catechumens were baptized by God with the Holy Spirit, that is, they became Christians! And Peter only had to testify this (that Cornelius and the conscious catechumens had become Christians – members of the Body of Christ) before the Church in a formal manner – with water baptism: “Then Peter answered, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days (10:47-48). The evangelist Luke depicted the whole path from paganism to Christianity in the history of Cornelius’ baptism. From lawlessness and consciencelessness, a person by repentance moves to life by the law, by God’s commandments and by conscience – and becomes righteous before God, humble and merciful, who fears God (God-fearing), and further: from the law of commandments to Christianity, life in the Holy Spirit. The catechism of the Church includes these two stages of repentance: from lawlessness to the law, from the law to Grace! In this case (Acts 10) the catechumen was already righteous (the first stage was passed), the second stage remained (the transition from righteousness to holiness, to Christianity) – faith in Jesus Christ and the entire giving of oneself to Christ! So, in the process of the Church’s catechism (Peter preached about salvation from sin, death, corruption, from hell (which the catechumen learns about in the first stage – when sin becomes exceedingly sinful, thanks to living by God’s commandments), in Christ Jesus; by faith-trust in Christ the humble (the righteous, who knows the truth about himself and God’s Love for himself and the whole world: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”) accepts the Holy Spirit; the one who has known his hell, his poverty of spirit, entrusts himself, gives himself to Jesus Christ the Savior, about Whom he hears the Gospel, as the Only Savior-Doctor) the Holy Spirit descended upon the catechumen (Cornelius) and his household. And then those who catechized (Peter and those with him) testified by the water baptism rite before the whole Church that Cornelius and his household are Christians (baptized by the Holy Spirit)! To baptize with water those who are baptized by the Holy Spirit is to fulfill formalities (the established orders and rites in the Church), it is a ceremonial issuance of “certificates” of baptism by the Holy Spirit, it is a testimony before the whole Church that these catechumens are already “slaves” of Jesus Christ, each of them is already the bride of Jesus Christ, it is the introduction of new members of the Body of Christ to the Church!