This is the Evangelical story: 1. You are a self-conscious unbeliever; 2. You hear the Gospel; 3. you believe it; 4. you pray a prayer; 5 You are saved, end of story; 6. The only possible motivation for any good behavior is gratitude; 7. The other motivation is assurance that step 3 was sincere enough since, if you don’t produce good deeds (how many? of what quality?) you might not really have 5.

Now, various people have started to see problems with this story, both from the Bible and from pastoral experience. John Piper comes to mind, following Daniel Fuller. Dallas Willard’s Divine Conspiracy contains a great analysis of the “Lordship Controversy” beteen John MacArthur and Zane Hodges. The Race Set Before Us: A Biblical Theology of Perseverance and Assurance is another worthy attempt to grapple with the issues this story seems to raise.

I raise this subject because it seems obvious to me that the story, if kept this simple, runs afoul of the sort of teaching we find in the Presbyterian doctrinal standards. For example:

Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.

Q. 85. What doth God require of us that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin?
A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.

Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?
A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.

Q. 88. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

These questions and answers from the Shorter Catechism don’t fit with the simplicity of the story. And it wouldn’t be hard to multiply examples.

One possible reaction might be to say, “So much the worse for the Shorter Catechism! It’s not Scripture, so who cares?” That may be the proper response and my refusal to follow that road might just mean I’m in the thrall of Presbyterianism rather than God’s Word.

But I submit that looking at Scripture you will find plenty of complications in the story as well.

Furthermore, you will find many pastoral complications trying to apply the story if you want to keep it that simple. It simply does not assure the people it is supposed to assure and confront the people it is supposed to confront.

So, I don’t think the Shorter Catechisms answers are irresponsible. I think they do a necessary job in grappling with the Biblical data and the needs of people.