Confirmation: Termination OR Continuation?
It's that annual time once again in our local setting to celebrate
the confirmation of a large group of junior high youth. We "adult members" of
the congregation have been there, done that. And the young children of our
congregation still look forward to it with anxious anticipation. For now,
however, perhaps it would do us all good to review just what this church
tradition called "Confirmation" is . its meaning and significance.
The "old" 1943 Synodical Catechism from which many of us more mature
members prepared for confirmation has the following two questions and answers
about it.
"330. What is confirmation? Confirmation is the rite by which a baptized
person renews his baptismal vow, publicly confesses his faith, and is received
into communicant membership by the congregation.
"331. What should be the prayer of the congregation on the day of confirmation?
On the day of confirmation the congregation should pray for the catechumens
that they may grow in grace, be steadfast in the profession of their faith,
become fruitful in every good work, and in the end receive the crown of life.
Rev. 2:10 & Rev. 3:11."
The "new" 1991/2005 Synodical Catechism (which, by the way, is a
wonderful improvement over the 1943 edition) contains the following
comprehensive question and answer about confirmation.
"306. What is confirmation? Confirmation is a public rite of the church
preceded by a period of instruction designed to help baptized Christians
identify with the life and mission of the Christian community. Note: Prior to
admission to the Lord's Supper, it is necessary to be instructed in the
Christian faith (1 Cor. 11:28). The rite of confirmation provides an
opportunity for the individual Christian, relying on God's promises given in
Holy Baptism, to make a personal public confession of the faith and a lifelong
pledge of fidelity to Christ. Matt. 10:32-33 & Rev. 2:10." (Italics are in
both of the originals.)
The "Confirmation" rite in Lutheran Service Book (CPH, 2006) has the
following questions with their expected answers among the many addressed to the
Confirmands: "Do you this day in the presence of God and of this congregation
acknowledge the gifts that God gave you in your Baptism? Yes, I do. Do you
intend to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord's Supper faithfully? I do,
by the grace of God. Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and
in faith, word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
even to death? I do, by the grace of God. Do you intend to continue steadfast
in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall
away fro it? I do, by the grace of God."
The presiding pastor then declares, "We rejoice with thankful hearts
that you have been baptized and have received the teaching of the Lord. You
have confessed the faith and been absolved of you sins. As you continue to
hear the Lord's Word and receive His blessed Sacrament, He who has begun a good
work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." And, the
beginning of one of the prayers states, "Almighty and most merciful Father, in
the waters of Holy Baptism You have united Your children in the suffering and
death of Your Son Jesus Christ, cleansing them by His blood. Renew in them the
gift of Your Holy Spirit, that they may live in daily contrition and repentance
with a faith that ever clings to their Savior."
Did you notice the references to Holy Baptism? Let me make two very
important points for our soon-to-be newly confirmed members and all of us who
were confirmed in the recent or long ago past. First, confirmation does not
make us members of Christ's church. That occurred in Holy Baptism.
Confirmation offers the invitation to partake of the Blessed Sacrament of the
Lord's Supper. Second, confirmation is not the termination of our learning
about the Christian faith and how to live it. That must be a continuation
activity or we risk the weakening and even death of the faith the Holy Spirit
gave us in Baptism.
It's a sad reality that throughout our Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod congregations including our own local one many who are confirmed and make
those public vows stated above don't darken the doors of our sanctuary for a
long time, if ever again. While that is sinfully bad, it's perhaps even worse
that many of us rarely, if ever, pray for one another and personally encourage
each other to be faithful to our vows. We just let people fall away and then
wonder why, complain about it, and criticize the Pastors and Elders for not
preventing or correcting it.
Let's use this special sanctified occasion to do two very important
things. One, review and renew our own confirmation vows. Two, continue or
begin to actively pray for and encourage one another (especially our new
Confirmands) to live the Christian faith by faithful participation in Word and
Sacrament in our local setting or one of our sister LCMS congregations and
daily obey God's Holy Law. Let's do so not in an effort to gain God's good
favor but out of gratitude for His good favor that He already gave us in and
through the forgiving life, death, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
God bless you, new Confirmands, and all of us "old" ones as well.
Let us all be faithful to our confirmation vows throughout our lives on this
earth.
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