Confirmation

 

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.

The rite of confirmation provides an opportunity for the individual Christian, relying on God’s promise given in Holy Baptism, to make a personal public confession of the faith and lifelong pledge of fidelity to Christ. (Explanations to the Small Catechism # 306)

Those who grew up in the Lutheran Church remember their confirmation experience. For some it was a good experience, I feel, mostly because the one teaching made it interesting. That is the way it was when we were kids, if it was interesting we listened and learned, otherwise it was in one ear and out the other, we never listened. This is a grief I have worked to overcome, confirmation should be a fun experience. I like the adage “A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down”. So let’s work to have a good time in this Confirmation Experience.

The Apostle Paul in his letter from Ephesus states “17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,” (Eph. 1:17-18 ESV). Confirmation is the time when one affirms their confession in Jesus Christ and their faith in God.

It is good for all of us to review this Catechism teaching. The Small Catechism was first published by Martin Luther to address the lack of knowledge church members and pastors alike demonstrated as to the word of God. It is a good resource to use in our home life, to teach the Word of God to our children and for ourselves to be affirmed in our faith in Jesus Christ.