Meditation on Confirmation

Walking in the Truth

Today's Scriptural Truths *

The Lord said to Joshua: "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Joshua 1:5

St. Paul writes:  "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness."  Romans 8:10

The Apostle John writes:  "From the fullness of Jesus' grace we have all received one blessing after another."  John 1:16

* For today's scriptural truths I chose the three confirmation verses of the three confirmands at St. Paul Wisner on SUN 5/1.

Today's Devotional Thoughts about Confirmation

On SUN 5/1, Lois & I were privileged to attend a confirmation service, followed by a dinner-reception. * Three young Christians were confirmed. Confirmation is a practice of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. [Full disclosure:  I am a member.] It's also a practice of other Lutheran synods, many other Christian denominations, & the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church considers it to be a sacrament. Lutherans do not; it doesn't meet our definition of a Sacrament, which is: (1) An rite commanded by Scripture; (2) Includes visible elements; (3) Carries with it the forgiveness of sins. By that definition, Lutherans recognize two sacraments:  Baptism & Holy Communion. But I digress  . . . 

Sadly, while I was on the Nebraska District Board of Directors ** for 12 years, one of the sad facts I learned was that 50% of LCMS confirmands become inactive pretty soon after their confirmation; 50% of the rest become inactive by their early 20's.

A succinct description of "confirmation" would be "a renewal of baptismal vows." Many of us were baptized as infants & our sponsors spoke those vows for us. Some of you may have been baptized as older children, teens, adults. Many of us were confirmed, either as 7th graders, 8th graders [like me], or adults. 

Here's an excerpt from "The Vow of the Confirmands":  "The rite of confirmation is not a divine ordinance, but it is an opportunity that is given to all those who desire to begin to receive the Sacrament of the Altar, to speak their intent & vow of faithfulness to our Lord Jesus & to His Church . . . These young people . . . stand before you this day to speak their vows of faithfulness to the Lord & to His Church . . . 
      "Do you intend to continue firm & unmovable in this confession of your Lord, and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from Him? Confirmands:  Yes, I do so intend with the help of God." [Emphases added.]

There was a time when I contemplated entering the pastoral ministry. I never did, [and we're most likely all the better for that decision] but it hasn't stopped me from mentally composing sermons. In the mental sermon I've composed for a Confirmation Sunday, I fancy myself referencing the "Vow of the Confirmands," pointedly, maybe dramatically . . .  going over the words several times . . . 

"Do you intend to continue firm & unmovable in this confession of your Lord, & to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from Him? Did you catch that? Suffer all, even death! You are going to give what I hope & pray with all my heart is more than just a stock answer. I will ask you--listen carefully now--I will ask you if you are willing to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from Him . . . 

"Parents, sponsors, members of the congregation, guests who, like me, have also been confirmed . . . I want you to catch this as well . . . because I am not letting you, letting us off the hook either. Consider this a renewal of your baptismal & confirmation vows . . .

"You will almost assuredly answer in the affirmative . . . because that's what we Lutherans do . . . but I hope & pray that you will answer thoughtfully & with conviction . . . 'Yes, I do so intend with the help of God., That's a vow. It's why this part of today's Rite of Confirmation . . . the Solemn Rite of Confirmation . . . is called "The Vow of the Confirmands." You will take a vow in front of many witnesses . . . in front of your pastor . . . in front of your parents, in front of this congregation, and . . . most importantly . . . before your God . . . that you will never . . . ever . . . even if it means you will suffer . . . might be tortured . . . even if it means you will be threatened with death itself . . . even if you know beyond all shadow of a doubt that admitting your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior . . . that confession will cause you to die.

"There. I've spelled it out in black & white. I don't think I can say it any more plainly than I'm saying it right now. Soon we will be engaging in "The Solemn Rite of Confirmation." Soon you will be asked to take "The Vow of Confirmation." You've watched enough t.v. shows & movies to know what happens in court when you are sworn in as a witness. Maybe you've sat in an actual courtroom, & maybe some of you have sat in the actual witness chair . . . You swear an oath . . . I'm not sure if you still put your hand on a Bible . . . raise your right hand, & swear to tell the truth, whole truth, & nothing but the truth . . . that's a vow!

"And do you know the penalty for lying under oath in a court of law? It's called "perjury." You can be charged with & convicted of the crime of perjury for lying under oath in a court of law . . . fined . . . sent to jail. Imagine the penalty for lying under oath in the court of our Almighty God the Father! Your Vow of Confirmation is an oath sworn to God the Father Almighty, Make of Heaven & earth, & we will be witnesses who can be used against you in His court of law!

"Wow . . . Time to catch our breath . . . Time for me to chill, because this message is getting pretty heavy-handed . . . pretty Law heavy-handed . . . & Lutherans are supposed to be all about Law & Gospel . . . We know that we can never do enough to please God, & that includes our solemn baptismal vows, & that includes the vows we took at our confirmation . . . the Vow of Confirmation you are about to take. So what?

Remember this . . . It is for the love of your Savior that you will be asked to take this vow. Wait  . . . what? It's true! It is only by God's grace that we are able to make such a reckless promise, accomplish such a good work, because God's good work in us . . . in you . . . the work of saving faith accomplished in our Baptism . . . in your Baptism . . . makes it possible for our us to accomplish anything good.

"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 And now comes verse 10, which we too often leave off:  "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

"After all, it is by God's overwhelming grace--His overwhelming love which caused Him to choose you . . . then to fulfill His own vows . . . vows made by a God who never fails to keep His vows. 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:16  That's right. God the Father vowed to send His only Son Jesus to perish for us so that we could have the free gift of everlasting life! That would be the same Son of God whose resurrection from the dead we celebrated on Easter Sunday not that many weeks ago.

"Think hard before you take the Vow of Confirmation. It's not a vow to be taken lightly, but you need not tremble, even as it sounds like I've been trying to put the fear of God in you. Here's another vow from Holy Scripture:  "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58  Your confirmation today will not make you a better Lutheran. It will not absolve you from youth activities, servant events, mission trips, Bible study, regular worship, participation in the Lord's Supper. It most assuredly will not forgive your sins or grant you eternal life. Your Savior accomplished those last two things for you. That's Gospel . . . that's the Good News . . . that's what God does for us.

"What does confirmation do for you? For us? You've been blessed with an opportunity to gain wisdom & knowledge of Holy Scripture. The Holy Spirit has used & will continue to use Scripture to nourish & grow your faith. You've been blessed with an opportunity to grow in your wisdom & knowledge of Lutheran doctrine--what we declare to be a correct exposition of Holy Scripture. That knowledge will help you fight against the many false doctrines of the world that hates Jesus & already hates you. If you haven't already been exposed to that hatred . . . some of it subtle, some of it blatant . . . you soon will be.

"You've been blessed with the opportunity to do good works, prepared in advance by God Himself for you to do . . . You've been blessed with opportunities to show God's mercy to others by your actions . . . You've been blessed with opportunities to tell others about Jesus' great love for them . . . the same love you have for Him in your hearts . . . a love that may mean the difference between their eternal life & eternal death . . . a witness that may ultimately mean the difference between your earthly life & earthly suffering, even unto death.

"And one last vow from our Savior, found in Matthew 28:20:  "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Today's Prayer ***

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank & praise You for Your great goodness in bringing us to the knowledge of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, & enabling us with hearts to believe & with mouths to confess His saving name. Grant that we may continue steadfast & victorious to the day when all who have fought the good fight of faith shall receive the crown of righteousness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen.

* Since you asked, the dinner included a baked potato bar w/two kinds of cheese sauces, chili, sour cream, a fruit cup, & two kinds of cake. One regret . . . they hadn't cut into the red velvet cake until Lois & I had gotten up to leave. 
** I was elected & re-elected to two 3-year terms as one of 2 "commissioned" ministers of religion, i.e., not ordained; ironically, "commissioned" ministers are not allowed to vote in District & Synodical conventions. They ARE allowed to vote as members of the Board of Directors.
*** Source: adapted from "Intercessory Prayer for the Confirmands," as printed in the Lutheran Rite of Confirmation, worship folder of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wisner, NE, 5/1/16. Other excerpts from today's meditation were also copied from this worship folder.