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I attend a church that does “confirmation” in the 6th grade – a series of classes on Christianty that confirms a student in their faith. I volunteered to be a mentor of one of the youth being confirmed, and I’ll be attending the classes over the next 3 months. I come from a church background that does not do confirmation, so this is all new to me. Of course, I was familiar with the idea of confirmation. But having attended distinctly low-church, evangelical churches most of my life, I’ve never been in a church that does it.
In the past, I perhaps had less-than-positive thoughts about confirmation. For some families I’d known whose kids went through confirmation it was simply “jumping through hoops” (what they were “supposed” to do) and it brought no change in their life whatsoever. What was the point? It is simply family/church “tradition” and no more.
My dad was raised high-church Protestant, and had to be confirmed. He said the classes meant nothing to him, and when he stood at the front of the church to say he believed, he said “yes” because he felt he had no other choice. Was he an atheist? No, but just had no personal faith in Christ yet. He was not ready and the Spirit had not moved in his life. A few years later he met a Christian with a personal faith and relationship with Christ, and eventually my dad did accept Christ as his personal savior. That brought the change in his life, not confirmation classes.
While my dad realized that he did not come to belief through confirmation, other less-thoughtful or less-sensitive kids might go through the classes, without their hearts being moved, but falsely think they are now Christian because they took the classes.
While it probably sounds like this is an “anti-confirmation” post, it actually is not. Keep reading! Yes, the above are some possible weaknesses of confirmation. But low church evangelicals have similar weaknesses in some of the methods they use too.
How often do evangelical churches have “invitations” for kids (and adults) to accept Christ? These can involve emotional manipulation or pressure. Kids can accept Christ without properly realizing or understanding what it is they are actually doing. Believe me, I’ve observed some sad “hoop jumping” gospel presentations in my day! But, hey, if they said the “sinner’s prayer”, they are saved – no doubt about it! If they “walked the isle”, all is settled. [Sarcasm]
Evangelicals can create plenty of false converts too.
I think that stereotypical evangelical invitations to accept Christ, as well as confirmation classes can be both good or bad…helpful or not helpful…for creating true converts. God can use many things to bring people to genuine faith. Ultimately it is God’s work. And people can come to true faith in Christ without either an “alter call” or a series of classes! I myself did neither of those things.
At the church I currently attend, I have browsed through the confirmation book. The lessons look very sound, and introduce the students to core teachings of the Christian faith. The lessons on salvation are very clear, and emphasize that salvation is by faith alone in Christ.
In the intro class for students and parents, it was emphasized that taking confirmation classes does not make you a Christian. Rather, it is hoped that through the classes and the work of the Holy Spirit, students will reach a point of decision and want to place their faith in Christ. If they don’t feel ready, that is fine. [Yet, I am sure there will be indirect pressure to do so. But as already said, other methods can make people feel pressured also.]
At least with a series of formal classes, there can be more certainty that a proper understanding of Christianity has been reached. In other words, an informed decision, rather than one possibly based on misunderstanding or only half the story.
So, those are my rambles on confirmation classes! Any thoughts? Meanwhile, I am looking forward to being a mentor the next few months!
Eric R said:
Hey Laura,
This is a good post. I’ve some about this too. I grew up in a low church tradition that didn’t baptize infants or do confirmations, but we would baptize young children if they could satisfactorily express the gospel and claim faith in Christ. As I’ve thought about, it seems to me that this is not all that much different than the confirmation model, and I wonder if that child being baptized and the child saying “yes” at confirmation are not both being influence by their parents and church. That isn’t to say that the child can’t have faith of his own, only that we probably shouldn’t deny the community and family influence on him.
I’ve had experience in a church that used to baptize infants and follow up with confirmation at age 12. They no longer baptize infants, but request that children go through confirmation at age 12 at which time they are baptized if they affirm their own faith in Christ. Kind of a hybrid way of doing it.
That brings me to the larger point…the issue is disciple making, and with kids, the disciple making starts and is most influenced by parents. It seems to me that whether or not a church practices infant baptism and confirmation or believer’s baptism, the issue is whether or not those mere acts are being viewed the means of salvation.
Anyway, just my $.02.
Laura said:
Hi Eric! Good to hear from you. I’ve missed your blogging. You make several more good points about this – thanks for your thoughts. “…but we would baptize young children if they could satisfactorily express the gospel and claim faith in Christ. As I’ve thought about, it seems to me that this is not all that much different than the confirmation model…” – Yes, I’d agree. And, yes it seems the issue is disciple making and whether or not the mere acts are viewed as the means of salvation.
Eric R said:
Thanks, Laura. I’ll be back to blogging in a couple of months. I’m making my transition into the Anglican Communion, and for reasons of church politics, I was asked to stop blogging until I’m no longer a pastor at my current church. Apparently, I was rocking the boat a little too hard.
daylilyoverflow said:
I grew up in a Lutheran Brethren congregation with a tradition of two years of confirmation classes followed by your catechization in front of the congregation. I am sure for some people it did not bring about too much fruit, but I have always felt that was one of the many turning points of my deepening faith. It was a small congregation so getting to discuss things with our pastor and just a couple other teens was a wonderful opportunity. I always felt like he really poured into our lives.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this and bringing the topic to my mind. Confirmation really was a good part of my life and it is good to remember.
I would love to read your thoughts on having/being a mentor! It seems like another interesting/necessary discussion.
Laura said:
Thanks for stopping by. I like the idea of 2 years of classes. Seems a good amount of time for students to really consider faith, its implications, and for the Spirit to work – hopefully leading to a genuine profession of faith that was not pushed before its time. I’m glad it was a good exp for you and a turning point in your life of faith.
TrishaDM said:
Interesting post.
I grew up in the Roman Catholic church and as a result, I was baptized as an infant, first communioned at 7, had my first confession at 8 and was confirmed at 14. They were all rights of passage. I had to do them because of my family upbringing and because that is what you do when you are in the church and going to Sunday School. Plus, my Grandfather firmly believed I would go to Hell if I didn’t do these things (he was quite concerned when I married a Pentecostal man in a Baptist church, but we “talked” about that and he was okay in the end). I did feel that there was some significance in the Confirmation process, but I don’t think most kids felt that way. And really, I definitely didn’t see it as growth in my relationship with Christ, more the last step in to Catholic kind of adulthood where I wouldn’t have to go to Sunday school any more. They taught us good things. The lessons were good. But, at 13 in a group of kids (most of whom were never at church except to go to these classes), it just seemed like another class.
I was baptized again as an adult a few years after I came to Christ at the age of 19, when I realized that church and faith were not all about rule and tradition but also relationship. Looking back, I think my foundation was good, but so focused on the milestones that I really missed the message. Not all kids are ready to make those kinds of decisions and especially not in the context I experienced the classes in.
That being said, I think it is great to do classes and have mentorships and build those sorts of relationships. Confirmation should be about taking steps to confirm you are trying to learn and grow in your faith, but it can’t be the be all end all.
Laura said:
Thanks for sharing your story Trisha. “I think my foundation was good, but so focused on the milestones that I really missed the message.” Good summary there. And I agree that “Not all kids are ready to make those kinds of decisions.” It seems there is no “perfect” way though, as less formality has its problems too. Somehow more flexibility and an emphasis on the personal or relationship aspect of faith needs to be part of the confirmation process.
TrishaDM said:
Very true… Flexibility and emphasis on relationship.
I think you will be a great mentor to one of the young people. I pray God will use this opportunity. It should be quite an experience.
Laura said:
Thanks for your encouragement Trisha. I actually feel nervous about it, mainly because working with kids is not something I usually do. I do have some exp with older teens, but not younger. As someone who loves the Bible and theology, I’m also interested in observing how they teach these things to 11 and 12 yr olds.
Danielle said:
Hi Laura,
Thanks for this post. I grew up in the Reformed tradition, and most children finished up “catechism” classes around the age of 18, and then moved on to a brief block of group instruction before making a “Profession of Faith”. I did not do a Profession of Faith as I chafed against the weight of expectation and felt (probably a bit unfairly) that it was all about fitting into culture and tradition rather than expressing a living faith.
I very much like it that you are mentoring one-on-one. That way you can get to know each other and the youth has an opportunity to raise heart-issues with you. It won’t simply be a handing over of “correct doctrine.”
One of the most formative things in my Christian life was the one-on-one chats I had with my bible study leader at university. I don’t remember a lot of the questions that I had at that time, but I am still so thankful for her love and patience as she sat with me through all my angst. I think you are doing a great and generous thing by giving your time in this way!
Laura said:
Thanks for sharing your confirmation experience and thoughts Danielle. I’m really appreciating all the input to this post. If my church in my youth had done confirmation, I think I also would have chafed against it for various reasons. And thanks for the encouragement!