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Let's Talk About Confirmation
Many people today have forgotten why we teach Confirmation in the Lutheran Church. They ask why it takes so long, why we do it in middle school when so many kids are busy with school activities and sports, why Pastors or churches have the requirements that they do, and on and on. Hopefully, this information will answer some of those questions and remind parents, grandparents, and kids that a child’s earthly life is but a moment compared to their eternal life. Confirmation is a useful tool in teaching the faith to our children.
What is the purpose of Confirmation?
At every age and in every life, there comes a time when people have to choose whether or not they will stand for what they believe or cave in to the pressures of a society that believes people can and should make their own rules and be their own moral compass, or follow the current moral compass of a society that continues to move further from God. Being able to decide what is right or wrong for yourself leaves you feeling empty and without meaning because we chase a false reality. Following a corrupt society will create many problems in life. Having the Bible as your moral compass and following the Lord’s teaching, however, gives you the strength to stand up for what you believe. Knowing what the Bible teaches begins with Sunday School, and developing the ability to know why you believe what you do begins with a strong Confirmation program.
Is confirmation necessary for salvation? No, it is not, but it does provide a strong foundation in the faith at a time when kids are beginning to think about what they believe, comparing it to what they see in the world, and finding their place in the world. Also, parents who have faith and salvation desire the same for their children, and no matter how hard we want them to have it, we cannot have faith for our children. "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). Also, there is nothing anyone can do to earn faith or salvation. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:8).
In the late 5th century, a French bishop stated that confirmation “provides an increase in the grace given in Baptism and strengthens one for spiritual struggles (Confirmation Basics, p. 9). This is true as confirmation gives children a greater understanding of biblical teachings. Their faith will grow as they read, study, and discuss the Bible. With increased knowledge of scripture, they become better at battling the enemies of faith. God’s Spirit uses any time spent in God’s Word to grow and strengthen our faith, which in turn increases our peace, courage, confidence, trust in God, etc.
How can anybody say that they believe in something when they don't know what it is? God reveals Himself to us through His Word. Confirmation is the formal beginning of a lifelong process of learning more about God through that Word and the Small Catechism. It is the hope that all children grow in Christ to have a lifelong and life-giving faith.
If it's not in the Bible, why do we teach it?
While the word confirmation is not mentioned in the Bible, the importance of teaching is:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2).
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16).
Confirmation is one answer to the command to teach about Jesus Christ and God's Word, and what they mean in our faith walk.
Why do we teach the Six Chief Parts?
We continue to use Luther's Small Catechism (written in 1529) as a resource today. His Six Chief Parts are the cornerstone of the Lutheran Christian faith. Each of them encourages our relationship with the Lord:
- The 10 Commandments show us how God created us to live in a relationship with Him and each other. Without Him, we are without hope and a future.
- The Apostles' Creed describes who we are in a relationship with, briefly explaining the Triune God and what He did and does for us.
- The Lord's Prayer is how we are invited to communicate with God and how He encourages us to remain in communication with Him.
- Baptism is how we are brought into a relationship with God through water and the Word and are adopted into His family.
- Confession maintains us in the relationship, continuously bringing us back to God for forgiveness through repentance and confession.
- The Lord's Supper is how God nourishes our relationship, strengthens our faith, and draws us closer to Him.
While it may be just a rite of passage for some people, the opportunity to participate in confirmation classes is a gift that keeps on giving.
Laura Langhoff Arndt is an author and teacher of the faith with an MA in Classroom Instruction, and Director of Christian Education certification in the LCMS. She is the founder of the blog, Carpenter’s Ministry Toolbox.
Confirmation FAQs Part 1
Why do we have to memorize so much?
First, a bit about memory. Short-term memory is not what we're looking for here, and that's what we usually get with confirmation. Half an hour before class, kids are running through it 10 times and quickly saying it to get a parent's signature. Ten minutes later, they won't know it.
We want long-term memory so that when they're having a hard life, when they're 42, the things they memorize in confirmation are still there. Being exposed to information repeatedly over periods of time helps move it from short-term to long-term memory. This is why repetition and regular review are valuable. A good example of this is the Lord's Prayer or the liturgy used in worship services. Why do I remember parts of the liturgy now, even though my church hasn’t used that particular hymnal for years? It’s because I said it every week for over 20 years. Why do I remember song lyrics the minute they come on the radio for songs I haven’t heard since high school? Because when we’re teenagers, we hear the same songs over and over again almost every day for years.
If we want kids to remember their memory work, they need repeated exposure to it over time. They should say it to a parent every night for a week, and then the confirmation teacher should do some kind of random memory review at some point during class, where random verses memorized earlier in the year are chosen for them to recite for a small reward. Every time that brain synapse is revisited, it gets deeper and is remembered longer. If you want your kids to truly get the helpful Bible verses into their heads and hearts, listen to them every night for the week, and encourage your pastor or confirmation educator to have spot reviews of it over the year.
Remember: the goal of memorization is to KNOW THE WORD, not to know some words for a bit. There is no benefit in memorizing a verse to forget it in five minutes. Why does this matter?
- God's Word is powerful. It was the Word that Jesus used against the devil when he was being tempted. Satan uses half-truths against us all the time, just like in the Garden of Eden when deceiving Eve. The only way we know the truth is if we truly know the truth. When your heart and mind are full of scripture, it's hard for the devil to lie about it.
- God's Word is comforting. When going through the difficult times of life, having God's words embedded in our hearts gives us peace and comfort. They remind us that we are his children; he holds us in the palms of his almighty hands, and he has shown that no matter what we do, he never leaves his people.
- God's Word is inspiring. When we memorize scripture, it affects every part of our lives, inspiring us to be better, more loving and understanding, and making us emotionally stronger. It also brings us closer to Jesus and makes us more like him. We find greater joy, contentment, and peace in life, and that life has greater purpose.
- God's Word gives courage. When people ask why you are a Christian or why you believe what you do, it is much easier to answer if you are sure of what you believe. For example, many people have little understanding of the Lord's Supper because they haven't read the Bible. We can answer questions about this if we've memorized what the Bible says about it or the Small Catechism.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will never pass away (Matthew 24:35).
Why do we have to do sermon notes?
The early Israelites’ faith was primarily about following God’s law. Their form of repentance was to sacrifice an animal on an altar. Jesus, as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world, changed that. We call it grace. One of the important things Martin Luther brought to light was the importance of and the difference between law and gospel. When we read the Bible and hear a sermon, we want to be able to recognize when we're being told we're not good enough (law), and when we're being told that Jesus was good enough for us (gospel). Writing sermon notes helps practice that. We also want students to be able to find the pieces of life application in the sermon so that they can learn to take those gems and apply them to their own lives.
Submitted by Laura Langhoff Arndt
Support Your Child and Your Pastor Through Confirmation
Because kids don't usually find confirmation classes engaging, they may not have many friends in class, and they're 13-14 years old and can't see their future as adults clearly, it can be a challenge to get them to see the value in it. Children learn far more from what parents do than what they say. For example, if you want them to think going to church is important, but Dad doesn't go, the message is that Dad doesn't think it's that big a deal. Sometimes, it can be hard to know how to encourage them. There are many ways parents, grandparents, and other important adults in their lives can support a child through confirmation. Here are a few.
- Pray for your child(ren). Pray for their hearts and their minds to be open to what they hear and learn throughout the process.
- Pray with your children. It will have a huge impact on their prayer life and reinforce with them that personal prayer is important.
- Attend worship regularly with them.
- Talk to them about the sermon before they write their sermon notes or response. (You might want to take a few notes on occasion yourself.
) - Be diligent and supportive in holding them accountable for their memory work. Be sure they repeat it regularly throughout the week so that it truly becomes a part of their memory.
- Keep track of what they’re learning and ask questions about it. Discussion of the concepts is a huge part of confirming and internalizing what they’ll be learning.
- Participate in family discussion questions, the pastor uses them, and be available to answer any questions they might have about your faith. Feel free to contact your pastor if you’re not sure about anything asked.
- Participate in adult Bible study. This single activity shows children that you personally find value in learning about God’s Word.
Aside from the Holy Spirit, PARENTS are a child’s single greatest influence where faith is concerned and whether or not it takes root in their lives.
Support Your Pastor (or Confirmation Educator)
Teaching teenagers can be daunting, and pastors are not taught how to teach them in the seminary. These simple things can make a huge difference for the pastor and your child.
- Pray for the pastor. Teaching teenagers is not as easy as it might seem. They can be talkative, disrespectful, and unfocused. (They are so in tune with their peers that it is often said that they hunt in packs.)
- Teenagers spin things in their favor. If there is a behavior incident, talk to the pastor before you talk to any other adult.
- Trust the pastor. He has your child's best interests at heart. He does this because he wants to see your children in heaven.
- Support the pastor's decisions when your child complains. If you have trouble showing your pastor respect, so will your child.
- Ask the pastor questions before you complain. Most things can be discussed, adjustments can be made, or there has been a misunderstanding.
From Carpenter's Ministry Toolbox.
In Every Issue
Family Ministry Idea: Memory Work Tips
It's always easier to learn memory work when you're not shut up in your bedroom by yourself, saying it over and over again while listening to music and texting friends. Here are a few ideas:
- Talk to your child(ren) about what the verse means.
- Make it a family activity and go over it a few times during dinner.
- Clip it to the visor of the car and go over it when you're out and about.
- Have your child say it to you randomly, multiple times a week.
- LEARN IT WITH THEM!
- Try an app: iMemorize (Amazon), Quizlet (many kids use this for school), or another app their school uses to help them memorize quotes. There are also Bible verse memory apps, but they won't have Luther's catechism "What does this mean?" quotes.
Family Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You are the master of our hearts and minds. This year, encourage our family to faithfully attend worship, Sunday school (including confirmation - if you have a child of age), with joy and anticipation of learning more about you. Open our hearts and minds and give us a desire to make these things as or more important than sports activities and social lives. Give us a strong desire to learn more about you through your Word so that, with the help of your Spirit, our faith will grow and bring us peace and joy. I know that the more we focus on you together, the more we will grow together. In Jesus' name, Amen.