What is Confirmation Handouts
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Transcript of What is Confirmation Handouts
Sacraments • An outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible Grace, given by Christ as sure ways to
receive that grace.
o Grace is God’s favor towards us, unearned and undeserved. Examples of Grace: forgiveness, Jesus, being with God now, wisdom, strength, healing….
• We are a Sacramental Church. Everything we do on the outside (down to everything in the sanctuary) has an “inside” meaning.
• Sacraments should mean something; should mark something on the inside: as a church, we hope that sacraments mark an experience of God.
• The Articles of Religion (BCP P872) states that the Sacraments are to be “used” duly not just
carried out. They are sure witnesses and effectual signs of Grace that God does invisibly work in us and does strengthen and confirm our Faith.
• What are the two great sacraments of the Gospel? Baptism and Eucharist The outward signs of each? The inward signs?
• Other sacraments? Confirmation, ordination, matrimony, unction and reconciliation (penitence)
What is the difference between the two great Sacraments of the church and the lesser ones?
They are not ordained in the Gospels by Christ thus are not necessary for all persons.
Baptism Jewish Roots:
• Judaic Baptism/Initiation: Jesus was not baptized a Christian. neither was John the Baptist baptizing people Christians
• In Judaism baptism signified that person’s crossing of the Red Sea into freedom, into the promised land; accepting the heritage and hopes of the rest of the community.
• Baptism went beyond people also: ceremonial purifications were common and a part of the Old Covenant (Mosaic/Levitical Law): think Kosher kitchen and food.
• The Jews were baptized nude, full immersion in the presence of witnesses; they took an oath of loyalty after a period of intense instruction; they renounced their former way of life and were then sealed; marked; signed on their forehead with oil as belonging to God.
• John the Baptist was baptizing people to prepare them… “prepare the way of the Lord” He called people to repentance and to come back to God: symbolizing a new beginning in a new community. Jesus was first baptized by John before he began his ministry.
Early Church Roots: • In the New Testament and the early church:
o circumcision became a sign and seal of the Abrahamic Covenant and practiced under Mosaic Law
o baptism became construed as the sign and seal of the New Covenant of the Gospel. They redefined what they had always done. Remember Jesus saying, I came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it.
o The church deemed true circumcision to be circumcision of the heart. And with baptism no one was excluded from “full membership.” (only men were circumcised).
o Entire households (children and adults were baptized together and one time). • Baptism already meant: repentance, cleansing, new birth, adoption, death and resurrection
o Cleansed by the blood of Jesus o New birth in Christ o Death and Resurrection in Christ o Incorporation into his body o “marked” with the seal of Christ o To be adopted by God o Anointed to receive the Holy Spirit for ministry (just like the kings and priests were back
then). o To confess one’s faith in Christ and swear loyalty to him. o To the Early Church to be baptized was to repent and to confess the faith.
Apostolic Times (200 AD):
• Converts who wished to be admitted as catechumens were brought forth to teachers by those who could vouch them.
• They entered a three year period of study • They bathed on Thursday before Easter; Fasted Friday and Saturday; Saturday night was spent in
vigil. At cock crow prayer was said over the water. • Two oils: oil of exorcism covered the entire body, the candidate then renounced “Satan and all
his servants and all his works.” -‐renouncing not just sin but former way of life. • Then the candidate was taken down into the water where he/she was asked three questions: Do
you believe in God, the father almighty? Do you believe in Jesus Christ … Do you believe in the Holy Spirit … the reply “I believe.” They were dunked after each profession of faith.
• Next they were anointed with the oil of “thanksgiving” (chrism) and robed. • They were then brought into the congregation for public recognition and to continue in the
prayers and exchange the peace. The new baptized supplied the oblations for the preparation of the Table.
• The establishment of Christianity through Constantine brought significant changes to this initiation rite and eventually led to its curtailment.
From Baptism to Confirmation:
• Baptism in the church obviously began with adults • Baptisms originally done by a Bishop immediately followed by the rite of confirmation: the laying
on of apostolic hands (Bishops follow an unbroken line from the Apostles themselves) and the sealing with oil. Usually first communion followed.
• Bishops ended up with huge dioceses and would only be able to visit each church every 3 to 4 years. So folks could only be baptized every 3 to 4 years.
• Between the fear of infancy death and the theology of original sin (Augustine 400 AD) the mad rush to have babies baptized grew stronger. The catecheticaal instructional period prior to baptism was practically unheard of by the 13th century and the tie to Bishop’s, the church year (Easter) diminished.
• So priests began doing the baptism part of the service – they baptized with water and sealed with oil. And whenever the Bishop came to the church he would finish off the service by 1. laying on of hands. 2. the sealing with oil 3. inviting of the Holy Spirit
• Period of time lengthened between baptism and the “laying on of hands” And so the one sacrament became two. And a period of instruction was added before the rite of confirmation.
What is Baptism?
A Sacrament Doorway to Christian Community – to Christ’s body – to the church Full membership in the church Establishes us as members of God’s family A turn towards God; towards being in relationship with God (as babies this intent is declared by
your parents and Godparents who vow to raise you in such a way) Baptized into union with Christ and His Church “marked and sealed forever” – “the bond God establishes at Baptism is indissoluble.” – BCP.
Baptism is permanent. Two Parts to Baptism: 1. application of water 2. sealed in the name of the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit
Baptism in the Episcopal Church 1. any method you like: immersion, rivers, sprinkling, splashing, dipping, dunking. 2. As long as water is used, it’s legit: water symbolizing spiritual cleansing and renewal and
purification 3. Baptism in infancy versus adulthood.
a. In TEC: any age b. Citizenship of the US is applied as soon as one is born here regardless of the fact that
they don’t know the rules; the law; the president etc. therefore doesn’t it make sense that even babies are citizens of Heaven and belong to God; are His children whether they know him personally or not
c. Greatest illustration of GRACE the church offers. d. Confirmation is roughly equivalent of baptism in Baptist; Church Of Christ and other
non-‐denominational streams of the church.
The Episcopal Church expects those who are baptized young to be confirmed when ready.
Confirmation? (BCP p.412)
Confirmation comes from the word “confirmare” meaning “to strengthen”
• According to the Catechism (pg. 860 of BCP) “Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a Bishop.”
o The sacramental action of inviting the Holy Spirit to come upon you (through the laying on of hands) to equip and strengthen you to carry out the great commission. (Matthew 28:19)
o Confirmation is the commissioning (the sending forth) and the equipping for ministry and carry it out in the church and in the world.
• According to the rubric (p.412 of BCP)
“In the course of their Christian development, those baptized at any early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop.”
• The Australian BCP following the presentation of candidates has a section labeled “THE DECISION” where the candidates are told “Before God and this congregation, you must affirm that you turn to Christ.”
• Confirmation is not graduation from the church. It is not the beginning of your Spiritual journey
nor is it the end. Confirmation is the place of “strengthening” you and equipping you for the rigors of mature Christian life.
• Confirmation is the Episcopal Church’s “Altar Call.” Here you make a public and personal and voluntary affirmation of your Christian identity.
• Confirmation is a mature personal commitment to the church, to God. It is the rite of passage into being an adult in the church. And through the Bishop’s hands you are connected to church beyond your parish.
• Confirmation is saying “yes, I believe.” Your parents said “yes” for you when you were baptized, now it’s your turn. Confirmation is saying “yes” to Jesus’ call to believe and to follow Him.
• Confirmation is not “joining” the church -‐ you joined the church the day you were baptized. “renewing” your baptismal vows (I like to say “owning” them) – not doing them over and not completing them; “confirming” them. It’s being “confirmed” or “strengthened”
• Confirmation is not becoming a Christian. You already are one at least in name if not in practice.
• Confirmation is taking ownership of your FAITH … and your participation in the church.
• Confirmation is not something you do because you are the right age or because your parents
want you to or because your friends are doing it – according to the commentary on the BCP, the church expects “confirmation” to be a voluntary, mature decision.
• Confirmation is your commitment move (your parents did it at Baptism and now it’s your turn). It is your opportunity to choose whom you will serve in this life.
• To quote one of St. Paul’s confirmands, Confirmation goes like this: “I’ve known for a while what I believe and I have taken ownership of my faith, but now it’s time to tell the church.” Confirmands during the rite used to be slapped by the Bishop as part of the outward sign of the sacrament: why???? To AWAKEN you to the mature life in Christ. Another aspect of defining confirmation: A time of AWAKENING.
What is required of those to be confirmed?
• Been baptized (maybe baptized on the same day) o Sufficiently instructed in the Christian Faith: so that confirmands become “intelligent, loyal
and regular members of Christian Community and effective ambassadors for Christ in their daily life.”
• Penitent for their sins (in other words know we need God and sinners) • Ready to affirm their confession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
So what does confirmation mean in your life?
1. It’s YOUR responsibility now to get your self to church and to PARTICIPATE in the church. 2. It’s YOUR faith now. Know what you believe and why. And if YOUR faith isn’t growing, then
it’s up to you to do something about it. It’s time to figure out how you are going to practice your faith.
3. It’s a sacrament: it should be the outward sign of something happening on the inside. It should mark an experience of God on your journey through life. You should be able to look at your life and see the outward signs of a life committed to walking with God.
The goal of the Catechumenate: It is not to help you know more about God, the church and your faith;
but instead it is to help you to KNOW God personally by following Him with your life and to KNOW the church by being an integral part of it.
I could have you just memorize things (the catechism, the creed, the 10 commandments).
Though that is what the church used to do in its middle ages, I’d like to think at least in some areas we’re a little wiser now and know that really this whole confirmation gig – the whole Christian thing – is more
than just knowing facts.