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Society’s treatment of the confirmation process has changed in the last century. There was a
time when confirmation in the church meant becoming a full member of society, with all the
responsibilities that came with the privilege of citizenship. From the days of Emperor Constantine until
our Civil War, confirmation was a young adult’s entry into both the membership of the church as well as
citizenship in society.
Joining the church brought with it obligations to the parish, as well as responsibilities to the
society. The parish to which one belonged resulted in civic assignments. The parish established where
one voted and to whom taxes were paid. A confirmation list determined where one could be married
and buried. Church membership assigned what schools one would attend. The location of one’s parish
even determined on which side of a war one would fight.
Historically, when a young person joined the church, they were considered to be young adults.
The service of confirmation was a rite-of-passage. (A history of confirmation by William R. Myers,
Monday Morning, 5/3/1993, p. 15)
Confirmation no longer serves the same purpose.
Our young people will not pay taxes tomorrow. They will not be allowed to vote. They will not
change schools.
While our culture no longer requires that our confirmands immediately accept adult
responsibilities, our church invites such a response.
Max, Loren, Tom, and Charlotte: God has blessed you with a variety of gifts. Our church
needs you to contribute your talents to Christ’s mission. You have been faithful students of God’s word
with your faithful participation at Sunday School, confirmation classes, youth group, mission trips and
church outings.
The Lord needs the commitment you have displayed to continue, and not only to continue, but
to grow. Your faithful witness will come in a myriad of ways: through study, worship, and the giving of
time and talents.
As Christians you are called to be lifelong students of the gospel of Christ. God has called you
to be diligent in your studies. Most of your peers will drop out of church by the time they are in the
ninth grade. (Myers, p. 16) Dare to be different! Rebel! Refuse to be just another statistic! Continue
your fine habit of coming to Sunday School regularly and attending worship.
God had has asked that you set aside one day a week to honor God. One day. When you
attend Christian education and worship every week, that will be a little more than a 100 hours out of an
entire year. (More than a 100 hours is spent on the computer and watching t.v. in merely a few weeks.)
Come and worship God and explore what a difference drawing near to God will make in your life.
Be still and know that God is God.
Let your time in worship aid you in starting each week anew, dedicated to living as Christ would
have you live. Give of your time as a living witness in which God’s love appears manifest in the world.
Under the mandate of Christ, use each day to be a servant of God. Follow the pattern of the one who
came “not to be served but to serve.” (Matthew 20:28)
Give of your time, and give of your talents: your material resources. The Bible gives an example
of 10 percent of one’s income. Pledge 10 cents of every dollar to the church for the work of Christ. If
your are paid $ 20.00 for mowing your neighbor’s yard, place $ 2.00 in the offering plate. If you
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