Acts 8:14-17
DAILY BYTE
The theme that we’ve been exploring this week has been integrity. And the question that has guided this exploration has been, ‘What do you stand for?’ As we bring this week’s devotions to a close today, we do so by considering a special rite of the Church that connects directly with this theme - Confirmation.
It’s important to acknowledge that within different churches there are different understandings of confirmation, and so the practices around confirmation in various churches differ accordingly. Some churches regard confirmation as a sacrament - an outward sign that points to the inner workings of God’s grace in someone’s life.
Within the Methodist tradition, confirmation most commonly happens for high-school youth after a period of instruction in the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Those being confirmed make a public profession of faith in Christ and receive the laying on of hands as the church prays for the Holy Spirit to confirm in them all that was claimed for them and promised to them when they were baptised. It is a special and beautiful moment!
The particular significance of the practice of confirmation in our tradition is that it marks a transition point in the life of the person being confirmed, from being a “child in the faith”, to someone who is now regarded as a “responsible adult in the faith.” As such, confirmation could rightly be regarded as a spiritual rite of passage - ushering the confirmand from spiritual childhood, through adolescence (the period of instruction in the confirmation process), into the maturity of responsible faith.
Of course, in one sense we will always remain ‘children in the faith’, wholly dependent upon the grace and goodness of God, and ’beginners’ when it comes to grasping the mysteries of God’s love. And retaining a child-like spirit is so important for entering the Kingdom of God. But in another sense there comes a point for all of us when we need to grow up in the faith and decide for ourselves - ‘Where do I stand? What do I believe?’ In fact, this doesn’t happen only once in our lives, but repeatedly. And every time those core questions are raised for us, and we’re able to affirm or re-affirm our commitment to stand on the side of truth as a believer of the gospel, it’s like Confirmation is happening all over again, as the Spirit is poured out upon us, equipping us for the tasks of faithful discipleship in the world.
There’s something truly exciting about this, but it can be quite uncomfortable too. As we’ve seen in our devotions this week, living lives of integrity as we seek to stand for what is true can be very costly. But God is far more concerned about the formation of our character than the preservation of our comfort, such is the nature of God’s love. What a beautiful reminder how prized and precious and dearly valued our lives really are, that God refuses to settle for second best for us!
Questions for reflection:
- Think of some of the experiences that you have had in your life that really stretched and grew your faith. What happened? How do you feel about those experiences now?
- If you were to stand up and make a public profession of what you believe, what would you say? Why not start working on your own personal creed now, beginning with the words, ‘I believe.’
An Uncomfortable Vision (by Rev John van de Laar)
We say that we long for the day of your coming, Jesus,
that we watch the sky, eager for a glimpse of your glory,
that we thrill at imagining the last trumpet call.
But we don’t really; not, when we are honest about what we know it would mean.
When your reign is fully revealed in our world, Jesus,
it will be an uncomfortable vision for us,
one of simplicity that challenges our excess;
one of egality that undermines our privilege;
one of meekness that disarms our aggression;
one of temperance that subjugates our appetites.
Yet, in truth, as uncomfortable as it is,
we know that it is only in your justice that life can be found.
So, prepare our hearts, help us to make straight paths,
and lead us in songs of praise, as we celebrate
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