This year Confirmation Sunday will be April 17th. I always ask the students; what does it mean to be confirmed? There is a right answer to this question. It is in Luther's Small Catechism the 2008 Edition page 244-245. I can ask you to look in your catechism because we are a creedal and confessional church. We believe that there are statements of faith based on the truths revealed in Scripture that guide our life together as a people of God. We call these the symbolic writings of our church.
First and foremost we believe teach and confess that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God. Everything we do and teach as a community of faith must be based on the teachings of Scripture. I know this statement can raise some interesting questions. For example, which translation is the right translation? Secondly, are there rules for interpreting scripture? There are answers to these questions and many more questions in the symbolic writings of the church.
The answers for the question about translations come from studying the original language of Scripture, Hebrew and Greek. The rules for interpreting Scripture come from the symbolic writings. We are a church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession. This document is found in the Book of Concord. This document was completed in the 16th century.
The Judeo/Christian faith has always been creedal and confessional. A creed is a statement of belief. It is a statement of what God has made know to us. In Deuteronomy God calls himself "I Am". This we believe. Confessions are guidelines for helping us understand "What does this mean." What does it mean that "God is"? We believe that God is the creator and we are his foremost visible creatures. How we live in relationship with the creator God is dealt with in our confessions.
There is richness in being a creedal and confessional church. There is a strength that comes from being able to say corporately, "This we believe." During confirmation, instruction is given so that the student can identify with the life and mission of the church. The reason I am a Pastor in a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregation is because we are creedal and confessional.
Confirmation classes introduce students to the teachings of our church. It is sad when this is the last time these young people come to church. It is also sad when this is the last time they study Scripture and the teachings of the church.
I enjoy teaching confirmation classes. Your children are amazing. They are precious gifts of God. I encourage you to be faithful in your study of Scripture. I would also encourage you to study the symbolic writings of our church with an open mind. I have always seen our rich Doctrinal heritage as a great strength. It is awesome to be able to say, "This we believe." I can do this because we are a creedal and confessional church.
