Reformed Confirmation???

In the Orthodox Presbyterian Church which I attend we recently had a young man (late teens) who had grown up in the church make a public proffesion of faith. He stood before the congregation and the pastor asked him 4 questions from the book of church order:

1. Do you believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the Word of God, and its doctrine of salvation to be the perfect and only true doctrine of salvation?

2. Do you confess that because of your sinfulness you abhor and humble yourself before God, and that you trust for salvation not in yourself but in Jesus Christ alone?

3. Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your sovereign Lord and do you promise, in reliance on the grace of God, to serve him with all that is in you, to forsake the world, to mortify your old nature, and to lead a godly life?

4. Do you agree to submit in the Lord to the government of this church and, in case you should be found delinquent in doctrine or life, to heed its discipline?

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After the young man responded to each question in the affirmative, the pastor proclaimed:

Beloved, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I welcome you to all the privileges of full communion with God's people, and in particular to participation in the sacrament of the holy supper. I charge you that by the faithful use of the means of grace--the Word of God, the sacraments and prayer--and in humble reliance upon the grace of God, you continue steadfastly in the confession which you have made. Rest assured that if you confess Christ before men, he will confess you before his Father who is in heaven. May the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, and strengthen you. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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I didn't know the OPC had any congregations in American Samoa!

But I would think that rust about all Reformed denominations have something similar to what you have described - usually called Profession of Faith. It involves an affirmation of belief, but also making certain promises.

I note that these particular questions omit any reference to either Jesus' death and resurrection, or the Holy Spirit!

I am also aware of churches in which it has become virtually a graduation service for catechism classes.

Reformed churches generally will have some sort of public profession of faith. Reformed baptist churches generally take classes, much like confirmation classes, before they are baptized into the church. Reformed Paedobaptists generally have classes for church membership as well. Some churches actually refer to it as "confirmation", others do not. Personally, I was confirmed in the Reformed Episcopal Church a nearly nine years ago.

Reformed Churches generally believe in baptism of the Holy Spirit, although not usually in the way it is referred to in Charasmatic/Pentecostal circles. From what I have seen, reformed churches make a distinction between the baptism of the holy spirit and the filling of the holy spirit. The baptism is the one-time event of the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer; whereas the holy spirit can "fill" the beleiver and empower them in specific situations (I'm really not explaining this well; it's a little late, and words aren't coming to me as they should).

If you are referring to the charismatic movement's relationship with the reformed tradition, the two are not mutually exclusive. As the charismatic movement is not a theological movement, it can attach itself onto just about any doctrinal belief without creating any incoherence. I do know a few reformed charismatics (although, they are few and far between).

StAnselm said:

I didn't know the OPC had any congregations in American Samoa!

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I was born in Pago Pago, American Samoa, but I don't live there.

Those 4 questions were beautiful! Church membership where I go is a matter where the person must understand the barest basics of the gospel, profess personal faith before the elders and be voted in by the congregation. The church has been this way for generations, but the pastor is interested in firming up matters a bit. I have already volunteered to agree to a "covenant of inclusion" as a current member.

I agree with Coffee Swirls. The covenanting service depicted by Hired Goon in posr #2 is wonderful. Reading it was a blessing. Thanks, Hired Goon