TJieodore W. Jennings, Jr. The Meaning of ... - Quarterly Review

needed to "complete the fullness" of the sacrament? (The latter
position is known affectionately by Anglicans as the "two-dose
position.") 37
In any case, catechetical instruction became an
integral part of confirmation as early as 1662 and the requirement
for first communion.
The acceptance of the rite (or sacrament) of confirmation as
graduation from religious instruction spread even to the sacramental
denominations. Roman Catholic theologians complain, along with
Protestants, that confirmation has become "a sacrament of
education." And for good reason! If confirmation is understood as
the end of an extensive period of religious instruction, the
implication is that both baptism and Christian education are only for
children. Educators remind us, however, that it is precisely in late
adolescence that mature Christian faith begins. A similar difficulty
arises if the eucharist is withheld until confirmation occurs. [If
baptism is understood as entrance into the Body of Christ, then on
what grounds can holy communion be withheld from its members?]
The baptized are real Christians, not "preparatory" ones. The
current trend to admit pre-adolescents to the eucharist is a radical
change for both the Anglican communion and the other
denominations that emerged from the continental Reformation.
In addition, most mainline Protestant clergy have lost the memory
of the traditional meaning of the word confirmation. The Latin word
confirmare upheld the apostolic tradition that the Holy Spirit "makes
firm" {con-firms), strengthens, and fortifies the justified believer.
Many Protestants, including United Methodists, have simply adopted
the English sense of the infinitive to confirm and, as a result, believe
that confirmation is about taking or "confirming" the promises
made for the infant at baptism. This locates the "confirmation" in
the faith of the believer rather than in the mark and seal of the Holy
Spirit. Confirmation, because of the loss of historical memory and
perhaps linguistic ignorance, has become a human activity rather
than a divine anointing.
The concept of confirmation as "graduation from education" is
often coupled with the modern notion of "passage," or a rite of
maturity. The use of rite of passage has been particularly well
developed for African-American congregations. 39
There is no doubt
that some denominations have utilized the educational preparation
for confirmation in a very effective way. However, while the
CONFIRMATION: IT S HISTORY AND MEANING 33