"Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?"
"According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ's Holy Church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world?"
"As members of Christ's universal Church, will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?"
"As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?"
In just a few days the confirmation class 2012 of Haskell UMC will take the vows stated above in front of our local congregation. This is no small undertaking. These vows are important. They represent a commitment that is becoming less and less common in our self-centered culture.
It seems as though our society has forgotten what it means to save, to follow through, and to focus on the good of the community instead of personal gain. I saw this posted on Facebook the other day:
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I found this to be an interesting commentary on our consumerist society. So many people today think that if it is easier on them individually then it doesn't matter what the cost is in the long run. But Christianity doesn't teach us to think this way. According to the teachings of Scripture we are to place others in front of ourselves. For example, in Ephesians St. Paul states that we should "submit to each other out of respect for Christ"(5:21) and he says in Galatians that we should "...be guided by the Spirit and you won't carry out your selfish desires. A person's selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one's selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn't do whatever you want to do."(5:16-17)
So as a counter cultural move and in response to their calling, our confirmands will have to agree to the vows of the church. My prayer is that they will do so with sincerity and conviction. My prayer is that they will do all they can to continue to build their faith in Jesus Christ. My prayer is that our local congregation will continue to commit to these young people and to one another out of devotion to God. And my prayer is that each person who claims Christ as his or her master will learn the lesson of putting others ahead of ourselves.
But the amazing thing about faith is that we are not left alone to uphold these vows. The phrase I love in these vows states "according to the grace given you..." Even in the midst of taking vows and making promises, God's grace abounds. Even when we do fail to be an obedient Church, God's grace flows through in order to convict us of wrongdoing, help us repent of our failures, and reinstates us as his sons and daughters.
God's grace is enough. It is wondrous, marvelous, and timely. It never ceases and continually calls us to be grace-filled so that we can extend grace to others as we have received. Even though God's grace is freely given, it cost him greatly. That's why it is so important to never cheapen grace...that's why we must cooperate with God in order to fulfill his calling in our own life.
This Sunday, as these young women and men take their vows, I will renew my own. I will continue to strive to fulfill the vows I have taken to the Church as both a member and as a pastor. But most of all, I will remember that without the grace given to me, none of my Christian life would be possible. And as I grow in God's grace, perhaps some day I will be mature enough to remember to wash the spoon. Until next time...
+May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.
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