Invitational Confirmation and Conformation
For Anglicans, Lutherans and other denominations around the world, baptism and confirmation are really important. This is where we make decisions and promises to turn towards Christ. In the the sign of the cross – the bishop will make the sign of the cross on our forehead with oil. This is a sign of the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit. It is like an invisible badge to show that Christians are united with Christ and must not be ashamed to stand up for their faith in Him. One of the spiritual practices and outworkings of our promises to stand up for Christ is the practice of invitation. This is where the invisible badge placed on our foreheads becomes visible to those we invite. There is the risk of rejection but we stand up and become united with Christ. In fact through the process of invitation we have the possibility of not just being confirmed in our faith but conformed into the image of Christ. Therefore invitation can move us from confirmation to conformation.