Pastors’ Blog
May 28, 2009

Dear [FIRSTNAME],

Pastor Rowe said he recently saw a misprint when referring to a person’s Confirmation in a Lutheran church, spelled “Conformation” with an “o” instead of “i.” I thought it funny. But on further thought, how totally appropriate. Certainly, we can talk about a person being confirmed into the faith in which he or she was baptized. We can talk of the Holy Spirit confirming a person in the life of Baptism.

I thought of this verse:

Romans 8:29 Those whom God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. ESV

The Greek word translated “conformed” (summorphos) means “pertaining to having a similar form, nature, or style, similar in form” (BDAG).

The same word is found in Philippians 3:21 God will transform our lowly body to be like [summorphos] Jesus’ glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself. ESV

On the contary, we are warned in Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect ESV.

Here “conformed” is the Greek word “suschematizo,” meaning “to form according to a pattern or mold, form/model after something” (BDAG). On the contrary, “transformed” is the Greek word “metamorphoo,” meaning “to change inwardly in fundamental character or condition, be changed, be transformed.”

It would be amazing for the Rite of Confirmation to be the time when a person says publicly, “I do not wish to be conformed to this world’s mold. I wish to be conformed to the image of Jesus, to be transformed by the daily renewal of my mind.”

In Christ,
Pastor Steve

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