"My Theology"

Last Sunday, the community at CRLC witnessed the confirmation of 9 young people. They affirmed the promises made by their parents when they were baptized, and made the vows of faith that will remain as guideposts for decisions and priorities for the rest of their life.

Confirmation students are required to write theology papers entitled "My Theology". The students articulate their statements of faith and provide explanations of their understanding of God. We heard excerpts from these papers which were filled with ideas and images that communicated the gospel message with fresh vitality. One student generated smiles of appreciation when the paper ended with "not the end... but rather, the beginning!" Indeed, entrance into confirmed membership of the community of faith is the beginning of a path that rarely is linear -- it will have curves, hills, valleys and for some, apparent "dead ends."

As I sat and listened to the words of these young adults, I found myself praying for them, hoping that they would see the truth of their words as they age -- when they are 18, 21 or 25 years of age. I also wondered what some of our older young adults (say, 22-30) would have to offer if required to write a theology paper. How about us more chronologically advanced folks?

It is not unusual for church attendance and involvement to diminish (at least for a while) somewhere between 18 and 25 years of age. I suppose that is because we experience such a wide horizon of choices and thought patterns when we graduate from high school and leave our homes (and the established patterns of our families).

For most of you reading this, there may have been a time when you weren't intentional and regular in time spent in worship, study or devotion. Yet here you are now, spending time on a "faith formation blog" of all things! So I ask you to reflect on the following:

In your early adult years, if you wandered away from the church, what (or who) brought you back? Or if you entered the church later (ie, 30+) what or who served as the doorway? How did you "hear" the guiding voice that spoke to your heart and moved you to say "yes" to the invitation to "come, taste and see?"

Most lay folks aren't required to write theology papers.... but each of us has a "theology"... the way we view God and the interaction between God, our world, our relationships, and our daily life? What would you say... how would you start?

That's food for thought and prayer, isn't it?