Baptism (part 2)

A couple of months ago I wrote a blog entitled “Baptism (part 1).” I realized the other day that I never followed it up and had therefore, left the topic hanging. This is the second part of what I wanted to say about baptism.


The Roman Catholic church, as well as other "sacramentalist" denominations, believes that baptism is salvific...that is that it provides redemption. In most Protestant or reformed churches, as an effort to get away from this teaching, the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction. This has resulted in many churches lowering the importance of baptism. There is confusion in many churches about what baptism is, what it means and how it should be handled. I’m not an expert on the subject by any stretch of the imagination and I’m not trying to get into the denominational debates about who should be baptized and by what mode…that’s for other entries…probably several many other entries. I will, however, offer 3 points about baptism that hopefully help express and explain its importance.


Baptism in itself is not a means of salvation but it is also not merely a symbolic act. It’s more important than we sometimes treat it. It was no accident that one of the last things Jesus told His disciples was to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (emphasis added)


All too often in our American individualistic mindset, we tend to think of baptism as a simple symbol of something that happens between a person and God or (even more distressing) the main requirement for a young child to become a member of the church, but there is much more to it than that. It’s more than just a name on a membership roll or just a symbolic expression of being buried with Christ and rising again. The symbolism is part of it but there is much more.


1. Water:
It’s significant that it’s done with water. The first thing on earth was water. In the Genesis account of Creation, the second verse of the Bible says the “Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2b) Water is a paradox, and it especially was in Biblical times. It’s a paradox in that we can’t live without it, but, at the same time, it can be deadly. When God destroyed the world the first time around, He did so with water. Often in Scripture, the sea represents chaos. It’s not an accident that people are baptized in water and not dirt or covered with a sheet or some other alternative symbolic gesture.


2. Union with Christ:
Secondly a baptism is the church’s announcement or declaration that the person being baptized is in union with Christ in His death, His burial, and His resurrection. The church as a whole, under the authority of Jesus Christ, is declaring to the individual, to the community, and to the principalities and powers that this person is indeed our brother.


3. Repentance:
By participating in baptism, the believer is confessing that he agrees with the judgment of God that he is a sinner and worthy of death and Hell. He admits that he is a sinner in need of a savior and, through faith, knows that his savior is Jesus Christ alone, THE only Savior.


I saw a video once of a kid who was about to be baptized and when it was time for him to enter the waters, he decided to do a cannonball into the baptismal pool and splash water all over the place. The congregation broke out in laughter and the whole service was totally disrupted. While the stunt may have been pretty funny, I seriously doubt it was exactly what Christ had in mind.


The video I saw didn’t show what happened afterward but I hope the pastor or the parents, or all of the above counseled the child and postponed the baptism for a time when the child had a better understanding of just what was taking place. I’m not advocating that anyone seen smiling should be rebuked but baptisms should be conducted with reverence. Any candidate for baptism should be, at least a little bit nervous about the proposition, if he understands exactly what’s going on.


While they should be reverent, baptisms should also be joyous. I’ve heard my pastor describe a joyous baptism service he witnessed in Russia. While the person being baptized was submerged, the congregation began singing a song of celebration and praise. That meant the first thing the baptized person heard when he was resurrected from the water was that song of joy. If I were a songwriter, I’d try to write a hymn specifically for those services.


May the Lord bless us and the Holy Spirit give us all understanding of His truths! Amen

Casey

"Peter said to them 'Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Acts 2:38