Last Sunday, on a beautiful clear evening in the South Carolina Lowcountry, my son and I took part in a Creek Baptism service offered by our church. It’s a special ceremony they offer once a year, in the summer, to anyone who is interested in participating. It appealed to him and me last year, but the date didn’t work. So, this year, we made sure to add our names to the list of participants.
We arrived, dressed in clothes and shoes that we knew would get wet, my husband attending as a supportive witness and a friend attending as supporter and photographer. We mentioned to the pastor that we were there for the baptism. He asked us a series of questions, mainly focused around whether we’d been baptized before, and if so, how were we baptized, and at what type of church. My son and I each had been baptized as infants in Protestant churches in front of a congregation. The pastor had sprinkled water on our heads as part of the ceremony.
Based on those answers, the pastor knew what to do with us. He would not repeat the official baptism ceremony. For us, we would personally renew the significance of our original baptisms, and he would immerse us in the water.
In addition to us, there were three children present to be baptized, and this ceremony was their first baptism. For them, there was specific wording to be spoken between the children, the pastor and the congregation which was skipped for us.
Here are a few photos of our immersion experience.
My son and I agreed that it was an exhilarating and exciting experience. I felt the presence of God as we partook in this ancient spiritual ceremony. We’re both glad we did it.
So, it seems timely for me to focus this blog on the topic of baptism. What’s it for? What does it accomplish? What’s the difference between your parents having you baptized as an infant, and you deciding to do it as an adult? Does it “count?” Here are some of my findings.
Jesus asked John the Baptist to baptize him. Let’s read Matthew 3:13-17 in the New International Version: Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
John knew that he was the forerunner to Jesus. Earlier in Matthew’s gospel he tells the people who are following him (Matthew 3:11): “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
When Jesus approaches John where he is baptizing sinners and Jesus asks John to baptize him, John immediately holds a hand up and says (paraphrased) … “No way! Me baptizing you? I’m not worthy!” But Jesus pushes the issue, John performs the baptism, and God opens up the heavens to share how pleased he is. (I absolutely love the image of God’s voice from heaven declaring how pleased he is with his boy.)
Baptism existed in the Old Testament too. We may mistakenly believe that baptism was a new practice introduced by the beginning of Christianity. But, not exactly. Mary Fairchild wrote an article for Learn Religions (dot com) entitled The Purpose of Baptism in the Christian Life. In it, she says, “Before exploring the purpose of baptism in the Christian life, it's important to gain an understanding of its meaning. The English word "baptism" comes from the Greek baptisma, which refers to 'washing, dipping, or immersing something into water.'
“A general biblical definition of baptism is ‘a rite of washing with water as a sign of religious purification and consecration.’ This rite of cleansing with water as a means of achieving ritual purity was practiced frequently in the Old Testament (Exodus 30:19–20). Baptism signified purity or cleansing from sin and devotion to God.”
But it’s different when connected with Jesus. In Mark 1:4, 5 we see the beginning of the change in purpose for the baptisma from Old Testament to New. “And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. … Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”
A baptism of repentance, confession and forgiveness of sins. Mary Fairchild continues in her article, “Baptism is significant in that it represents the forgiveness and cleansing from sin that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism publicly acknowledges one's confession of faith and belief in the gospel message. It also symbolizes the sinner's entrance into the community of believers (the church).”
So why do we get baptized? Dr. Ray Pritchard wrote an article entitled, What Is Baptism? Its Meaning and Importance in Christianity. Here are his thoughts on this important question:
“If the meaning of baptism could be summarized in one word, that would be identification. Baptism in Christian faith speaks primarily of personal, public identification with Jesus Christ.
In Romans 6:3-4, the Apostle Paul puts the matter this way: Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Notice the strength of the expressions "baptized into Christ," "baptized into His death," and "buried with Him in baptism."
How important is your baptism? It is your personal identification with the greatest act of human history—the death, burial, resurrection, and eternal life of Jesus Christ. Baptism doesn't save you—salvation comes by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Your guilt before God is removed the moment you trust in Christ. But baptism is your personal testimony to, and the inward assurance of, your passage from the old life to the new life.”
Should we be baptized as infants, or should we wait till we can make our own decision? Good question. In fact, various groups of Christians disagree on this distinction of the baptism ritual. Some take the stand that if your parents made the decision to baptize you as an infant, you yourself didn’t make that decision and commitment to Jesus, so what could it possibly mean? Others say that if no baptism had been done until the child was older, and God forbid, the child dies before they have the chance to be baptized, it could impact their eternity and the certainty of going to heaven.
Here’s how Dr. Pritchard explains it: “Infant baptism is a practice in some Christian denominations where infants are baptized to initiate them into the covenant community of the Church. Proponents argue that this practice is rooted in biblical principles and the early Christian tradition. For example, Colossians 2:11-12 draws a parallel between baptism and circumcision, suggesting that just as infants were circumcised to enter the covenant with God in the Old Testament, they can be baptized to enter the new covenant through Christ.
Opponents of the baptism of infants argue that baptism should follow an individual's personal confession of faith, which infants are incapable of making. They point out that the New Testament emphasizes repentance and belief before adult baptism, such as in Acts 2:38 where Peter says, "Repent and be baptized." Critics also argue that there is no explicit biblical mandate for baptizing infants and that the practice developed later in church history as a tradition rather than a direct scriptural command.”
Hmmm. Personally, I feel that “either or both” is good and God recognizes the intention of our actions. If I hadn’t been baptized as a child, but made the decision later in life to partake, he recognizes that. If I had been baptized as a child, and later developed a personal relationship with him as Creator and never renewed my baptismal vows as an adult, he knows that too. The thing that bothers me is that Christians -- believers in Christ -- have now created a divisive stance on something that was never meant to divide us.
We’re down to the nitty gritty questions now, and here’s some “short and sweet” answers, according to my research:
Do unbaptized babies who die go to heaven? According to the website About Catholics dot com: A person who dies in a state of sin and without the graces of baptism may not enter heaven. However, infants are not guilty of sin. After all, they have not committed personal sin. Infants do not have the capability to choose to sin.
What about unbaptized adults who are believers in Christ? Does the absence of a baptism stop them from spending eternity in heaven? According to the website Bible Study Tools dot com: One does not have to be baptized to go to heaven. However, believers and their children should submit themselves to baptism if they are able. God commanded that we should be baptized. But our baptism, the visible expression of what God has done for us, that is, God's grace, is not the saving power but is rather the divine authentication of God's grace.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. What do you think about baptism, when it’s done, what it means for our lives and our afterlives? Leave me a comment and let me know what’s on your mind.
Meanwhile, let’s close out in prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for the beautiful baptism by immersion ceremony that my son and I participated in, among so many other Christians, as a living example of our faith and hope in you. Thank you also for the millions of faithful parents who made it a priority to have their precious infants baptized. We appreciate the opportunity to seek forgiveness and be redeemed for our sins. And to follow in the footsteps of your son Jesus when he was baptized by John the Baptist. Amen.
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