From time to time we baptize a person at one of our Central
Church Sunday worship services. Usually, the "person" is an infant, often
too young even to be speaking. For the occasion, the whole family turns
out, and folks come from out of town to witness and support this event called
"Baptism."
At CPC's last Baptism, I realized that although I was
familiar with the Baptismal ritual, the purpose was not so clear to me.
Later, I did a little research on the "purpose" question.
Here's what I learned -----
For Presbyterians, Baptism is chronologically and logically
the first of the Sacraments, and is a prerequisite for the other (The Lord's
Supper or Communion). The act of baptizing, always includes the causing
of water to flow upon the body of the baptized person while the one who
administers it states that it is being done in obedience to divine command and
in the name of each of the Persons of the Trinity. Basically, the
stains of original sin are being washed away. The person
receiving the ritual, usually an infant, is thus formally united with the Body
of Christ ---- that worldwide fellowship of Jesus' followers. In effect,
the Baptism ritual makes the baptized person fit to receive further aids to
God's grace, later in his or her life.
The service of Baptism is usually also a Christening, when
the child receives for the first time his or her Christian name, identifying
the child as a unique individual in the society of the Church and in the world.
Baptism and Communion (the only two Sacraments practiced by
Presbyterians) are connected practices, not independent acts. Baptism
begins a lifelong journey of discipleship, and Communion sustains us on that
journey. The role and purpose of the two Sacraments are grounded in a
belief that the Sacraments connect us to Christ through the presence of the
Holy Spirit. We respond to the free gift of God's love and forgiveness
and promise to "die" to the ways of sin and evil, because we now
depend on Jesus. With the Spirit's blessing, in the Baptism waters we
gain a new identity as followers of Jesus Christ.
Family gathered around the baptismal font, or the
congregation just sitting in church pews ---- everybody makes promises that
they will help the new baby learn about Jesus. However, Baptism is but
the beginning of a lifelong process of formation in the faith. God loved
this baby even before the baby was baptized. Baptism proclaims
that God reaches out to us with a joyous free gift of love and mercy before we
can do anything to merit God's favor. The ritual of Baptism is a time to
recognize that love and show it out loud.
In Baptism, we are brought together as a community, a
family defined by water baptism and not by blood relationship. In
participating in the Baptism we profess that our faith in Jesus Christ
transcends political and personal differences.
The ritual of Baptism has ancient roots. Presbyterians
have recognized in Scripture that Baptism is one of two Sacraments initiated by
Christ. All four Gospels report the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist
in the River Jordan.
According to Luke (3:11, 23), when Jesus was about thirty
years old, John the Baptist appeared on the scene in Palestine. Some say
John was a Hebrew prophet, but born after the period of officially recognized
prophecy had ended. But, he was a striking figure, dressed in hair cloth
and a leather belt, and eating locusts and wild honey. His words and
bearing attracted a large following as he preached and baptized in the Jordan
Valley. In prophetic
manner he preached the judgement and redemption by God. Repent,
he warned his hearers, for the kingdom of God is at hand. He
spoke of the coming of God's Messiah, so that Christians afterward said that he
was the forerunner of Jesus. John's rite of baptism was a kind of anticipatory
cleansing which prepared one for entrance into the Kingdom.
Mark tells most simply of Jesus' experience as he was
baptized by John. He saw the heavens open and the spirit of God descend
like a dove upon him, and he heard the voice of God saying to him, "thou
art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased." (Mark 1:11)
Like the prophets before him, Jesus felt called by God to a special
vocation. The Spirit of God was upon him, giving him his appointed task
to do, leading him into his unique destiny.
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These words are brought to you by the CPC Adult Spiritual
Development Team, hoping to encourage your spiritual growth in the coming
months.
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