As a continuation of the baptismal reflection that I began in my last post, it is on my heart to share with you some of the “pillars” that I endeavor to communicate to people in our church’s pre-baptismal gatherings and teaching sessions. The wording is my own. The ideas, I trust, are both biblical and Wesleyan. At least that is my goal.
What Is Baptism?
1. Baptism is God’s initiative and act of grace in the life of the church. Baptism, in other words, is not something that WE accomplish. It is entirely dependent upon the activity of God. This is why United Methodists (along with several other Christian denominations) encourage the baptism of infants. We believe that the effectiveness of baptism is dependent upon God’s gracious initiative and not our capacity to respond. Therefore, infants are welcome at the baptismal water, since God’s grace surrounds them even in their infancy.
2. Baptism, if it is to come to fruition in a human life, must be looked upon as a lifetime ordination to discipleship and ministry for the cause of Jesus Christ. It is not sufficient to allow baptism to become nothing more than an isolated ceremony, marked on the calendar and then quickly forgotten. Rather, baptism must be “lived out” in faithful discipleship to Jesus Christ, if it is to become everything that God wants it to become.
3. Baptism is an entrance into the faith community, the church. Through the water of baptism, the one baptized is recognized as being sacramentally connected to the Body of Christ. This, of course, does not mean that we shun or reject those who are not baptized. It simply means that, by virtue of baptism, we are uniquely and supernaturally joined to one another.
4. Baptism introduces a process of the washing away of sin that will manifest itself regularly throughout the life of the one baptized. If the one baptized is old enough to have repented of sin, then baptism celebrates that repentance. If the one baptized is not old enough to have repented of sin, then baptism anticipates that act. Either way, baptism manifests the washing away of sin that only God’s grace in Christ can bring about.
5. Baptism is God’s permanent watermark of grace on a human soul that never has to be repeated. This watermark of grace serves as a lifelong proclamation of who we are, WHOSE we are, and at what price we were purchased.
Baptism Is NOT…
-Baptism is not, for lack of a better expression, a heavenly insurance policy. United Methodist tradition does not teach that those infants who die before they are baptized will be denied the fullness of God’s salvation. We believe that the prevenient grace of God (the grace that covers us even before we can speak) is sufficient for such precious children.
-Baptism is not only for the benefit of the parents (in the case of infant baptism). Unfortunately, many United Methodists believe otherwise. They believe that baptism is only a symbolic happening and is therefore beneficial only to the parents who make the promises. This notion, however, reduces the meaning of infant baptism significantly and is not in alignment with what our tradition teaches. Granted, the promises that the parents make are covenantal and powerfully significant. But, though infant baptism, God places a mark of baptismal grace upon the soul of the infant. This sacramental marking is dependent upon God’s activity, not the parental promises.
These “pillars” have led me into some wonderfully meaningful sacramental conversations with those preparing themselves for baptism.
What are some of your “pillars?” I’m anxious to hear and learn about them.
After all, as Wesley phrased it in his Treatise on Baptism, “By baptism, we enter into covenant with God; into that everlasting covenant…we are admitted into the Church, and consequently made members of Christ, its head…we who were ‘by nature children of wrath’ are made the children of God.”
Eric…you continue to challenge me and help me to think. As usual great stuff! I will print it and keep it for later use.
Thank you, my friend. Right back at ya’.
Excellent post, thoughtful and Wesleyan, I love it. I have come to believe that children know more about baptism than we do. This is experiential evidence, I don’t have any scripture to back it up. But in the process of having my daughter baptized I realized that she knew it was significant. I have also found that infants have more to teach us about God than we can imagine, we just have to pay attention.
Great post E, after careful reflection I came to appreciate my son’s confirmation a few years ago. Not to be released of responsibility of his Christian life, but to celebrate his ability to fully accept and understand God’s wonderful and boundless Grace that is there for his taking. His dad and I took that gift as our responsibility throughout his young life, and celebrate the sharing of it, with him as he grows into adulthood.
I dont know if that is at all Wesleyan or thoughtful, but that has come to be my opinion. Praise God for that ability to know both.
My own “pillars” are strikingly similar to your own. I also share them with families prior to the event. I love your wording…”Baptism introduces a process of washing away sin…”; that’s a great way to word it. Well done.
Wes and Keith…thanks for your kind affirmation.
Barbie (I know how much you love it when I call you that!!)…thanks for reminding us that Baptism and Confirmation are inseparably linked by grace in our tradition. Your thoughts are BOTH Wesleyan AND thoughtful.
I can not dismiss my Wesleyan Foundations and Pillars of faith that are based firmly upon prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace.
Baptism is all about what God is doing in our lives, and the promise to not let us go, continue working on us and through us until we can make that commitment of faith on our own.