Wednesday, May 11, 2005
To Baptize, or not to Baptize
This morning in my quiet time I read through the 3rd chapter of Luke, which focuses on John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. Luke talks about John preaching baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. My questions just begin here. What forgiveness of sins was John talking about; original sin or all sins? Where did this baptism in water fit in with salvation? John was baptizing before Jesus, so was salvation achieved through baptism at that time? What about now? We believe as Christians that our salvation is found in our belief in Jesus Christ. So is baptism a cognitive decision to outwardly show that we have accepted Jesus as Savior and that we are now cleansed of original sin? If so, what about infants? How does this fit in with the teachings of the Bible on baptism? Baptism has always been confusing to me. Any words from a wiser source...
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3 comments:
The question is not whether we are to baptize or not, that is a commandment of Jesus himself. "Go, therefore into all the world and "baptize" in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit". The question(s) comes down to what does it mean, does anything happen, do you have to be baptized to be a Christian, etc. Faith is the core issue, whether it is of an infant, child, or adult. When baptism occurs as an infant, it proclaims what Jesus is doing in the community of faith through HIs Holy Spirit and includes that child into that community - just like circumcision in the Old Testament. That child chooses at some point to reject or accept that community and that faith. Acceptance includes placing faith in Jesus Christ. In this tradition, baptism plays an important role in bringing that child to faith due to the work of the Spirit. For those who are baptized following their placing faith in Christ as savior, the same holds true- the inclusion into the community of faith with faith being key to that inclusion. The Spirit is at work, profession takes place, and community is present. My concern is not so much the method, but that we live out our baptism. I'll let Jesus sort out the peripheral issues.
Your uncle enjoyed the great-g'pa quote at the top!
i always like thinking of baptism this way... "a visible symbol of an invisible reality."
we are certainly asked to partake... the rest of it is details, to me... beyond whether or not to do it it is simply a question of how much water and when, is it not? and i think God cares little about those questions.
have a nice day
tuf
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