Washed With Water
In the coming weeks we will be baptizing several infants. We look forward to these days in worship; they are among the happiest occasions in the life of any church. Unfortunately, it is a part of our Christian heritage that few things divide us as much as baptism. Even though all Christians would believe with the Apsotle Paul that there is, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all," we don't live it out very well.
Some churches insist upon believer's baptism, and do it only by immersion. Others immerse infants, some pour water on believers, and many who baptize infants do it by sprinkling. Ideally, all Christians would be of like mind about this very important sacrament. In fact we don't even agree with the term "sacrament." Many Baptist churches, prefer not to use the term "sacrament" and use the terms rite or ordinance instead. Given the many differences we have over baptism, what do we do as United Methodists, and why do we do it?
First, who is to be baptized? In our tradition baptism is for adult believers and for their children. We happily baptize infants, but it is not for any and all infants. It should not be administered if there is not the likelihood that the child will be brought up in a Christian household. It is a sign of the grace of God, but is not magical. In the baptism of infants as well as adults, we follow the vast majority of Christians in the history of the faith. This practice goes back at least as far as the 2nd century A.D., and it is possible that the "household baptisms" referenced in Acts may have included infants as well. The greatest objection to infant baptism comes from the fact that there is no explicit Biblical mandate for it. I would argue that there is no explicit mandate for "infant dedications" as practiced in some churches. Neither is there Biblical mandate for guitars, microphones, pianos, or any number of other things that are part of any worship service.
Historically, the church has practiced baptism by three methods, immersion, pouring, and sprinkling. In our tradition we recognize all three of the methods, though by tradition sprinkling is by far the most common. In this we are in line with Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Roman Catholic churches who commonly practice sprinkling of infants. Though baptism in our churches is most commonly done by sprinkling or pouring, United Methodist churches will accomodate a request for baptism by immersion.
Probably the most important thing to point out is what baptism actually is. In our understanding baptism does two things. First, it is an initiation into the body of Christ, and as such is analogous to the rite of circumcision in the Old Testament, where that ceremonial rite initiated the infant male into the covenant community. Likewise, in the New Testament converts to the faith were baptized. In Acts 2 the three thousand converted were baptized. Philip baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch. Households were baptized. As Peter told the crowd who responded to his Pentecost sermon, to "repent and be baptized" is the proper response to the Gospel.
Secondly, we recognize that baptism is a symbolic act. In Romans 6, the person being baptized is uniting symbolically with Christ in his death and resurrection. The water of baptism is a sign of the washing of sin that is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. In this way, baptism is a very powerful sign of God's grace. The infant, before he or she knows anything, receives a sign of divine grace, very much in keeping with our belief that God reaches out to us before we know him. We don't come to God on our own initiative, but only as a response to prevenient grace.
When we unite around the water of baptism in the coming weeks, let us take seriously the oath we take to help raise the little ones to know Christ. Let this water be a reminder that we who call upon Christ have been washed and cleansed by the Holy Spirit. Let it be a reminder that the grace of God which we believe is reaching out to these little ones, also reached out to us before we ever knew God.
Some churches insist upon believer's baptism, and do it only by immersion. Others immerse infants, some pour water on believers, and many who baptize infants do it by sprinkling. Ideally, all Christians would be of like mind about this very important sacrament. In fact we don't even agree with the term "sacrament." Many Baptist churches, prefer not to use the term "sacrament" and use the terms rite or ordinance instead. Given the many differences we have over baptism, what do we do as United Methodists, and why do we do it?
First, who is to be baptized? In our tradition baptism is for adult believers and for their children. We happily baptize infants, but it is not for any and all infants. It should not be administered if there is not the likelihood that the child will be brought up in a Christian household. It is a sign of the grace of God, but is not magical. In the baptism of infants as well as adults, we follow the vast majority of Christians in the history of the faith. This practice goes back at least as far as the 2nd century A.D., and it is possible that the "household baptisms" referenced in Acts may have included infants as well. The greatest objection to infant baptism comes from the fact that there is no explicit Biblical mandate for it. I would argue that there is no explicit mandate for "infant dedications" as practiced in some churches. Neither is there Biblical mandate for guitars, microphones, pianos, or any number of other things that are part of any worship service.
Historically, the church has practiced baptism by three methods, immersion, pouring, and sprinkling. In our tradition we recognize all three of the methods, though by tradition sprinkling is by far the most common. In this we are in line with Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Roman Catholic churches who commonly practice sprinkling of infants. Though baptism in our churches is most commonly done by sprinkling or pouring, United Methodist churches will accomodate a request for baptism by immersion.
Probably the most important thing to point out is what baptism actually is. In our understanding baptism does two things. First, it is an initiation into the body of Christ, and as such is analogous to the rite of circumcision in the Old Testament, where that ceremonial rite initiated the infant male into the covenant community. Likewise, in the New Testament converts to the faith were baptized. In Acts 2 the three thousand converted were baptized. Philip baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch. Households were baptized. As Peter told the crowd who responded to his Pentecost sermon, to "repent and be baptized" is the proper response to the Gospel.
Secondly, we recognize that baptism is a symbolic act. In Romans 6, the person being baptized is uniting symbolically with Christ in his death and resurrection. The water of baptism is a sign of the washing of sin that is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. In this way, baptism is a very powerful sign of God's grace. The infant, before he or she knows anything, receives a sign of divine grace, very much in keeping with our belief that God reaches out to us before we know him. We don't come to God on our own initiative, but only as a response to prevenient grace.
When we unite around the water of baptism in the coming weeks, let us take seriously the oath we take to help raise the little ones to know Christ. Let this water be a reminder that we who call upon Christ have been washed and cleansed by the Holy Spirit. Let it be a reminder that the grace of God which we believe is reaching out to these little ones, also reached out to us before we ever knew God.
Comments
Post a Comment