First Thoughts on Baptism

It's been in the news in the past week that the LDS Church has been getting a lot of heat over their practices of Proxy Baptism of Jews who died in the Holocaust. Any time such a topic hits the mainstream media it creates conversation. As a pastor, this is right up my conversation alley. I've decided two raise this topic by offering two posts.

This post is a "reprint" of a Church newsletter article first published in July of 2006, for the Ashton Community United Methodist Church.

As the pastor for this congregation, I receive many calls requesting any number of pastoral services. The most recent, intriguing request was a call from someone wanting to know if the pastor could perform a baptism on a specific day. The name was new to me, not a member or constituent of this congregation. He was in Island Park. My husband took a message and assured I would return the call when I returned. I was curious. This is in fact, exactly the kind of question that every candidate for ordination is asked to address. Would I perform a “private baptism.” The caller was requesting a date weeks in the future, so this did not appear to be a situation of someone lying on their deathbed, ready, at long last to yes to Jesus as their Lord, make peace with God and enter heavens’ gate.
I returned the call, ready to ask many questions but ended up playing round two of phone tag. And so, I was left to continue my own reflect on the meaning and importance of Baptism.
What does your baptism signify to you? What does the baptism of a child mean to the family that surrounds the precious infant? For many decades, in early American History, the number of Roman Catholic priests was so limited, and the concern for the eternal life of the infant without baptism so grave, that mothers and midwives were authorized to perform the infant baptism. The baptism would be reported to the parish priest, and entered on the baptismal role. God’s work accomplished by the hands of caring women.
“Remember your Baptism.” These three words, so short but so full of richness, was the instruction of Martin Luther to a parishoner who questioned how he could be assured of his salvation. Luther was absolutely convinced salvation was entirely God’s work. The life in Christ, begun at baptism, provided the assurance of salvation, trusted in God’s grace and justification received through Christ’s death on the cross.
Back to my caller. We finally connected this week. I still had a long conversation that I wanted to enter into with the gentleman. But, to be fair to him, I had to answer the primary concern on his part: was I available on the date requested which was, no. His date fell in the middle of my time away. I heard his request as a middle ground in a relationship of mixed theological backgrounds. His wife, a Roman Catholic, himself best classified as Episcopal. His request was for a “non-denominational” baptism of their infant. Would I be able to perform such a service? While I wanted very much to sit at length in conversation with the parents, I felt that his own need was more to be likened to a business transaction, he had, after all, said he would explore other options. Rather than satisfy my own need as a minister to explain the theological understanding of baptism, I simply let him know that I was unavailable. I still feel I’ve missed the boat, a great opportunity to educate and enlighten just slipped through my fingers.
And still the questions linger for reflection and now I ask you, how do we, as Methodists, view baptism? It’s been months, almost a whole year, since this congregation has witnessed a baptism. What happened on that morning when that new member came forward to kneel at the rail? One came forward and professed her own belief in Jesus and pledged loyalty to him as her Lord and Savior, and loyalty to the work of the United Methodist Church. Surrounding her were the members who shared in the liturgy. Those present promised to do all in their power to increase her faith, confirm her hope and perfect her in love. They renewed their own vow to uphold the entire congregation by prayer, presence, gifts and service.
But for an infant, the vow is more profoundly rooted in our understanding of God’s grace. As the congregation we together affirm to each other and to the parents a shared responsibility to teach the child about our faith that in the end the child will join fully in the life and ministry of the Body of Christ as a faithful disciple. My favorite picture of this Church is a picture of our youngest children gathered for the children’s moment. It happens to be the Sunday, I told the children a secret. The secret is “Jesus Loves You.” The great mystery of baptism is that the congregation affirms together, that Jesus loves Us. Because of that great Love, we join together as disciples to lead others into the life of Christ. Our worship, God willing, aims to celebrate our oneness in Christ which began when we were first grafted into the body at our baptism, and recalls our dependence upon God’s grace in all we do.


Top photo - The Baptismal Font at Cantebury Cathedral,England.
Bottom photo- The baptismal font at St. Andrews Church of England, Epworth,England; Baptismal location for Charles and John Wesley.