Understanding Infant Baptism

In 2017, my wife Kathryn and I traveled to Ukraine. In the shadows of Russia, Ukraine has always had a strained relationship with what was once called the “Evil Empire.” Our host on that trip was an American missionary named Patrick. He was planning a baptismal service and was encouraging everyone who had never been baptized to participate. I don’t know how else to say it, spiritually, the Ukrainian people seemed confused. They had been part of the Soviet Union, so there has been a communist hangover. Some Ukrainians believe in nothing; during communist rule they were taught atheism. They are working hard to survive, so they have no energy left to think about eternity. Some Ukrainians profess to be Orthodox, but they have not practiced their faith in decades. Some Ukrainians have joined cults. When religious freedom came to that land, cults arrived like Mormonism which began teaching their false theology. The Protestants, like Methodism, are lumped together with the cults. Patrick’s baptism service was important because he was simply trying to lead the people back to their Christian core. He was not promoting his denomination, the United Methodist Church, he was simply promoting Jesus! In the life of the church, nothing matters but Jesus! Any form of baptism means nothing without Jesus. Baptism has been part of our world for a long time.

Baptism was not created by the early church, but it was redefined by the early church. Baptism began with God’s Chosen People. Never forget, the Jews are both a race and a faith. Some were born into the faith. Gentiles, non-Jews, were baptized into the Jewish faith. The symbolism was clear. The individual was held under water to symbolize a washing. It was like taking your Saturday night bath. They were washing away the sins of their old life and starting over again fresh and new. It has been called the sinner’s baptism, and this was the baptism that John the Baptist offered. Many left the city and went into the wilderness to be baptized by John. Everyone was encouraged to be baptized because everyone had sinned. Then, Jesus came, and everything changed.

Jesus never sinned. I do not know why Jesus wanted to be baptized, but his baptism signaled the beginning of his earthly ministry. Like smashing a champagne bottle on a hull of a new ocean liner, Jesus went to work. The early church wanted to be like Jesus, so they baptized new converts. In the beginning, it took place on Easter morning. Men baptized men, and women baptized women. Everyone was in their birthday suits. The symbolism changed – when you were held under the water you were dying with Christ. When you were pulled out of the water you were being resurrected with Christ. We call this form of baptism “immersion” or believer’s baptism. Some churches, especially Baptist churches, continue to practice immersion.

Everyone would have been immersed if it wasn’t for the Dark Ages. For it was during that horrible period baptism changed. You can say it is based on poor theology. Mothers and fathers have always loved their children. Parents have always wanted to see their children go to heaven. The problem was, during the Dark Ages the infant mortality rate was sky high. Parents were afraid their children wouldn’t make it into heaven without baptism, so they ran their newborns to the church to be baptized, just in case the unthinkable happened. It is for this reason most of the western church practices infant baptism. The story of Lydia in Acts 16:11-16 illustrates how one believer can affect the lives of others.

In infant baptism two things happen. First, we wash away the original sin of Adam. Within each newborn is a flaw that leads them to sin. I have never met a perfect person. I have never met a single person who claims to be perfect. Second, we recognize the importance of environment. Children are not born into isolation, they are born into communities. Part of that community is family, part of that community is the church. The goal of infant baptism is salvation. We are promising to influence the child toward Jesus, our only hope of salvation. We want the child to gently wade into the faith. Infant baptism is my norm, so I want to examine it in this blog. I will do that by looking at the ritual used in the United Methodist Book of Worship and by looking at three words.

The first word is faith. John the Baptist believed in Jesus from the very beginning. It is for this reason he was uncomfortable baptizing Jesus. When Jesus was baptized, something wonderful happened. God Himself suddenly appears. God says in Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” In other words, God is endorsing Jesus as the Messiah. For the Jews, it meant the waiting was over. The Messiah had finally arrived. To us, it means more – it means that Jesus was the most unique life who ever lived. He was the very incarnation of God, the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. He is our only hope of salvation. Baptism reminds us that Christianity is the one true faith! Baptism is a witness. We are telling the world that Jesus is our only hope of salvation. Mohammed and Buddha were fine people, but they were not the son of God. They are both dead, but Jesus is alive. If you are reading this blog, then I am assuming you believe Christianity is the one true faith.

The second word is family. One of Paul’s traveling companions was Timothy. Who was Timothy? Timothy was several things. For one thing, Timothy was a product of a Christian home. Timothy’s grandmother was Lois, and his mother was Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy was not a first-generation believer. He was at least a third-generation believer. I do not know how much Paul knew about family dynamics, but I do know this: Paul knew the greatest influence on your life is your family. The greatest influence on the child being baptized is his or her family.

That is why in the ritual we ask the parents of the child these questions:

Beloved, do you in presenting this child for holy Baptism confess your faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Do you therefore accept your duty and privilege to live before this child a life that becomes the Gospel; to exercise all Godly care that he be brought up in the Christian faith, that he be taught the Holy Scriptures, and that he may learn to give the reverent attendance upon the private and public worship of God?

Will you endeavor to keep the child under the ministry and guidance of the church?

The third word is fellowship. There comes a point in the baptism ritual that the attention leaves the baby and the parents. It is now the church’s turn to make the promise. I have recited these words many times.

With God’s help we will so order our lives after the example of Christ, that this child, surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.

Don’t just read the words, look at their meaning. The church is promising to create a Christian environment to influence the child toward growth in faith and personal salvation. That is why Vacation Bible School is important. That is why Sunday school is so important. That is why Junior Church is so important. That is why confirmation is important. That is why the annual youth mission trip is so important. God has entrusted these young souls to us, so we must be at our best. How could you enjoy the riches of heaven if one of these precious souls was missing?

In a few weeks, I am scheduled to baptize a baby named Natalie. It will be a great day. Baptisms are great for three reasons. First, baptisms are great because they bring people to the church. It is no fun preaching to a half empty room. The more the merrier. Second, baptisms are great because they remind us of the goodness in younger generations. Sometimes we fail to see the goodness in other generations. Church is the last place where all generations mix. Third and finally, baptisms are great because we get to see a baby. How often do you get to see a baby? During infant baptism the spotlight will rest on Natalie. It will be a nice moment, but baptisms don’t just last a moment. The real work begins once the water dries. Chinese Church leader Watchman Nee (1903-1972) once said, “Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith.”

Romeo’s Big Day

Romeo is my grandson. Born on May 22 of this year, he is a little guy, yet he has had a big influence on many lives. He is perfect in every way. Everyone who sees him, or hears about him, cannot help but smile. Last Sunday, Romeo had a big day. He was baptized at the Church of the Lakes in Canton, Ohio. Both sides of his family were well represented. His baptism remind us of the significance of baptism. I wrote this blog in Romeo’s honor to remind you of the significance of baptism. Chinese Christian Watchman Nee (1903-1972) once said, “Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith.” That leads us to our scripture reading.

We find ourselves in the sixteenth chapter of Acts, verses eleven through sixteen. Paul, Silas, and Timothy are in Philippi. That community was a Roman colony, so it was the perfect place for former Roman authorities and soldiers to retire. However, the Jewish population was small. Without an organized synagogue (twelve Jewish males were required to organize a synagogue), Paul’s small group goes outside of the city gates to pray. It is while they are there that they meet a woman by the name of Lydia. She was a foreigner herself, from the city of Thyatira. Verse fourteen tells us she was a worshiper of God. What does that mean? That means she believed in both the Jewish understanding of God and the Jewish moral code of the scriptures. However, she had not yet converted to Judaism. That conversion never happened because on that day she accepted Jesus and was baptized into the faith. The story does not end there. Verse fifteen says she and her entire household were baptized that day. Who exactly was baptized on that day? There was Lydia, herself, her husband, their children, and some believe, their slaves. Everyone was baptized because of the influence of one person.

Do you understand why baptism is so important? It is important that you know I am a United Methodist by choice and not by birth. I was raised in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). That means I was immersed at my baptism, not sprinkled. I was baptized at twelve years old. I never saw an infant baptism until I officiated at one. However, I believe in infant baptism because your baptism welcomes you into the life of the church from the very beginning. Never underestimate the power of Christian influence.

The early church understood the importance of baptism. It is older than the faith itself. Baptism was not created by the early church, but it was redefined by the early church. Baptism began with God’s Chosen People. Never forget, the Jews are both a race and a faith. Some were born into the faith. Other non-Jews or Gentiles were baptized into the Jewish faith. The symbolism was clear. The individual was held under the water to symbolize a washing. It was like taking your Saturday night bath. They were washing away the sins of their old life and starting over again fresh and new. That form of baptism is called sinner’s baptism.

That was the baptism that John the Baptist offered. Many left the city and went into the wilderness to be baptized by John. Everyone was encouraged to be baptized because everyone had sinned. Then, Jesus came and threw a curve ball. The early church wanted to be like Jesus, so they baptized new converts. At first, baptisms only took place on Easter morning. Men baptized men and women baptized women because the person being baptized was in their birthday suit. The symbolism changed. When they were held under the water they were dying with Christ. When they were pulled out of the water they were being resurrected with Christ. We call that form of baptism “immersion” or believer’s baptism. Baptists are still baptized by immersion.

Everyone would have been immersed if it wasn’t for the Dark Ages. For it was during that horrible time baptism changed. You know it is true. Moms and dads have always loved their children. Parents have always wanted to see their children go to heaven. During the Dark Ages the infant mortality rate was high. Parents were afraid their children wouldn’t make it into heaven without baptism, so they ran their newborns to the church to be baptized, just in case the unthinkable happened. It is for this reason most the western church practices infant baptism.

In infant baptism two things happen. First, there is a spiritual side of baptism. The original sin of Adam is washed away. Within each newborn is a flaw that leads them to sin. Each person was born with that flaw. Spiritually speaking, I have never met a perfect person, you are not perfect. Second, there is a practical side of baptism. Children are not born into isolation. They are born into communities. Part of that community is family. Part of that community is the church. The goal of infant baptism is salvation. We are promising to influence the child toward Jesus, our only hope of salvation. We want the child to wade into the faith gently.

In my time in the ministry, I baptized both adults and infants. I have immersed and sprinkled. Baptizing an adult is humbling because you can see the Holy Spirit has been working in them. Baptizing an infant is exciting because multiple generations are involved. As a United Methodist, infant baptism is my norm, so I want to take some time in the blog and examine infant baptism. I will do by looking at the ritual offered in the United Methodist Book of Worship and by looking at three words.

The first word is faith. One of the great stories in the Bible is Jesus’s baptism. John is in the wilderness baptizing people in the Jordan. There must have been a sea of sinful faces, which is why the one sinless face stuck out. It was the face of his perfect cousin, Jesus. John believed in Jesus from the very beginning. It is for this reason he was uncomfortable baptizing Jesus. Why would a sinless person need a sinner’s baptism? Yet, Jesus is determined to be baptized. When Jesus is baptized, something wonderful happens. God, Himself, suddenly appears. God says in Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” In other words, God was endorsing Jesus as the Messiah. For the Jews, it meant the waiting was over. The Messiah had finally arrived. To us, it means more. It means that Jesus was the most unique life who ever lived. He was the very incarnation of God, the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. Baptism reminds us that Christianity is the one true faith! Baptism is a witness. We are telling the world that Jesus is our only hope of salvation. Moses and Buddha were fine people, but they were not the son of God. They are both dead, but Jesus is alive. That takes us to the second word.

The second word is family. In the scripture lesson, Paul is traveling with Timothy. Who is Timothy? For one thing, Timothy was a product of a Christian home. Timothy’s grandmother was Lois, and his mother was Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy was not a first-generation believer. He was at least a third-generation believer. I do not know how much Paul knew about family dynamics, but I do know this: Paul knew the greatest influence on Timothy’s life was his family. The greatest influence on your life is your family. The greatest influence on the child being baptized is their family.

That is why in the old ritual we ask the parents of the baby these questions:

Beloved, do you in presenting this child for holy Baptism confess your faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Do you therefore accept your duty and privilege to live before this child a life that becomes the Gospel; to exercise all godly care that he be brought up in the Christian faith, that he be taught the Holy Scriptures, and that he may learn to give the reverent attendance upon the private and public worship of God?

Will you endeavor to keep the child under the ministry and guidance of the church?

The parents always say, “We do” or “We will.” However, on the day the parents answer, “No!” the baptism is over. Infant baptism means nothing if the faith means nothing to the parents. Let me ask you this question: how important is the Christian faith to you? If you want your child to take the Christian faith seriously, then you must take the faith seriously. In infant baptism we are admitting Christianity is the one true faith. In infant baptism the family is promising to be a holy model of Christian living. That takes us to the third word.

The third word is fellowship. There comes a point in the baptism ritual that the attention leaves the baby and the parents – it is now the church’s turn to make the promise. How many times have you recited these words?

Don’t just read the words, look at the meaning. The church is promising to create a Christian environment to influence the child toward salvation. That is why Vacation Bible School is important. That is why Sunday school is important. That is why the annual youth mission trip is so important. That is why Junior Church is so important. God has entrusted these young souls to the church, so church must do their best. How could you enjoy the riches of heaven if one of these precious souls was missing? This is the truth. We can have the best Christian Education program in the history of the church, but if the parents don’t give the church the opportunity to work with their young, then it means nothing! In infant baptism we are admitting Christianity is the one true faith. In infant baptism the family is promising to be a holy model of Christian living. In infant baptism the fellowship is promising to create a Christian environment.

Years before the war began, Kathryn and I traveled to Ukraine. Even then, the Ukrainian people faced many challenges. A missionary in Ukraine named Patrick was organizing a baptismal service. He was encouraging everyone who had never been baptized to be baptized. I don’t know how else to say it. Spiritually, the Ukrainian people seemed confused. They were part of the Soviet Union, so there is a communist hangover. For this reason, some were atheists. Some Ukrainians professed to be Orthodox, but they have not practiced their faith in decades. Some Ukrainians called themselves Protestants. The Protestants, like Methodists, were lumped together. Some Ukrainians joined cults. When religious freedom came to that land, cults arrived and began teaching their false theology. Patrick’s baptism service was important because he was simply trying to lead the people back to their Christian core. He was not promoting the United Methodist Church. He was simply promoting Jesus! Patrick knew the truth. If we do not have Jesus, then we have nothing at all. That is why baptism is important. Do you remember the quote from Watchman Nee? He once said, “Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith.”

Proper Identification

Several years ago, I was at the saving’s store. You know the saving’s store. Can I be honest with you? Every time, I go to the saving’s store, I end up back in the electronics department. I am not a big television watcher, but I love to look at all the televisions mounted on the back wall. The screens are all different sizes, but each picture is equally beautiful. I love it when all the screens have the same picture. I was just standing their admiring a picture of a parrot when someone jolted me back to reality. This woman grabbed me by my right arm, spun me around and said, “Randall, is that you?” She gave me a big hung and continued, “Are you home for a visit or have you moved back?” I looked at her and said, “I am not Randall.” She turned a million shades of red and said, “I am so sorry. You look just like my cousin, Randall.” I said, “It is fine. He must be an extra good-looking man.” She smiled and said, “Yes, he is.” Making a proper identification is important!

Several years ago, I received a bill from Alpine Visa. I opened it and discovered I

had been shopping at the Belk’s Department Store in Guntersville, Alabama. I owed about $375. There were only two problems. I have never been to Guntersville, Alabama, or a Belk’s Department Store. I Googled Alpine Visa and found out it was all part of a larger scam. The site suggested I go to my local police department and file a report. About an hour later, I was sitting at the police department and filing a report. The officer told me I was smart for coming. Many would have paid the $375. I am too cheap to pay an extra $375. The officer also said I was a victim of identity fraud. Making a proper identification is important.

In 2014, Katheryn DePrill (born 1987) lived in Allentown, Pennsylvania, along with her husband and three children. She will tell you; life is full of surprises. Her biggest surprise came when she was 12 years old. She was working on a school project about her family tree. Her parents, Carl and Brenda Hollis, slid a scrapbook in front of her and told her the truth. She was adopted! There is nothing glamorous about her story. She was abandoned by her biological mother in the restroom of the local Burger King. In time, she was adopted by Carl and Brenda, who gave her a loving stable home. Katheryn will always consider them her parents, but she was determined to find her biological mother. She holds no hard feelings against her. She just wants to meet her to fill a void in her heart. It was her mother’s idea to seek help on Facebook. More than 30,000 friends helped Katheryn find her. At 27 years old, Katheryn met her biological mother for the first time. At the time of Katheryn’s birth, her biological mother was seventeen years old. She had been raped in a foreign country. That story grabbed my attention at several levels. Making a proper identity is important. Making a proper identification is at the very heart of our scripture lesson for today.

We find ourselves in the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark. The first eight verses of Mark introduce us to John the Baptist. He is an interesting character. He wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt. He ate locust and wild honey. His wardrobe and diet underscored his one-word message: repent! Unlike Jesus, who went to people, John retreated from people, living in the wilderness. However, the scriptures tell us people responded to his message. Many found John in the wilderness and repented. Each one received a sinner’s baptism, each one needed a sinner’s baptism, except one. The lone exception to the rule was the sinless Jesus. It is his baptism that grabs our attention today. According to Mark, Jesus was immersed in the Jordan River.

The question that haunts this story is, why would the sinless Jesus need a sinner’s baptism? It is an important question with three answers:

Jesus’s baptism fulfilled all righteousness. In other words, Jesus was part of God’s plan for the salvation of the world.
Jesus’s baptism ignited his earthly ministry and ended John’s contributions.
Jesus’s baptism shows us that he completely identified with the sins of mankind.

Jesus’s baptism should never be dismissed. It was a red-letter day in Jesus’s life. Even God, Himself, was there. As Jesus is pulled out of the water, the Almighty speaks, “You are my Beloved Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.” That line is significant because it eases any doubt of Jesus’s identification. Jesus was the son of God. Jesus was the incarnation. Jesus was the greatest life who has ever lived because he died to make salvation possible for all. Making a proper identification is important. Jesus knew a proper identity was important too.

One of the great stories in the Bible is Peter’s confession. (Mark 8:27-30) It all began with a simple question. Who do people say that I am? (Mark 8:27-30) That is what Jesus asked the disciples. They responded, some thought he was John the Baptist incarnated. Others said, Jesus was the great prophet Elijah. Still others thought he was one of the prophets. They are all impressive answers, but each one of those impressive answers is wrong! It illustrates for us you can identify Jesus in an impressive way and be wrong. That is what we find with other world religions.

If you ask other world religions about Jesus, they have a collection of impressive wrong answers. Let me give you a few examples. Muslims believe Jesus was a great prophet, but he was not the son of God, nor the incarnation of God. Orthodox Jews believe Jesus was the son of Mary, a miracle worker and crucified on a cross. However, he was not the Messiah. Hindus believe Jesus was a Holy or Wise Man. Some Hindus believe Jesus was a god, one of many gods who have existed in history. Buddhists believe Jesus was enlightened. The Bahai faith looks for the best in all world religions. They teach Jesus was one of many manifestations of God. The Druze is a western Asian religion. It is a more of a philosophy than it is a salvation system. They respect the teachings of Jesus and consider him a prophet. They are all impressive answers, but they are all you. Let me ask Jesus’s question again.

Who do people say that I am? In our society, very few completely reject Jesus completely. Most are impressed by Jesus. Some say Jesus was a great role model. He was always loving and forgiving. Some say Jesus was a great teacher. His lessons draw massive crowds, and made each attendee think. Some say he was a great miracle worker, healing the sick, the blind and the demonic. Have you ever called on the name of Jesus to heal a sick loved one? Some say Jesus was a martyr, he died on the cross and created a new way to live. Those answers are not bad answers. They are impressive, but they are incomplete. Making a proper identification is important. Then, Jesus asked the real question.

Who do you say I am? There were twelve disciples, but only one spoke. Peter said, “You are the Messiah.” The rock did not completely understand what he was saying. His understanding of Messiahship would be challenged, but two thousand years later we do understand. Jesus was the very incarnation of God. His three-year ministry changed our world and changed the way we view eternity. Without Jesus, our lives in this world are shallow. Without Jesus, we have no hope of heaven. In the life of the church nothing is more important than Jesus. Without Jesus, we have nothing at all. Making a proper identification is important.

I did some math the other night. I have been on the ministry for thirty-eight years, the last twenty-six here. I am proud of my longevity. My longevity makes me a curiosity in this system, but I feel respected. From time to time, I am asked to be a mentor for a young pastor who come to this district. Generally, I refuse to be anyone’s mentor, but I do offer to be their friend. (Being a mentor would require another pointless form.) I have made some great friends with younger clergy. I feel bad for younger United Methodist clergy because they are beginning their careers in such complex times. The ministry, itself, is simple. I have said it a million times. All one must do is talk about Jesus and care about your people. In the ministry nothing else really matters. Everything else is an extra. Who wants to go to church and not hear about Jesus? God, himself, identified Jesus correctly at his baptism. Jesus was the son of God and our Lord and Savior. In the life of the church, the only thing that really matters is Jesus. Making a proper identification is important.Let me end with an old preaching story, I have told you in the past.

A church received a new minister. The church was full for his first Sunday and he preached a wonderful sermon about Jesus. The second Sunday came, and he preached another wonderful sermon about Jesus. His third sermon was about Jesus. Each week the congregation heard a wonderful sermon about Jesus. This went on for months. Everyone should have been happy, but this was a church. Someone had to complain about all those wonderful sermons about Jesus. One man pulled the minister to the side after worship one Sunday. In the corner of the narthex, he confronted the minister. He began by saying, “Your sermons about Jesus are excellent. However, you have been here for months and all we have heard is about Jesus. Our world is a complex place and there are some many social ills. There are people starving to death. There are diseases that have no curve. There are people who cannot read. There are children lost in slavery and lives being lost in wars. We do not hear about any of those things. All we hear about is Jesus! Doesn’t anything else matter? And the pastor said, “No! Once the world knows Jesus all those other issues will go away.” After all, Jesus is the son of God. Our only hope of salvation. In the life of the church, what really matters to you? Augustine of Hippo (354-430) once said, “Jesus Christ is not valued at all until He is valued above all.”