Tag: John the Baptist

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 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 faith seriously, then you must take the faith seriously.

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.”

Repent!

We found ourselves in the first chapter of Mark. According to the text, the year is approximately 25 A.D., which makes John approximately 30 years old. He moved out of the city of Jerusalem and lived in the wilderness. Constantly on the move, he covers the country around the Jordan and delivers one message, repent! He wore clothes made from camel’s hair and a leather belt, to underscore his message, like the prophets of old. He ate locust and honey, to underscore his message. He was a visual sign against self-indulgence. His ministry consumed his life. Yet, he also understood he was not the main character in God’s plan of salvation for the world. There would be another one coming who was much greater. His name was Jesus. John told his generation to repent because Jesus was coming. Somethings do not change. Our generation should repent for the same reason. Did you know repentance is referred to 6,735 times in the Bible? Repentance is one of the major themes in the Bible.

Do you remember the story of Hosea? It is a story of repentance. He lived in the middle of the eighth century BC, during the tragic days of the end of the northern tribe. He was a prophet of God, who got an unusual assignment. He was told by God to go out and marry an adulterous woman. In other words, she was a prostitute. She sold her body to men for sex. Her name was Gomer. In time, Hosea and Gomer had three children in their marriage. The first was a boy, who name means “God scatters.” The second was a girl, who name means “I will no longer love you.” Their third child was a second boy, who name means “I am not your God.” Let me ask you three questions. Do you think those children liked their names? Why did God tell Hosea to marry a prostitute? Why did he have him name his children those names? Because, every day Hosea played the part of God, and every day Gomer played the part of Israel. God continued to love, and Gomer continued to be unfaithful. As the drama played out, God was confident that the people would get the message, but they did not. They failed to repent.

Do you remember the story of Jonah? It is a story of repentance. God told him to go to Nineveh. That was in the Middle East. The reluctant prophet does not want to go to Nineveh for one reason. He does not like them. He is afraid to go to Nineveh because the people might listen and repent. You know the story. Jonah runs in the opposite direction and heads toward Tarshish, Spain. This is the problem. You cannot run from God. In the end, he goes to Nineveh and his great fear happens. The people of that great city repent. The last time we saw Jonah, he was sitting under a tree having a pity party. Why is it we have such a hard time with mercy when the recipients are not like us? Repentance is not just found in the Bible. It is found in our world.

I was driving through downtown Youngstown, and someone told me I needed to repent. It was the day after the war in Iraq started. Everything was normal. The traffic was moving through the metropolis. The only thing abnormal about that day was a man standing in the middle of the divide. He was a wild un-groomed character holding a homemade sign. He yelled at me to read his sign. Written in large black print on a white poster board were these words: REPENT! THE END IS NEAR! Let us just be honest. There is nothing original about the topic of repentance. John was not the first and he was not the last to deliver that message. When was the last time someone told you, you need to repent? This is the problem.

Very few understand Biblical repentance. It is not just words, “Forgive me!” Repentance is an inward response. Genuine repentance pleads with God to forgive and deliver from the burden of sin and the fear of judgment and hell. It is seen in the story of the tax collector in Luke 18. Afraid to look toward heaven he beat his chest and cried, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” Repentance is not just reformed behavior. True repentance involves a changed heart. It is illustrated in this old preaching story.

Rodney “Gipsy” Smith (1860-1947) was a British evangelist. He preached for over 70 years. In his book, The Bible Friend, tells the story of an experience he had in South Africa. According to the story, a Dutchman came to one of his services and was convicted of his sin. The next morning that same Dutchman got up and went to the home of an acquaintance, carrying an old watch. When the two met, he handed the old watch over and asked, “Do you recognize this?” “Why, yes,” answered the other. “Those are my initials; that is my watch. I lost it eight years ago. How did you get it, and how long have you had it?” “I stole it,” was the reply. “What made you bring it back now?” “I was converted last night,” was the answer, “and I had to bring it back.” There is nothing easy about true repentance. It is extremely difficult. Consider these three statements with me:

It is easy to see the sins in others! Her name is Sarah. She is not a member here. She has never worshipped here. However, she has both visited and called the church countless times. She is not the most attractive woman. She could lose a few pounds. She could wash her hair and her body. She smells like a cigarette, which explains why her breathing is labored. Her stories are always different, yet her story is the same. I have heard countless versions of her hardship stories through the years. She wants one thing, HELP! In other words, she wants money. The first time she came, she told me she did not have any money because she had just gotten out of the hospital. She had not eaten in several days. I was really touched by her story. No one should be hungry. I gave her some time. I gave her a gift certificate. I prayed with her and walked her to the door. I treated her with dignity and respect. Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. As we stood at the door, she thanked me one more time with a tear in her eyes. She was hungry. From the door I watched her walk toward her ancient SUV. I felt good I had helped someone. Then I looked inside of her vehicle. I was surprised to see other people. Maybe I should have given her a larger certificate? Maybe they were hungry too? However, do you know what surprised me the most? One of the people inside the van threw a bag out of the window from a fast-food restaurant. As Sarah drove off with my gift certificate, I went out to pick up the trash. They had run for the border. They were not hungry. There were half eaten tacos spread though out the parking lot. There is no other way to say it. Sarah had lied to me. They had been eating! One of them had order a volcano taco. I felt like a fool and I labeled her a sinner. I will never help her again because I feel like I am part of her problem. Sarah reminds me that it is easy to identify the sins of others. That leads us to statement number two.

It is hard to identify yourself as a sinner! John Lennon (1940-1980) died forty years ago this Tuesday. He was shot by Mark David Chapman (born 1955) on December 8, 1980. He was entering his apartment building, The Dakota, in New York City. When the news was announced a crowd of people assembled on that spot to remember him. Lennon was dead and Chapman was sent to Attica. He is still in prison today at the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York. Though the years journalists have interviewed him. One of them asked Chapman what he regrets most about the whole event. He responded, “I am saddened that people seem to misunderstand me. I am not a bad person. I only killed one person.” How difficult it is to identify yourself as a sinner. Never forget, Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” That means you are a sinner. That leads us to statement number three. Here is the good news.

God solved our sin problem!  Romans 6:23 begins, “For the wages of sin is death.” That means the sin in your life is damaging your relationship with God. In other words, you are dying spiritually. However, that is only the first half of that verse. Romans 6:23 ends, “But the gift of God is eternal life through in Jesus Christ our Lord.” In other words, the only way to have a relationship with God is through Jesus. And it all begins with repentance. In Biblical repentance everything changes, because your heart is changed. Billy Graham (1918-2018) once said, “The wonderful news is that Lord is a God of mercy, and he responds to repentance.”

When I was in school, I lived in a community near the seminary in Nicholasville, Kentucky. It is a good place to be from. I lived in an apartment that was not the best. I was always spraying for roaches and cleaning out the mouse traps. I only lived there for one reason. It was cheap. I was not the only student in that complex; there were others. I made some wonderful friends during that year. One of the blessings of that year was getting to know the apartment manager, Duke. He and his wife, Diana, were wonderful Christian people. Every Sunday night, they hosted us poor students for dinner. It was nothing exciting, just pizza, hot dogs, or hamburgers. The best part was listening to Duke’s wild stories from his days as a shrimper in Florida. He was not afraid to share his faith. Duke loved to share his wild past with us innocent seminary students. Every story ended with a big laugh and Duke would say, “Forgive me, Jesus!”

One night, we asked Duke how he came to know Jesus? His story began like all his stories. It was late at night and he had been drinking too much. He and Diana had gotten into a big fight and he left mad. He jumped in his truck and started driving. He had his foot to the floor and almost fell asleep. Duke said out of nowhere, he heard a voice. He was alone, so he checked his radio. It was off, and he heard a voice again. He looked over to the passenger seat and there was Jesus, himself. The Master looked at him and said, “Duke, you are going to kill yourself. You have a good heart. Pull over and do something with your life.” Duke said, “What else could I do? I pulled over. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. And slept it off in the weeds.” When he got home the next morning, he expected another ugly scene with Diana. Instead, she told him, Jesus had come to her too. The Master said, “You have a good heart. Do something with your life.” She had accepted Jesus too! Duke ended the story with a big laugh and said, “Thank-you, Jesus!”

Why did Duke and Diana keep inviting seminary students every Sunday night? It was one way, of many ways, they thanked Jesus for saving their souls. What is your way? Do you remember the quote from Billy Graham? The great evangelist once said, “The wonderful news is that Lord is a God of mercy, and he responds to repentance.”