Luke 3:15-22
“Swimming with Jesus”
23 August 2015 St. Andrew’s
Chapel Singapore
Sometimes
a pastor will wonder, how do I introduce a topic as big as baptism to the
congregation? Other times, a change in the worship space such as adding a very
unassuming baptismal font, will catch the eye of a young girl. Moment of truth;
how many of you noticed the simple font last week? Well, last week Bella
noticed. She walked right up to it, put her hand in it, and then patted her
head with the baptismal water as she headed back to her seat. Kids do the
darndest things. But, without saying a word, they speak theology that makes us
old folks stop and take notice.
While you ponder Bella’s theological
statement from last week, take a look at another young Christian making quite a
theological splash. (Play Cannonball baptism video).
We all tend to grow up with
preconceived notions of what a baptism should look like. Some of us grew up
seeing mostly infants trying to figure out why in the world they were dressed
up in a long white robe getting water sprinkled on their foreheads by someone
in a long black robe. For others, baptism brings forth a vision of people
making a conscious decision to invite Christ into their lives and then getting
fully immersed into a large pool like the one in the video or into a river,
ocean, etc.
Each of these visions are correct because
it isn’t the form of baptism that makes the sacrament work. Baptism is best
defined as an outward sign of an inward grace. And when we think about that for
a moment it is freeing definition. Calling baptism an outward sign of an inward
grace allows us to focus on the grace that has already been bestowed on us. So,
what is this inward grace we receive in baptism and how is baptism a freeing
event for a believer?
What is more graceful and freeing than the proclamation that
we are wonderful and beautiful children of God? When we baptize someone regardless
of their age, or the manner in which the baptism was performed, the church is
publicly proclaiming that individual as part of the tribe. He is one of us. She
is a child of God!
Not only are we claimed by God as
one of his children, God also tells us he is pleased with us. Now, during a
baptism I’ve never had the clouds crack open and heard a voice say, “this is my
beloved in whom I am well pleased.” But, based on the reactions I’ve seen I
know the individual senses that acceptance and love. Again, back to kids
understanding theology on a level us adults fail to grasp, look at this photo
from the last baptism I had the honor to perform.
Look at young Madaline, in her white dress in front of her
dad. Before I baptized her, I had a fun time trying to convince her that I was
going to dump all the water in the bell on her head. Maybe that is why she
seems frozen in this photo (Madaline’s baptism). Right afterwards, I baptized
her little brother. Can you see her reaction in this photo? Let’s zoom in a bit
on her. Look at the joy on that face. She gets it. She is on her toes cheering
for her brother during his baptism. That is what a free person looks like.
The act of baptism publicly declares that the Holy Spirit is
now residing in that person and has endowed them with spiritual gifts that will
glorify the Lord. As we discussed a few weeks ago, it could take our entire
lifetime to determine what that gift or gifts are. But, regardless of when we
discover that gift, we have a purpose. The Spirit gives us that purpose and the
church declares its intent to help us discover and nurture that purpose to
glorify Christ.
Baptism is also a way in which we state that God is God and
we are not. Truly living into this idea is a great way to free ourselves. When
we give up our God complex and quit trying to be a messiah of sorts, we free
ourselves to not have to fix everything. Our Western culture constantly tells
us we need to fix everyone, including ourselves, right now. We aren’t equipped
to fix ourselves, much less anyone else. When we live into God and let God
handle the big stuff, we free ourselves to live a life that focuses on
following Christ and living into the call of our baptism.
Now, don’t take this idea of letting God take care of
everything as a license to sit back and let the world pass us by. Baptism
doesn’t grant us permission to be passive watchers of the world. None of us are
called to sit on the sidelines and watch the game. We are called into the arena
of life and to play our position to our fullest. Following Christ is a full
contact sport. Because of this we are free to go out and do something. Christ
gives us permission to be his hands and feet in the world. As Christ’s
ambassadors on Earth, we are called to build bridges and extend relationships.
Neither can be accomplished by locking ourselves away from the world.
Baptism also brings us into a community. Not a community
where we are all alike, as is the nature of most communities we choose. Rather,
we become part of a global community of people of all races from almost every
country on the globe. This community of ours is messy and beautiful at the same
time. We disagree on one thing, but agree on another. While the Christian
community has its internal disagreements, sometimes vehemently, when we live
into our baptism we, like the universe point towards justice and
reconciliation.
Being part of a loving community frees us to fail. It frees
us to try big things. It frees us to love without bounds. Because we know we
are supported by all of those around us and that if we fail in the attempt,
there are hands to pick us back up, dust us off, nurse our pride, and then send
us back out to do God’s work.
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