Tue
Jul
19
2005

Baptism done right

Last Sunday night we celebrated the baptism of Brendon – a young man in his twenties who is part of Sunday Night Church.
Because most baptisms conducted in Anglican churches are of babies, it’s helpful to pause and think about what actually happened on Sunday night.

As an aside, I confess to having vacillating thoughts about infant baptism. I’m convinced it can be a really good thing, and that there’s nothing inherently unbiblical or bad about it. But it does have complications.
Because of past (and in some cases, continuing) practise, infant baptism has lost a lot of it’s significance for the Christian community. With so many children of unbelieving parents being ‘dunked’ routinely, it has really devalued the whole baptism scene. Well, for me it has anyway.
It’s a huge frustration to see an endless parade of people who never return to church (except for the next baptism), and an even bigger frustration when churches fail to take the preparation of the enquiring family seriously.
Surely it’s sensible to ask for a fundamental expression of Christian commitment from a family wanting baptism? If only enough to allow the gospel to be shared and explained thoroughly.
It speaks volumes that significant numbers of our regular congregation simply don’t come when they know that an ‘outsiders’ baptism is scheduled. In fact, surely the term ‘outsiders baptism’ is a classic oxymoron?!

Back onto the main point: Sunday night was very different, for a few reasons.

  • Brendon’s desire to be baptised grew out of his relationship with the Lord Jesus – putting the whole thing the right way around!
  • He could (and did) clearly articulate his testimony of God’s grace in his life. In doing so, ministering effectively to the whole congregation present.
  • Brendon responded to all the questions and responses asked of him during the ceremony in a big, loud, confident voice – again, ministering to those present.
  • While the ‘main event’ was a ceremony of public declaration of Brendon’s relationship with God through Jesus, it was also a great occasion of profound encouragement to all the other believers there. Seeing in a tangible way how God had transformed his life, reminds all believers present how God has worked in our lives, and putting things back into their right perspective.
  • The congregation present was able to clearly voice our commitment to pray for and support Brendon as he seeks to grow in his understanding, love for and service of our great God.

I’m very grateful to God for the opportunity to have been part of the whole night. It was a great opportunity to share in something that should be very fundamental to who we are as a community of God’s people.

Feel free to add your comments below:

Posted by Neil, 19 July 05
Filed under:
§

Comment

  1. Like you, I come and go on the infant versus adult baptism question.

    Like you, I have been part of a few very moving adult baptisms.

    Like you, I have been frustrated by the attitude of some who come to the church for a dunking (like taking the car to a car wash). At our church (Macquarie Anglican), I know that the ministry staff put heaps of time and effort into baptisms—trying to help the parents understand what it is that they are promising. In reality, I suppose we are issuing a challenge to have some intellectual honesty: understand the promise before you can make it.

    The effort seems to be paying off. We (the church) are about to kick off an Introducing God course—and several young couples who have brought babies for baptism will be there.

    It’s probably too big a cultural step to force parents to come to something like Introducing God before bringing children for baptism, but I reckon these are fair questions to ask:

    * Do you understand the promises you are going to make?

    * Do you have the knowledge about Jeses to fulfil the promises (let’s come to the whole question personal relationship down the track a bit)?

    * Will you come to a course that will give you that knowledge, so that you can make honest promises.

    Aussies hate hypocrisy—hence our pre-occupation with a fair go. Let’s challenge people not to be hypocrites. Let’s make those baptism promises real.

    Disclaimer: it all sounds easy on a blog. I don’t do the baptism interviews, so I’m not commenting from direct personal experience.

    — Richard Neale · Jul 19, 07:34 PM · #

  2. It is a complicated business, I agree Richard.
    Increasingly, my personal opinion is that for infant baptism we need to be very clear on the parametres required: clear Christian commitment by one or both parents.
    In the end, anything less devalues baptism further (if that’s possible!)
    There’s a very interesting thread on this whole topic on the forums at sydneyanglicans.net

    — Neil · Jul 19, 08:00 PM · #

Commenting is closed for this article.