As I’ve pondered my own understanding of baptism recently I have come to realize that it has been somewhat theologically problematic for me. I think that far too often it is treated as a kind of magical act where a baby is insured of a crass kind of “fire insurance”. That understanding of baptism, although it seems quite common in folk piety, is antithetical to my understanding of how God works in the world. So that leaves me with a quandry. If baptism should not be understood in that way, what is it?
What is baptism?
The central part of my theology of baptism springs from my theology of the Lord’s Supper. I have been reflecting on the essential pro me aspect of the sacraments, and I think that is the crux of my understanding of the what, how, and why of sacramental theology. Ultimately, like every act of worship, baptism is God’s work for and in us. I believe that God is present in all created things , so the idea of God’s presence in the water of baptism is not difficult for me. I think the important idea is that in that water, during that ritual celebration, God is present specifically for me. Ultimately, I can’t answer what baptism is, because baptism doesn’t belong to me or to the church. It is God’s sacrament for us.
What does baptism do?
I think the adoption imagery has had the strongest impact on my own piety. My own baptism occurred when I was only a few hours old, a sick infant in an incubator. As I’ve come to know the story of my birth and baptism better, I realize that my parents were fairly sure I wouldn’t survive. Knowing that, why did they choose to baptize me at that time? Rather than assuming that they wanted some “fire insurance” I prefer to think that they were putting my life into God’s hands. It is more than simply saying, “God, we trust that you will do what is best with our child.” Viewing baptism as God’s adoption of a child means that we have to give up our own ownership of that child. Taking it a little further, my own reflection on those events has made me realize that not only am I an adopted child of God, but that my life ultimately does not belong to me. I don’t mean that in a depressing kind of way, I don’t plan to take ascetic vows, but I think of it as part of the salvation that we are promised. As we say “we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves” so if I try to own my life it will only be filled with selfish misery, but if I remember that God owns my life, it will be filled with meaning.
I know viewing baptism as adoption can lead to some Christological sticky territory surrounding Jesus’ own baptism, but I don’t know that it needs to. This may be wandering toward some other unforeseen heresy, but I like to think of the adoption of baptism as a revelation of God’s existing relationship with us. That fits with the pro me understanding as well. We don’t baptize as a way of asking God to adopt a child, the baptism is for the child to tell them that God has adopted them. So why bother baptizing? Because how else will we know what God does for us?
What does baptism involve for a life of faithful discipleship?
I think baptism is an important part of the Christian life. Even the focus on baptism as a community is an important one in this respect. In baptism we welcome someone into the body of Christ and in the ritual, I think it is good to ask the congregation to pledge to support the baptized person in faith. We are adopted by God, which means that we find out about a vast number of sisters and brothers in Christ. Baptizing in an important activity for a Christian community because it reminds them that “outsiders” are actually full members of the body of Christ.
Another facet of my own theology of baptism comes from Luther’s understanding of baptism as being something that only needed to happen once. I like the use of the present verb tense that Tieg suggests, saying “I am baptized” rather than “I was baptized” . For personal piety, I think this is critical, because it reminds us that we are heirs according to God’s promise. There is both comfort and challenge in that understanding of the Christian life. Luther was correct in reminding himself that he was baptized and that no one could take that away, but at the same time, that reminder challenges us to view the world in a radically different way. We are certainly saved by God’s external righteousness in us, but I think that spurs us to interact differently with the world. Not because there is some reward. What more could we receive from God beyond what we have been promised and given? But rather, we act differently because the gift is too big for each of us to contain.
How do the ceremonial actions employed either enhance or hinder what we claim and promise theologically for this event?
I think the ELW service does a pretty good job of focusing the ritual in the right place. The language is careful not to put the action in our hands, but rather focuses on God’s action for us in baptism. The imagery of rebirth and adoption figure prominently, along with uniting the community with the newly baptized. I would probably choose the “___Name___ is baptized” variation in the water rite to make sure the emphasis isn’t on my action but on God’s. Maybe it would be better to preface it with something like “God, Triune, baptizes __Name__, in the name of the Father *splash*, the Son *splash*, and the Holy Spirit *splash*” but I may just be overthinking it. Jesus tells his disciples to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” so maybe it’s ok to use the “I baptize” language.
Tying baptisms to the church calendar is a good idea. I have been in communities where Easter is treated as a huge raucous celebration and I think baptism fits well with that time of year. Although our culture makes Marriage one of the biggest celebrations in our lives, I think it would be good to give baptism a similar treatment. The whole community should celebrate welcoming the baptized, preferably with a big party.
#1 by Ann Samuelson on September 2nd, 2009
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Hi Josh,
You are indeed correct that you were baptized not as some kind of insurance but to acknowledge that your life was in God’s Hands. We did not know IF you would survive but we knew who’s you are and we prayed the doctors would do the right thing to help you.
One of the most amazing things for me was the response of both the OB and the Pediatrician. The OB was a good Catholic who felt tremendous guilt for not picking up you were a preemie. We reassured him that he had done the best he could and that you were in God’s hands. We were able to speak a word of grace to that kind man.
The Pediatrician watched the baptism with water from a paper cup and was so struck by the witness of faith that she ended up volunteering in Africa.
Your baptism was a witness of faith. We are daily thankful for you. Love, Mom
#2 by Ann Samuelson on September 2nd, 2009
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PS I also like the comment that we “are Baptized” in the present tense.
#3 by Daryl Hackbart on September 21st, 2009
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Admission into God’s kingdom is a gift; it is not a right. It is by grace, not by any kind of merit. Just as Jesus chose to welcome the children and to bless them, so he chooses to welcome us and bless us with eternal life. The children came with no status, no accomplishments, and no credits or claims. They received Jesus’ blessing because Jesus chose to bless them. Only by acknowledging that we have no claim or standing before God but are on the outside, on the fringes, looking in can we receive the kingdom. The Gospel is an offer to receive God’s blessing, entrance into the kingdom. It is a gift from God received only by faith—the faith of a child, a nobody. The fact that our faith, as well as everything that occurs during baptism, is worked out by the Holy Spirit, shows how truly needy we are. Babies and adults alike come to baptism with nothing to even command God’s attention, let alone his blessing. But all receive God’s blessing. We may reject God’s blessing for our lives but, unless we do that, we belong to Christ. As the baptismal rite in LBW states, “_____, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.”
Personally, I’ve learned to appreciate the mysteries surrounding some people and places. It is what we don’t know or can’t know that makes them legendary. Likewise, in the case of God, it is what makes God God.