Many of us who have grown up at church, were baptized at some point. It is something found in some form, in every Christian church. It is obvious that there is a rich tradition behind this, but what is it that makes it so significant? Is there something in the water, that is doing something to us? Baptism is a powerful symbol, that represents something so significant that, it makes this symbol indispensable. Though my wedding ring is simply a symbol, I wouldn’t dream of not wearing it. Like a wedding ring, baptism is a powerful proclamation of a personal commitment.
What does baptism represent? It represents that, since I have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice as my salvation from the penalty of my sin, and have committed to make Him the boss of my life, I share in the effects of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Specifically, the wrong things I do, my sin, used to have total control over me. But now that sin, died with Jesus. I have a new life, just like Jesus had when He rose from the dead. I am literally buried in the water, like Jesus was buried, and raised out of the water, like Jesus was resurrected, to walk a new kind of life, one that desires to live God’s way. For those of us who have been baptized, we look back at our baptism as a marker, to remind us that we are to be living a life that has victory over sin.
What has been your baptism experience? Even if you were baptized as a baby, have you considered being baptized as a believer, to symbolize the new life you have because of Jesus? Have you ever used your baptism as a reminder that you have a new life of victory over sin? Share your thoughts with your church family.
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3 comments:
Let me start by saying, Robey you are up way too early in the morning to be writing blogs. How do you do it? You published this blog at 6am. You are officially not from this world =)j/k. Anyways, this is my first of hopefully many comments on blogs. Unfortuneatly I could not make it to church today, because my job expects me to work. Who do they think they are!!!? I wish I could've been there.
I must say, I have never heard baptism being compared to a wedding ring before. I think it's an awesome comparison. As for my baptism experience, I wish it could be more meaningful for me. To be honest, I really don't ever think of it at all. I was baptized when I was 5 or 6. I do remember it pretty well. Probably because I was more freaked out than anything else. I used to go to Hollywood Christian School. I told my teacher that I wanted to be saved and was ready to committ my life to Christ. I remember they segregated me, asked me a whole bunch of questions and prayed with me. I don't really remember vivid details, but I do remember thinking why was this so complicated. Please let me back in class, it's show and tell time.lol After they prayed the salvation prayer with me, they told me the next step was to be baptized. So next thing I know, I'm at First Baptist Church of West Hollywood preparing to be baptized. I remember being scared of getting water up my nose. That's all I kept asking about. I was placed in a line of a bunch of people being baptized. And I remember it taking forever. Finally, it was my turn. Let me add, that the pool is on the top level of the sanctuary right in front of a giant cross. So imagine what a 6 year old would be feeling right now. I went ahead and stepped in the pool, nervous as could be. I remember looking at my parents, and their faces were glowing with happiness. The pastor was saying a whole bunch of stuff that I really didn't listen to. Finally he puts his giant hand on my face, pinches my nose, and plunges me underwater. Then he brings me back up, and everyone in the sanctuary is clapping for me. All I could think about was being happy that no water went up my nose. Then they guided me out of the pool, and that was it. My baptism experience was done.
When I think back on my experience, I do realize how mature I was at that age to be committing myself to the Lord. I do know that my heart was in the right place at that time. Even though I was 6, I know the Lord did convict me. The baptism though, wasn't that special for me at that age. I didn't really understand what was going on. Since then, I have recommitted myself to the Lord. I've strayed, I've failed, and I've sinned. I'm just so thankful that we serve a merciful God who sacrificed his Son so that I can have that second chance. So that when I fall to the temptation of my flesh, I am forgiven. I have the opportunity to realize the wrong I'm doing, fix it, and never look back. Anyways, I hope whoever reads this, enjoys it. I look foward to reading someone elses baptism story.
I was born in small town in Germany and as is the custom I was baptized as a baby in the local church.
When I was between five and six years old I came to West Virginia and went to the only church in “upper” Mammoth where I lived. One Sunday morning, I don’t remember how old I was but I was in elementary school, the church made plans to have a baptism and asked who in the church would like to be baptized. I informed my Sunday school teacher that I would like to be baptized and left church to go home and get a towel. My mom did not understand why I wanted to be baptized, as I was already baptized, but gave me a towel anyway and I went back to church only to find that everyone had already left. We could not afford a car so I depended on others for a ride to the creek where the baptism was to happen, about 5 miles away. I remember coming home crying that I was left behind when my mom asked why I had come back so early. About ten minutes after coming home I heard a horn blow and a woman named Betty had came back to get me when she realized I was not at the baptism.
The baptism was held at a place called Bufflick, in Kelly’s creek. It was one of few places near a road that was deep enough to baptize an adult. When my time came to be baptized I was so happy, and when I came out of the water I heard beautiful singing and to my memory it seemed as if I was taken up. It is difficult to explain the joy and love I felt for my long time friend and Savior Jesus Christ.
The people on the banks of the creek were in fact singing, “Shall we gather at the river, where bright Angel feet have trod…that flows by the throne of God.”
The beauty of that moment has been with me ever since and I do think about that day when I was left behind and a beautiful woman came back for me and because she did I had a God moment that has never left me.
Luis and Dieter, thanks for those stories. No matter our age or the details of our baptisms it does what it is intended to, fixes in our minds as a symbol - a mile marker.
I hope all of us can use these stories and our own to remember our baptism and that our old ways of sin have been buried and we are free to live a new life.
And Luis, I laughed at you for making fun of my early blogging, until I realized I am about to post this at 6:19am... maybe I do have problems!
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