When it comes to baptism, the Bible illustrates two main understanding. For Paul, the earliest writer in the New Testament, Baptism as an entering into the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the waters of Baptism we die and we are raised up through the waters into New Life in Christ.  For Paul, baptism is involved with our human condition: sometimes distilled religiously as ‘sin’.  BUT, in the imaginations of the Gospel writers, it seems that Baptism is performed as a ‘turning towards God’.  In the John the Baptist accounts, there’s no real explanation of why so many people are going out to the Jordan for Baptism, and why it’s so popular.  How did they know about it?  The text assumes we all know about this action of Baptism.  John’s Baptism is for repentance: a turning away from sin: and a turning around towards God in life, in the here and now.  

Both ideas of Baptism are quite different.  And, if we think about it, Jesus certainly didn’t need the Paul version of baptism being about sin for his own baptism – and for that matter repentance, (turning towards God) … so what are we to make of it all?

We could also drill down into the Bible in this moment and actually not get anywhere, because  the book yields a number of answers as to what is going on in Baptism.  Which kind of makes it attractive. 

Which is why, perhaps, the Uniting Church includes Baptism as a Sacrament. 

A manifestation of a Spiritual thing.  An outward sign of an inward grace.

In the 1980’s we all benefitted from the work of the World Council of Churches on Baptism: that enabled Baptism to be recognised between denominations.  You don’t get re-baptised when you join another Christian Community.  AND to be really clear: and I’d love us to correct this in our conversations and how we remember Baptism ourselves: 

YOU were NEVER baptised an Anglican: 

YOU were NEVER baptised an Catholic: 

YOU were NEVER baptised an Presbyterian or Methodist or a Congregationalist: 

YOU were NEVER baptised a Churches of Christ or AOG, or Uniting, or any other manifestation of the Christian faith.

You were only Baptised into Christ: In the name of the Creator, Redeemer and the Sustainer: Father, Son and Spirit.

That’s important.  Really important.  Important for our imaginations: important in our Sense of Spirit.  Important theologically.  Important in our relationship with God.  Important, as we live into our Baptism.  Baptism might be a one off event: but we live into its meaning.

Do you remember your Baptismal Vows?

I repent of my sins. I turn to Christ. I commit myself to God.

The use of water, as a means of liturgical action, like lighting candles, is not used much in many church settings.

I will confess to you that I have practiced with water though, in my spiritual life.  To fill a bowl of water and place it on the living room table creates a peaceful reflecting pool.  And I LOVE a reflecting pool: like the still water at Melbourne Uni near the Wilson Hall, or the reflecting pools down at the Darebin Parklands.  To look out upon water changes the energy flows in our mind and body.  I have taken myself to the waters edge to find healing.  I have walked to the beach to immerse myself in the waters at Cowes on hot summers nights; and in that water, found my baptism… remembering Baptism, not as that event way back on a Sunday morning or when ever it was: but remembering:

I repent of my sins. I turn to Christ. I commit myself to God.

On Friday afternoon, after I closed the Gateway Opshop in the heat: and came home to the Manse to recover, I watched a beloved program: “Long Lost Family”.  A BBC production that helps to connect adoptees with their parents, or vice versa.  In this story, the youngest sister of 3 sisters had disappeared after the death of their mother: and in less than 12 months after that, the sudden death of their father.  13 years had passed.  With no trace: and no response from tracing.

With the help of the BBC team: and a bit of luck, the sister was found.  She had experienced the most debilitating depression: and days of estrangement turned to months and years, until it was impossible to re-connect; even though every cell in her body desired it.

The 3 women were reunited: and met at the seaside holiday place they grew up in.  It was truely heart breaking, and beautiful, and sad, and loving.  It was two sisters running towards their lost sister: it was prodigal.  And after the tears and wailing, there was a scene of the 3 adult women, rolling up their pants, removing shoes and socks, and walking across the pebble beach to the waters edge.   And they entered the water up to their calves: and there was shrieking and laughter: there were giggles and squeals.  And I saw the past washed away: and the refreshment of new life made real.

There was Baptism…

The formal prayer of the Uniting Church in Baptism is this:

For you Jesus Christ has come,

has lived, has suffered;

for you he endured the agony of Gethsemane

and the darkness of Calvary;

for you he uttered the cry, ‘It is accomplished!’

For you he triumphed over death;

for you he prays at God’s right hand;

for you,

even before you were born.

In baptism, the word of the apostle is confirmed:

‘We love, because God first loved us’.

Let us live into Baptism, and live out our beloved presence in the world.