"Discuss the rite of Baptism. How might its meaning be explicated in a secular society?"
522549 May 2004Dr. M. Felderhof “Discuss the rite of Baptism. How might its meaning be explicated in a secular society?” The primary purpose of Christian baptism is to sign an everlasting union with Jesus Christ. Alternatively, through Christian baptism the participants sign the death and resurrection of Jesus whom they choose to pledge their allegiance and follow. Baptism is the action Jesus and the disciples chose which would best convey the atonement actions of Jesus on our behalf, that is, his death and resurrection. It is important that we should not narrow the symbolism of baptism. Baptism does not symbolise any section or part of salvation, but the whole of salvation. Baptism and the Lord's Supper, for instance, do not divide the field between them, each symbolizing one element in the broad process of salvation or one exercise in the complex enjoyment of salvation. They are two ways of symbolizing salvation as a whole. Salvation is cleansing, salvation is ransoming. Baptism represents it from the one point of view, the Lord's Supper from the other. Baptism therefore symbolizes not merely the “cleansing of our sins but our consequent walk in new obedience”[1]. This, let us never forget, is not only symbolized for us but sealed to us, for baptism is given to us by God as an engagement on his part to bring us safely through to the end. In receiving it, we receive upon our persons the seal of his covenant promise. Moreover, one source which demonstrates the meaning of the rite of baptism is the sixth chapter of Romans. After having presented a lengthy discussion that it is by faith in Christ that people are redeemed, Paul admonished the Roman Christians to live as though they were indeed redeemed. Paul cited their baptism as a picture of their union with Christ. He wrote: “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united
with him in his resurrection”[2] Spiritual union with Christ is that which believers experience when they invite the Spirit of Christ into their lives by faith and prayer. That union is symbolized in the baptismal act. The actions of immersion and submersion in water symbolize the dying and death of Jesus as the atonement for the sins of all who trust in him by faith. The action of emergence from the water symbolizes the rising and resurrection of Jesus, a physical picture and foreshadowing of the resurrection promised for believers at the second coming of Jesus; “having been buried with ...
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with him in his resurrection”[2] Spiritual union with Christ is that which believers experience when they invite the Spirit of Christ into their lives by faith and prayer. That union is symbolized in the baptismal act. The actions of immersion and submersion in water symbolize the dying and death of Jesus as the atonement for the sins of all who trust in him by faith. The action of emergence from the water symbolizes the rising and resurrection of Jesus, a physical picture and foreshadowing of the resurrection promised for believers at the second coming of Jesus; “having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from he dead”.[3] Therefore, by faith inwardly and by baptism outwardly we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection. Additionally, baptism is a public response, a demonstration and a testimony of one’s faith in Christ. In Acts 8:26-29 is the story of the Apostle Philip who shared the good news of Christ with an Ethiopian, after which it says that they went down into the water and Philip baptized him. The gospel was shared, the Ethiopian believed, and then he was baptized, a response, a testimony to his faith. Furthermore, in Acts 16:29-34, a jailor is converted by the ministry of Paul and Silas. They shared the good news of salvation by faith in Jesus with the jailor and his family, after which it says they believed and were baptized. This is the biblical pattern which is best represented throughout Acts 18 and 19.[4] Essentially the act of baptism is an outward sign of an inward spiritual grace. Therefore to an ever increasing secular society it portrays an enveloping sense of belonging to a religious community. It gives witness to a Christian’s union with Jesus Christ. Baptism is a sign-action response to, and a visualization of, the act of atonement accomplished by Jesus, to whom believers are united by inward faith. What meanings are attached to the rite of Christian baptism? In addition to the primary meaning, union with Christ, baptism signs new life, abundant life on earth as well as in the afterlife with the Lord. By faith in the crucified and risen Christ, our sin condition with which we were born was nailed to the cross. It was absorbed by Christ our Saviour, forgiven and sent away. The grip and mastery of sin for believers was shattered. By faith in Christ, sin no longer has to dominate, because the Holy Spirit, who is imparted through our union with Christ, gives believers capacity and the resources to combat the temptations and allurements of the world. Paul wrote in Romans 6: “For we know that our old self was crucified with him...that we should no longer be slaves to sin...but alive to God...”.[5] Baptism allows us as Christians to live our lives for God. United with our Lord through our baptismal rite we are given strength and are blessed with the Holy Spirit. By plunging ourselves into the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are delivered from the clutches and ultimate consequences of perpetual sin. Essentially this highlights baptism, as a picture of the new life believers possess in the present, as well as a dramatization of the future resurrection. It is a picture of dying, the elimination of original sin and of rising, breathing again to a new quality of life. Baptism is a sign of new life. Baptism is also a symbol of cleansing. We often refer to the observances of baptism and Holy Communion as rites meaning ceremonies which attach spiritual significance to familiar objects and actions. In Holy Communion we use bread and wine and we eat and drink. Baptism uses water and employs the action of bathing. The most basic of images presented in baptism, therefore, is cleansing. In baptism we sign outwardly the cleansing of the grip of sin which is made possible inwardly by the Spirit of Jesus[6]. Outward cleansing signs inward forgiveness. Believers are not sinless, but under God those baptised are viewed as forgiven. Despite this, such forgiveness does not give us the freedom to sin. However, it gives us the desire, the freedom and the power of God to want to strive to live a new life for God, because we are thankful for his love and mercy. Moreover there is a third additional meaning of baptism. This can be described as the endowment of the Holy Spirit. It is the presence of God’s Spirit in the inner being which enables persons to be in union with Christ. It is God’s Spirit which gives us the power to live a new life. It is the Holy Spirit who delivers us from the bondage of sin and lifts believers to a new and higher plane of Godly thinking and living. And it is the power of God’s Spirit which will “transform our lowly bodies to be like Christ’s glorious body”[7] Peter preached: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you ...for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”[8] Following Christians sincere expressions of repentance of their sins and profession of faith in Jesus as the Saviour of their souls, the Holy Spirit of God comes to dwell within the heart of the believer. The coming of the Spirit in a special way is symbolized by the laying on of hands following baptism[9], and by signing with oil the cross of Christ upon the forehead. An additional fourth meaning of baptism is discipleship. Just as Jesus was baptized as the first act of his formal ministry for our redemption, so also baptism is viewed as the first formal action of believers regarding their discipleship. Moreover, baptism is a sign of commitment to Christ and his ministry. In summary, it is clear that the meanings attached to Christian baptism are: union with Christ, new life, cleansing, endowment with the Holy Spirit, and discipleship. All of these meanings are a part of baptism as the initiation rite of Christian discipleship, the act of response of persons who profess faith in Jesus Christ. One important question not yet addressed is the values of participating in the act of baptism. In addition to those given above, focus must be drawn on the practical benefits of the physical action of being baptized. There is a wide awareness of the educational value of learning by doing and practicing something. Learning is usually more genuine and long-lasting when students participate in a role play situation. Subsequently this is also he case with baptism. The Lord and the early church knew full well the importance of having a way of enacting the sacrifice of atonement, to enable believers not only to remember what Jesus accomplished for us, but more importantly here to impress upon us the sacred meanings attached to the rite. Outwardly expressing the rite of baptism to a secular society reinforces the Christian commitment as well as the meaning placed upon the ceremony. The action of being baptized helps believers understand and internalize the death and resurrection of Jesus. It helps candidates simulate personal contact with the redeeming actions of Jesus, and, therefore, come into closer contact with him. Moreover, because the action is a public one, believers come to realise they are being identified with and are a part of a larger body of Christians, the church of Jesus Christ. Through union with Jesus, believers are united with all others who have made the same spiritual commitment, with all who are taking the same life-long journey of striving to emulate the character of Christ, and sharing with others, in word and deed, the good news of the Saviour. In conclusion one can argue that as a sign-act of faith, baptism is a sign of the atonement made by Jesus’ death and resurrection; a sign of commitment and obedience; a sign of self-dedication; a sign of repentance; a sign of ethical change; a sign of new life and the promise of our resurrection; a sign of endowment with the Holy Spirit; and a sign of discipleship. Baptism is a serious commitment with the Saviour and the Holy Spirit. With the guidance of the Holy Trinity, the baptismal rite should lay the foundations for the thoroughly Christian life. All who truly repent of their sins and invite the Spirit of Jesus into their hearts are encouraged to follow through with the example of our Saviour and welcome the blessings of Christian baptism. To fully explain this to a secular society, one must experience Christianity and its teaching for oneself. Only through individual choice and resolution can one then enter into the Christian Church through the rite of baptism. Bibliography: M. Searle, Alternative Futures for Worship Volume 2: Baptism and Confirmation, 1987, The Liturgical Press, Minnesota Edited by The Gideons, The Holy Bible W. Kasper, An Introduction To Christian Faith, 1975, Burns & Oates, London A. Kavanagh, The Shape of Baptism: The Rite of Christian Initiation, 1991, The Liturgical Press, Minnesota J. D. G. Dunn, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, 1970, W & J Mackay & Co. Ltd, Chatham A. E. McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction, 1994, Blackwell Publishers, Oxford [1] J. D. G. Dunn, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, p. 185 [2] Edited by Gideons, The Holy Bible, Romans 6:3-5 [3] Edited by Gideons, The Holy Bible, Colossians 2:12 [4] Edited by Gideons, The Holy Bible, Acts 18:7-8 and 19:1-6 [5] Edited by Gideons, The Holy Bible, Romans 6:4-14 [6] A. Kavanagh, The Shape of Baptism: The Rite of Christian Initiation, p.5 [7] Edited by Gideons, The Holy Bible, Philippians 3:21 [8] Edited by Gideons, The Holy Bible, Acts 2:38 [9] Edited by Gideons, The Holy Bible, Acts 19:5-6