Christians believe is it important to baptize infants, as they believe everyone is born with the ability to sin and to disobey God’s guidance. Superstition within the church leads some people to believe that unless a person or infant is baptized before it dies it may not receive entry into the kingdom of God. For this reason, many parents wish for their infants to be baptized as soon as possible after birth, sometimes within the confines of the hospital if the baby is born ill. Parents sometimes also want their children to be baptized after birth if they are weak so that they will be given the strength and guidance they need in order to survive.
Believers’ baptism is seen as important as it is an outward sign of their faith and dedication to God. The candidate who wants to be baptized has truly shown remorse for their sins and wants to follow a life similar to that of Jesus’.
There are a number of Signs and Symbols used in all the rites of Baptism. The most important of all the symbols is water. Water is a very powerful symbol as it has the power to give life and to take it away. A person cannot survive without water and water is known to cause death by drowning. In baptism, this symbolism is important as it represents a death to the old sinful life and a rise to a new life as a Christian. Water is used to cleanse and during Baptism, an infant is cleansed of original sin or a believer is cleansed of personal sin. In addition, the submersion in water represents Jesus’ own death and resurrection.
The white garment in which the infant is clothed in, or the white clothing, which the adult would wear during Baptism, represents innocence and purity. They are cleansed from sin, whether it be original or personal sin. The colour of the messiah after he rose from the dead was white and therefore the colour a Christian should wear after being baptised is also white.
The Baptismal candle, which is lit from the paschal candle during Baptism, signifies how Jesus will be our “Guiding Light” from the moment of Baptism onwards. Light is very important in the Christian faith as Jesus said himself,
“I am the light of the world”
The flame of the candle signifies life and a new life as a Christian.
During Baptism, the Christian is anointed with two different oils. The oil of Catechumens, (before the official Baptism) and the oil of Chrism, (after the actual baptism). The oil of catechumens signifies strength. In baptism, it strengthens the individual against temptation to sin. The oil of chrism is also used at confirmation. It is a symbol that the person or child has been chosen for a special task, and in the case of baptism, this special task is to live a life according to Jesus’ example.
The words and gestures the priest makes during the ceremony also contain great symbolism. The most important words the priest says are;
“I baptize you in the name of the father, and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”
By saying these words, Jesus is fulfilling the role Jesus appointed his disciples before he left them. While saying this, the priest makes the sign of the cross with his hand. This expresses how it was Jesus who saved us by dying on the cross.
The vows said at the baptism, are promises to reject Satan and turn away from sin. Being baptized is the first step towards living a life similar to that of Jesus as he was also baptized. Therefore, this sacrament has great significance.
