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When a local community comes together regularly for the purpose of worship, strange things will sometimes occur. As very ordinary people attempt to honor an extraordinary God (and in so doing often take themselves much too seriously), humorous events predictably ensue. I recently read of a humorous story which involved a baptism in a local church.
It seems that three rather notorious characters had been converted and were to be baptized. The whole community turned out. The little church had only one small dressing room which opened from the baptistry and was shielded from view only by a sheet hung over the entrance. The floor was covered with linoleum.
(I think you can probably imagine that all these are a perfect recipe for disaster!)
On that not-to-be-forgotten night, the first candidate had been baptized and had gone up behind the sheet to change his clothes. The second man was then baptized, and joined his companion in the little dressing room. The third man was being baptized when the second man, wriggling out of his wet trousers, extricated one leg and gave a kick to free the other. His foot skidded on the wet linoleum floor, and into the baptistry he went—on top of the preacher and the third candidate!
He grabbed the sheet in desperation as he went, and carried it with him into the pool. Meanwhile, the first man had removed all his wet clothes but had not yet put on any of his dry garments. When the sheet disappeared into the water, it left him standing before the congregation in his birthday suit. He grabbed a chair and tried to hind behind it. The lights had been turned low for the baptism. Somebody yelled, “Turn out the lights!” An excited deacon accidentally turned them on full power.
Barring those incidents which should make us appreciate God’s sense of humor, there are few practices in the local church which are so unique as that of baptism. It is an event that marks the most implausible miracle of God—the transformation of a life! Baptism is that distinctive symbol given to the believer whereby he or she may declare to the church and the world of a new life in Christ. In light of this, it is unfortunate that so many churches throughout the history of Christianity have so sharply disagreed about a matter clearly defined in Scripture. And it is just as unfortunate that in recent decades so many have abandoned this important practice in favor of a more “personal” faith.
In speaking to the timeless relevancy of this important symbol for our faith in Christ, Paul wrote that believers had been “buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). What are some important principles provided in Scripture regarding the practice of baptism?
1. Baptism is not optional.
Since Scripture firmly establishes that salvation comes by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), we should never consider baptism or any other act as having the power to save. Only faith in Christ’s death and resurrection can save. However, this does not lessen the importance of baptism. It is a powerful outward expression symbolizing the inward reality of one’s faith in Christ (Romans 6:3-4). It is an act of obedience to the command of Christ (Matthew 28:19). And it is our rite of passage into the community of believers who are Christ’s Church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
It is as though faith in Christ has become reduced to the least requirements just so that one might be spared the fires of hell. Yet, one who refuses baptism because “you don’t have to be baptized to be saved” should be very fearful of such an attitude (Matthew 7:26-27; Hebrews 10:31).
2. The church is encouraged by baptism.
There are only two ordinances which Scripture commands for the local church. We are to regularly practice the sharing of the Lord’s Supper as a visible reminder of the gospel. And upon faith in Christ, one is to pass through the waters of baptism as a celebration of the transforming grace of God. The stirring of the baptismal waters should ignite encouragement within each and every believer as we are reminded again of God’s mercy to every sinner who believes on Christ. Baptism is not just one more activity on the calendar or in a worship service. Rather, Paul linked baptism to the very core of our salvation. “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7).
3. The gospel demands that we baptize.
Christ’s Great Commission to His Church (Matthew 28:19-20) contains several instructions. We are to “go and make disciples.” We are to “teach” the commandments of Christ. And likewise, we are to “baptize in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” It is not enough that we just go to church, wear a Christian t-shirt, or attempt to live morally. It is not enough that we just mention Jesus. We are to reproduce fully-functional disciples of Christ, which is pictured in baptism. Parents must lead their children in this. We must pray toward this end among neighbors and friends. The church must give and go so that the whole world would follow Christ in baptism.
Jason