What Baptism IS and is NOT

This essay is based on an earlier version by Gareth Harron, an Anglican vicar in the Diocese of Down & Dromore in the Church of Ireland.

What Baptism IS

Baptism is a signpost which points to some really important things in life such as:
• Forgiveness
• New Birth
• Eternal Life
• Grace
• God who loves us
• The uniqueness of the Triune God

Forgiveness
If we do not want to be forgiven or to forgive others, then we do not need baptism. Baptism signifies our need for God’s forgiveness. The water symbolizes washing. God has the power to cleanse us spiritually and to offer us the washing of forgiveness. Peter’s letters in the Bible tell us that all this is possible because Jesus “bore our sins” on the cross. Jesus has paid the debt of our sins and sinfulness through his execution and resurrection. All of us need to admit our need for forgiveness and receive it from God. When we receive God’s forgiveness of us through acknowledging Jesus as our Liberator and Lord, we are empowered to be able to forgive other people and to live as though we have been born anew.

New Birth
If we think the world — with all of its suffering and injustice — is as good as it gets, then we do not need baptism. Baptism signifies our desire for a New Birth. Being immersed in the water of baptism symbolizes dying to an old life without God. Rising from the water symolizes entering our new life with the Triune God. Each of us needs to be, as the Bible says, “born again” — otherwise we cannot enter the Kingdom of eternal life with God.

Eternal Life
If we have no longing to live with more joy than we could ever imagine, then we do not need baptism. Baptism signifies our yearning for life to be more than it currently is. The new birth of baptism leads us into a never-ending relationship with God. Eternal life with God is not something that begins when we die on earth and go to heaven. We begin enjoying eternal life now on this side of eternity by God’s grace.

Grace
If we have no desire for more grace in our lives, then we do not need baptism. Baptism signifies our hunger for God’s grace in our lives. One way to define grace is to say that: Grace is God loving us and blessing us when we don’t deserve it. When we receive God’s grace, we can, in turn, be more gracious people and bless others even when they don’t deserve it.

God who loves us
If we are satisfied with life without God, then we do not need baptism. Baptism signifies our longing for God. We can try to find satisfaction in life through wealth, achievements, addictions, relationships with other people, etc.. But until we know that we have a right relationship with God — until we know his love in our life — then we will never find true fulfillment.

The uniqueness of the Triune God
If we want to continue to look for blessings outside of our relationship with the God who loves us, then we do not need baptism. The god we’re talking about here is the Triune God described in the Christian Bible: Yahweh who is God the Father, Jesus Christ who is God the Son, and the Holy Spirit who is God the Spirit. Baptism signifies our commitment to this god to be our one and only God. Some people have tried to mix their relationship with God with the occult, (e.g., astrology, psychics, ouija boards, tarot cards, New Age enlightenment), or with secret societies (e.g., Freemasons, Shriners), or with cults claiming to have truths that go beyond the Christian Bible (e.g., Mormons/Latter Day Saints, Jehovah Witnesses, ‘Christian Science’). But God is not looking for people who want to fool around with alternative gods. God is looking for people who are ready to be like a pure, faithful bride to him for the rest of their lives.

What Baptism is NOT

1. Baptism is NOT ‘membership’ in any particular denomination — baptism by Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, non-denominational, etc. is all the same.
2. Also, baptism is NOT membership in any particular parish/church/congregation — baptism marks us as being adopted as a child of God, and therefore we are part of the universal Body of Christ.
3. Baptism is NOT a spiritual inoculation or insurance payment (people sadly still get sick).
4. Baptism is NOT something to do just because there is pressure from someone (like a member of the family) to go ahead with it. The vows in the Book of Common Prayer show there needs to be a sincere commitment to bring up the child as a Christian.
5. When it comes to infants and young children: Baptism is NOT about giving people a name (people are properly and legally named when their birth is registered).
6. Baptism is NOT about making sure that a child will go to heaven if he/she dies young. God does not judge children differently just because one has been through a service of baptism and another has not.
7. Baptism is NOT about saying “thank you” to God for the birth of a child. Thanking God is a good thing to do, but there are other ways of doing it which will allow a family to celebrate the happy occasion as well.
8. Baptism is NOT about giving someone a “good start” in life. Baptism is only a first step on what should be a journey of Christian discipleship — otherwise it is a start of nothing.

What is required?

1. Christian parents need to encourage their child in the Christian life — giving them every opportunity to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus Christ throughout life.
2. Repentance — dying to life-without-God and committing to living life-with-God.
3. Personal Faith — The faith of your parents and church must be your own personal faith. Faith is not mere private belief — it is your active trust in the Triune God as the Trustworthy One. Faith involves both saying you believe the good news (such as reciting the Apostles Creed), and living out its implications. When your faith is tested by life’s challenging circumstances, the faith of the whole Body of Christ supports you.
4. Sponsors/godparents must be baptized Christians and persons of discreet age. It is desirable that parents be the sponsors for their own children. Un-baptized parents who want their child baptized should be baptized before their child — as Gareth Harron says: “Why would you want for your child what you yourself do not have?”

Some Practicalities:

1. For immersion baptism: Wear clothes and shoes that you do not mind getting wet. Women may wear modest one-piece bathing suits, and men may wear modest trunks with a shirt. Avoid wearing clothing that may become un-modest after getting wet (such as a white t-shirt with nothing underneath it).
2. Also for immersion baptism, bring a towel to dry off and a change of clothes.
3. When speaking or answering questions remember to say it loud enough for people throughout the building to hear!
4. When it comes to infants and young children: At the font one of the sponsors (traditionally a godmother) holds the little child and gives the child’s name when requested — just the first name.
5. After the Baptism it is often our practice to carry little children around the church to show that they are welcomed into the family of the visible church. They are then returned to one of the parents and the parents and godparents can be seated again while the congregation prays for them.