Just what IS baptism, anyhow? –One of the BEST definitions I’ve ever heard is by Martin Marty, Chicago theologian and prolific writer.  He says [quote]:  “The water of baptism is NOT an aqueous solution for bottling and preserving the Christian until such time as he [or she] is shipped off to the kingdom.  It is rather the water from which he [or she] rises, through which he [or she] is delivered, by which he [or she] is cleansed.”

    That’s PROFOUND! –The water of baptism ISN’T CARBONATED!  The Church is no sacred soft-drink BOTTLING PLANT, that, BY this sacrament, hermetically seals its members, thus keeping them snug and safe till they get to HEAVEN.


    Of course, SOME denominations DO view baptism essentially in those terms.  They claim that an UNbaptized person—even an unbaptized INFANT—can’t go to HEAVEN.  Hence, in an EMERGENCY, those churches authorize ANYONE—clergyperson or layperson, Christian or non-Christian, even an atheist—to perform a baptism.  (Some of you who are registered nurses may remember this from your training.)

    But Marty DISAGREES.  And I disagree!  Baptism’s no MAGIC ACT.  Instead, it’s the rite that numbers us with Christ’s people.  That initiates us into the Church, his Body.  That launches our lives as Christians! In our Second Lesson for today, from Galatians, chapter 3, the Apostle Paul declares:  “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

    Now, friends, please consider with me briefly two aspects of baptism.  First, look at its RECIPIENTS.  Christian churches—and perhaps this is ESPECIALLY true in the so-called Bible Belt, where I was raised, the Deep South and perhaps much of the Midwest as well—vigorously disagree as to WHOM should be baptized.  On the one hand, SOME denominations practice only what they call “believers’ baptism.”  That is, they bar young children from this sacrament until they are OLDER, until they can, ON THEIR OWN, profess faith in Christ prior to the ceremony.
    
    Presbyterians, however, along with the GREAT MAJORITY of Christians throughout the world, believe that even the INFANT children of the faithful are to be baptized.  –WHY?   Well, in the FIRST place, infant baptism recognizes the SOLIDARITY OF THE FAMILY!  When a baby’s born, do the parents say, “Child, you can’t be a PART of our family YET.  We’ll wait until you’re OLDER and can decide FOR YOURSELF whether or not you want to JOIN our family!”

    That would be FOOLISH!  But, friends, isn’t it EQUALLY so, in the case of the CHURCH, GOD’s family? –THINK about it!  In Biblical times Jewish parents constantly reminded their children that they were a part of the Lord’s covenant people.  To this day, in a devoutly Jewish home, the children were reminded by the lighting of the Shabbat candles by the mother each Friday at sundown; by the ritual prayers, some of which date back to the time of Jesus; and especially at the greatest observance of all, the annual Passover meal, of the fact that they were, from birth, part of God’s beloved family.  During the Seder (or Passover meal) the youngest child in the family, who is able, asks, “Why is this night different from every night of the year?”  And the father (or the one who is playing the father for the Seder) replies with the liturgical answers that explain the whole story of the liberation of the Jews from Egypt, the Passover, and the Exodus, led by Moses, designated by the Lord to rescue and lead the Chosen, Covenant People to their Promised Land.

    Male Jewish infants, at eight days of age, received the rite of circumcision as a SIGN of that covenant.  And when a Gentile converted to the Jewish faith, he was baptized—along with his WIFE, his CHILDREN, and even his SERVANTS, if he HAD servants.  The same was true when a Jew or a Gentile became a Christian.  Indeed, in the New Testament (especially in the Book of Acts) we see ENTIRE HOUSEHOLDS receiving Christian baptism, upon conversion of the head of the family.
                           
    But ANOTHER, even MORE IMPORTANT reason for baptizing infants is the fact that baptism ISN’T what a HUMAN BEING does, so much as what GOD does!  In the Sacrament you and I DON’T go before the Lord and say, “LOOK, here’s my faith!  And I’ve been baptized.  Therefore, God, you OWE me (or you owe my CHILD) salvation IN EXCHANGE for it!”

    That goes against FREE GRACE in Christ! --


    Doesn’t the very HELPLESSNESS of the infant, at baptism—the fact that the baby can’t even TALK or ACT for itself—testify greatly to God’s UNCONDITIONAL love for us?  To God’s movement to SAVE us, even BEFORE we possess any ability to move towards GOD?

    But having looked at the recipients of baptism, consider, finally, its REDEMPTIVE VALUE! –Don’t get me WRONG!  I’m not saying that baptism is essential for SALVATION.  Unlike SOME Christians, Presbyterians DON’T view baptism as washing away the stain of original sin.  Nor do we believe that it KEEPS us from sin in the FUTURE.  THAT would get us back to the “carbonated water” view of baptism, wouldn’t it?  (Remember Jesus’ two dying companions in death, both of them convicted felons?  The one was unrepentant.  But the other asked our Lord to remember him “when you come into your kingdom.”
    
    And what was the dying Jesus’ reply? –“Today you will be with me in paradise!”  No baptism for the repentant thief; simply his faith in Christ’s saving power.

    No, the REDEMPTIVE value of baptism is MUCH MORE DYNAMIC than that.  It’s the SACRED RITE by which a child normally ENTERS THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.  That ceremony by which he or she is joined into a PRECIOUS RELATIONSHIP between the three parties to the baptism:  the PARENTS, the CONGREGATION, and the LORD!  English poet and divine John Donne once wrote THESE moving words:  “When the Church baptizes a child, that action concerns me, for that child is connected to that which is my head too, and engrafted into that body whereof I am a member.”

    And, friends, baptism ISN’T something that happens on a particular Sunday morning, and then is OVER and DONE with.  NO!  There’s a sense in which YOUR baptism and MINE CONTINUES throughout ALL OUR LIVES!   For God’s Spirit works IN us throughout life, deepening our faith, gradually making us better by the Holy Spirit’s power, and drawing us ever close to CHRIST!

    NO!  The water of baptism isn’t carbonated!  Instead, in the words of Marty, “it is . . . the water from which [the Christian] RISES, through which [the Christian]  is DELIVERED, [and] BY which [the Christian]  is CLEANSED!”

Prayers:
    Wise God, we thank you that Jesus’ baptism did not shelter him from the raging storms, but sent him out, in love, into the midst of them, to seek and to save us by his life, death, and resurrection.   Help US, especially during the tempests of OUR OWN lives, to remember our baptism and to rejoice that we are forever sealed with the mark of the cross.
     Guiding God, hear our prayers for your holy Church throughout the world; for Christians who live and work in troubled nations--some of them, enduring persecution and even death, for the cause of the Master.  Bless this congregation of your people, and those represented here this morning, that we may ever seek your will and have the courage to obey it.
    Healing God, be a balm to all your children who need your help in special ways today, particularly to any who bow in this holy place this morning who may know pain of body, mind, or spirit.  Deliver your sons and daughters who are sick— comfort and sustain those who sorrow.
    Ruling God, uphold and strengthen the leaders of the nations everywhere--and particularly those of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth of Nations, and every countries and states on earth, that they may continually seek the ways of peace, justice, and freedom for all.  Particularly bring justice, liberty, and harmony to the Middle East.
    Finally, God of our fathers and mothers, accept our praises for all the baptized who, having walked in faith with you through the storms of life, now rejoice with you evermore in heaven.  Keep us united to them in mystic communion, and, in your own time, rejoin us to them eternally.
    For we make these and all our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.  Amen.