Baptism – What’s the Point?

We’re coming around again to National Baptism Week (Oct 13-20), and across our movement of 1040 churches, I know there are some who are super-excited about it. But there’ll be others who just aren’t. Some think, ‘What’s the point of religious ceremonies, when the real thing is to really follow Jesus in real life.’ Baptism Week can just seem like making a ritual about a ritual! Well, let’s think about it.

It is One of Those Things
The first and perhaps most significant problem with ceremony-cynicism is that if our focus truly was on really following Jesus and doing the things he taught – well, we’d find that baptism is one of the things he taught. It’s true that Jesus was deeply critical of empty rituals and mere outward expressions of devotion. But while throwing out the hypocrisy bathwater, he kept the baptism baby. So it’s strange to claim that we’re so keen on obeying Jesus that we decide to disobey him.

Thank God it’s this Simple!
Secondly, if we find ourselves sighing and asking, ‘What’s the point of just getting into water and answering obvious questions and getting all wet and having a prayer time?’ – well perhaps imagine if Jesus required walking over hot coals or losing an ear to prove our repentance and join his kingdom. It would still be worth it, wouldn’t it? But he makes it scandalously easy for people to make a start with him.

So when you see a bargain, don’t complain about the price being too low. Get your dollar out! Don’t be like Naaman, who wanted some grander quest than being dipped in water for healing.^{2 Kings 5} Go, dip, and thank God!

It’s beautiful and gracious that the ‘equipment’ needed in Christianity is just water, just bread and juice. How accessible he makes his kingdom to the poor! Let’s not consider ourselves above it.

We Deeply Need It
And finally, ceremonies do much more for us than we might realise. Compare ‘being in love’ and a wedding. The former is essential, but the latter grounds it, extends it, and shows it to the world, which in turn respects and supports it. Weddings do a lot for love.

Ceremonies also witness to and bless others. Any pastor will tell you that baptisms beget baptisms, faith made public sparks faith. We’re all caught up in the stories of others and spurred along by them. Consider just how important celebrations are in Jesus’ lost-and-found parables.^{Luke 15}

I’m a Gen-Xer, part of a long generation that’s questioned everything and burnt a lot to the ground. The next generations are rightly questioning our questioning and burning our boxes of matches. So many of them are actively seeking a better approach to life and relishing the rediscovery of Christian rituals. They’re getting baptised in remarkable numbers, and they see Baptism Week as a no-brainer. So let’s not over-brain it, let’s celebrate with them and with God!