Baptism At Wesley

Baptism marks a person's entry into the Christian community. It involves water: and depending upon the faith tradition, it may be anything from a symbolic sprinkling to complete immersion. The water symbolizes being cleansed from sin. More specifically, it symbolizes dying with Christ and being raised with him. This symbolism is clearest when immersion is used: being lowered into the water reminds us of Christ's death, and being raised from the water, of his resurrection. This understanding is used even among those who don't literally immerse the candidates.

Baptism, whatever the age of the person being baptized, is the sole rite of initiation into full membership in the Christian community, the body of Christ. The Baptism service celebrates the graceful initiative of God in calling and claiming us, and the faithful response of the people as community. Baptism is a sacrament of the Church, instituted by Christ. By baptism we enter the Church where we are nourished in faith and life by the other sacrament: the Lord's Supper -- Holy Communion.

The Christian Scriptures do not specifically say that children were baptized. They do suggest, however, that whole households were baptized together, and we assume children we included in that (Acts 15 & 15, I Corinthians 1:16). The New Testament was written during a time when the Church was spreading rapidly; and so the Baptism of adults was the most important thing then.

In the Baptism of anyone, the personal faith of the one being baptized is important. In the Bible it is described as a "Baptism of repentance," and involved Confession. The water is symbolic of birth into a new kind of life and community. The gift of the Holy Spirit which accompanies Baptism gives us the power to live this new life. The new life is understood as a life of union with Christ and with Christ's people. New Testament writers speak of that experience in different metaphors: Paul speaks of participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus; John talks of new birth; others talk of liberation from bondage and of the freedom of a new humanity. The gift of God in Jesus Christ, celebrated and claimed in Baptism, is the beginning of enduring participation in the journey of God's people towards God's new Creation.

Baptism is about covenant relationship, about promises. Here are the promises parents make when having a child baptized:

Will you accept the responsibility of acting and speaking on your child's behalf?

I will, by the grace of God.

Will you endeavour to show your child the Christian life and to grow with your child in faith?

I will, by the grace of God.

Desiring a renewed and continuing relationship with God, do you turn again toward God and away from that which separates you from the love of God?

I do, by the grace of God.

Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as Savior and Lord, seeking to follow his example of doing justice, seeking mercy and walking humbly with God?

I do, by the grace of God.

Do you commit yourself to the mission and ministry of Christ's Church?

I do, by the grace of God.

In return, the congregation makes a promise. They promise "As a baptized and baptizing Church, to support and nurture the person being baptized, within a community which worships God, resists evil and seeks justice!

If you wish to talk about baptism for yourself or a child in your family, please contact the Church office.

Copyright © 2003 by Wesley Memorial United Church.

All rights reserved.  Revised: Monday December 15, 2008 12:30 PM.