“Don’t worry,” the pastor said. “We put a tub by the ocean and fill it with ocean water. This is what we baptize you in so you don’t have to be worried about sharks or big waves.”
I heard this at church a few weeks ago. And I’m glad for their methods. I’ve seen some ocean baptisms before that were kind of rough. Big waves like to hold people down until they really repent.
In some ways it is not far from the truth. Baptism and death go together. And perhaps that why recently I’ve been yet again bothered by how people talk about baptism. I’ve heard the following statments:
“Baptism is a statement of our faith in Christ.”
“Baptism is a declaration of our new faith.”
“Baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality.”
It’s not that these are not true, but these are watered-down theological statements of baptism. It makes baptism seem less than what it is.
In the 1850’s there was great revival in the US. During those times denominations were plentiful and people had issues with one another as any faith in the world does. A set of principles was established and one of those truths put forth was to “call Bible things with Bible names.” It’s an important practice. This practice needs to also be applied to baptism.
When we call it a “statement of faith” or a “declaration of our faith.” It is based on fear that people will confuse baptism with a work that brings salvation instead of Jesus of whom salvation alone is found..
But let’s use that excellent principle of history and call baptism by it’s Bible name. And what is it?
Baptism is uniting ourselves with Christ’s death.
Baptism is how we unite ourselves with Christ (Rom 6:3-5).
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Three times it calls baptism a baptism a baptism and uniting into Christ’s death.
It is like when we go to a wedding, it is where we unite ourselves to a spouse. A covenant is made with another person.
This is baptism. It isn’t just a public declaration, although that is it too. But is more than that.
If we were to recapture the language of Biblical baptism, it might take on a whole new dimension. It might even bring us back to the cross.
The cross where Jesus’ death took place.
The cross where our own sits were put to death.
And the cross that we, too, are to carry as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
So let’s get back to Biblically speaking about baptism. In baptism, we are being united with the death of Christ. And just as we are united with the death of Christ, so too are we united in his resurrection.
Praise God.