Andy's Blog: A Personal Word
April 2007 Archive
April 25, 2007
Apr. 25, 2007Several years ago, as I was baptizing a baby, her five year old brother who was also present, blurted out “What are you doing to my sister?” It’s a good question. What are we doing in baptism?
For United Methodist Christians, baptism is first and foremost something that God does. “We love because he first loved us,” the Gospel of John declares. God initiates a covenant with us. His love does not wait on us. He chooses us before we choose him. Some Christian bodies put the emphasis in baptism on our decision, our choice, our belief. Believer’s Baptism is the term given to this view. For us, baptism is not dependent upon us – upon our actions. It is not a sign of our decision to do anything; it is the sign of what God has already done. God is the actor and we are the recipients of his loving actions.
For this reason, Methodists, along with most Christian bodies, practice infant baptism, which signifies that God is already at work in the life of a child. We believe in the “prevenient grace” of God that works in our lives before we are aware of it, bringing us to faith. Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” We believe that Christ has given children a place among the people of God. Parents may, of course, choose not to have their children baptized as an infant – but it does not alter the meaning of baptism as God’s act.
We believe that it is vital for each person to make a personal decision for Christ in their lives – to say “yes” to the God who has already said “yes” to us. At confirmation, persons are given this opportunity to remember and affirm their baptism, to make a personal commitment to Christ; and to become a “professing member” of the church.
Again, following most Christian traditions, baptism is a one time sacrament. While our vows to God may be less than reliable, God’s promise to us made in our baptism is steadfast. He does not take that promise back, nor break it. When people come to a place of decision, a service of recommitting our life and remembering our baptism is the appropriate response to renewing our promise to God, whose promise remains secure.
Baptism is the sacrament of initiation. Through baptism we become a part of the body of Christ, the church. We are given our identity as sons and daughters of God. This is why baptism takes place primarily in public worship. There is nothing private about baptism. It is becoming a part of a people. When a child is baptized they are becoming “baptized members” of the church. At confirmation they become “professing members.”
United Methodists recognize the equal validity in any of the modes of baptism used by Christians through the ages: pouring, sprinkling, immersion. Each mode finds rich symbolism in the scriptures. We recognize the validity of all Christian baptisms which follow the scriptural mandate to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Baptism initiates us into Christ’s whole Church, not just a denomination.
Baptism is not the end for faith, it anticipates a lifelong journey of faith and growth in grace. As our Bishop has written, it is a once and for all sacrament that takes a whole lifetime to complete. Parents presenting children for baptism promise to model the Christian life for them. To grow them up in their baptism. As youth and adults, we accept our baptismal vows as we promise to serve Christ as Lord. At our baptism, we receive the gift of God’s Spirit which continues to work in our lives. “Baptism is a lifelong process of conversion and nurture that begins at the font and does not end until we are at last tucked safely into the arms of the God who first reached for us in our baptism.” (Will Willimon)
At Trinity, we try to give baptism the importance for which it calls as the act by which God claims us now and forever.
April 18, 2007
Apr. 18, 2007On Sunday evening I read the lectionary readings for next week, which includes the story of Saul’s conversion in Acts 9. I do this to start my reflections for the coming week. I read the text, then set it aside, letting it begin to work in my mind. After reading Acts, I watched a DVD we had rented with the title “Blood Diamond.” I never thought the two would have anything to do with each other, but they did.
The title “Blood Diamond” refers to diamonds that were used by rebel groups in Africa to fuel conflict and civil wars that resulted in the death and displacement of millions of people. The movie is set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990’s Sierra Leone. Blood Diamond is the story of Danny Archer – an ex Mercenary from Zimbabwe. Danny was orphaned as a child and grew up hardened by his experience. He makes a living smuggling blood diamonds. His only concern is with himself, with surviving.
While in prison for smuggling, Archer meets Solomon Vandy, a fisherman who was taken from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields. Solomon has found and hidden an extraordinary pink stone. Danny wants the diamond, and will do anything to get it. He forces Solomon to lead him to the diamond. But on the journey Danny undergoes a transformation – a conversion – not unlike that of Paul. In the end, Danny sacrifices his own life, giving Solomon the diamond to save his family.
The connection? Paul who breathed “threats and murder” against the disciples of Jesus, after his conversion, ends up giving his life for the gospel. Both are given new eyes to see the world in a very different way from that which they had grown accustomed.
We all look at the world through “rose colored glasses” of one sort or another. These “glasses” tend to allow us to see only what we want to see, to filter out the parts of life that we find unpleasant, or would rather not confront. Paul had to be blinded on the road to Damascus before God could open his eyes to the truth.
Somehow reading Acts 9, and then watching this film opened my eyes. Bill Long has written that at the heart of the universe is a heart that grieves. There is much in the world today that grieves the heart of God. As much as we would like to turn our eyes away and pretend not to see, that is not an option for those who follow this crucified and risen Lord. He is in the business of opening our eyes to the world’s brokenness so that we can join him in healing that brokenness.
April 11, 2007
Apr. 11, 2007I watched in horror as the Greek Cruise ship the Sea Diamond sank off the coast of the island of Santorini last week. What peaked my interest was the fact that we were passengers on the same ship last summer and visited the same spot where it sank!
I remember when we boarded the ship on the mainland, we had not been in our cabin but a few minutes when the announcement was made to come on deck for the life boat drill. We were busy sorting out our suitcases, putting things in drawers and I said to Dawn, “Let’s skip the drill.” But the cabin steward came down the hall and told us we needed to be on deck. As we practiced putting on life jackets, I thought to myself, “How stupid. What a waste of time. This ship travels the same route every week. The weather is good. What’s the chance of it sinking?”
As I watched the footage of the Sea Diamond going belly up, I thought to myself, “Now I understand! I will never complain about a boat drill again. I will listen carefully when the steward on the plane gives the cabin instructions. I will check the fire exits in every theater I enter!”
Sometimes it is only after the fact that you recognize the importance of something. That was true of the Easter story. The first response to the story of the empty tomb was one of fear and disbelief. The messengers at the tomb told the women, “Remember how He told you that he must be handed over to die, and on the third day rise again?” The gospel then says, “They remembered.” When Jesus first told them this, they did not understand what He was talking about. Only afterwards did it make sense.
Often in life, it’s hard to make sense of things as they are happening. It’s hard to see God in the midst of our difficulties and heartaches. It’s only afterward that we look back to discover that God was there all the time. How else would we have made it? Lots of things in life make sense only from the other side. Faith is one of those.
April 4, 2007
Apr. 4, 2007Faust, in the old story, gambled with the devil for his soul. An artist has painted a picture of a game of chess. Faust is on one side, the devil is on the other. In the picture, the game is almost over. Faust has only a few pieces left – a king, a knight, and one or two pawns. On his face is a look of despair, and on the other side of the board the devil leers in anticipation of his coming triumph.
The story goes that many a chess player has looked at the picture and agreed that Faust’s position was hopeless. He has lost. But one day a great chess master visited the gallery, and stood gazing at the picture for a long time. He was fascinated by the terrible look of despair on Faust’s face. Then his gaze went to the pieces on the board. He stared at them absorbed. Other visitors to the gallery came and went, and still he stared at the board, lost in thought. Then suddenly the gallery was startled by a shout, “It’s a lie! The king and the knight have another move. It’s a lie!”
This is what we know about our human struggles. Often it appears that we have come to an end – our resources are depleted. Failure, sin, evil, despair – have the upper hand. We are just waiting for the final move to seal our fate. But Easter proclaims this is a lie. When it appears the end has come; that death and denial have once again had their way; that hate is stronger than love – God has another move. God answers with resurrection. What had seemed impossible is now possible.
Where there seemed to be no hope, God gives hope.
Tomb, thou shalt not hold him longer;
Death is strong, but life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, the light,
Stronger than the wrong, the right;
Faith and hope triumphant say,
Christ will rise on Easter day.
– Phillip Brooks