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baptism dilemma
This may generate some debate-- and given the right debate i'm interested in it.
what i'm not really interested in debating is the legitimacy of baptizing babies. i've already debated it extensively and clearly believe it is the privilege of Christian believers. (at this point it is widely abused as a cultural rite of passage and commonly offered to nominal Christians as a right of church membership) As children were circumcised on the 8th day and raised inside the Covenant Community of Israel, so should the children of real Christians bear the mark of the New Covenant and be raised inside the circle of faith. I mean, why should we raise our children as technical pagans? (ok i know that's a cheap shot at those who don't believe in baptizing babies and i retract it-- so please don't shoot back) Certainly, the baptism of a baby is inadequate in and of itself. The parents are making vows for the child until such a time as the child is of age to claim faith personally for themselves. If the commitment to Jesus is not actualized personally, we have a major problem. (and that no matter at what age the baptism occurs)
Here's the dilemma. Our David has recently lamented to us, in the wake of Samuel's baptism, that he can't remember his baptism. And he has a point. The dilemma: how can you remember what you can't remember?????? And I don't think re-baptism is the way. As an aside, what drives me insane is the way Boards of Ordination in the United Methodist Church make this almost a litmus test of being ordained. Those of you who have persevered through this process know the question: Suppose an adult comes to you who was baptized as a baby and only really came to faith much later. They want to be baptized again. What do you tell them? What's insane is that many of these boards will actually hold up your ordination if you say you would baptize them again. What's with this?!
I do understand that re-baptism is not necessary. There is only one baptism. It is initial-- the starting line-- and need not be repeated. It's like getting married. You can renew your vows, but you can only actually marry the same person once. But, you can renew your vows-- which is a reenactment of sorts.
This is what I am driving at-- what about baptismal re-enactment? I know. I know. Some of you are saying, "But J.D. you should use the "remember your baptism" service in the handy-dandy United Methodist Hymnal. But that's the problem--- how can you remember what you can't remember. What about a re-enactment of baptism that wouldn't be re-baptism and yet it would provide a clear moment that would, in fact, be rememberable?
What about instead of saying, "David, I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," we said, "David, you are baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," as he was immersed in the water.
My complaint with baptizing babies is the way it can effectively rob people of a key experience that was intended to be a gift of grace-- a living moment of revelation.
just some ponderings i have been thinking through post-Arkansas trip.
any thoughts?
Photo: yesterday before work David excitedly presented me with this drawing. I've never quite heard it expressed like this. Really blessed me and I pass it on here as a blessing here to you. what do you see and hear in it? posted by John David Walt | at 10/27/2006 07:41:00 AM | 24 comments
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
KingdomTide Reader v.2 After that last post with the unending trail of comment glee-- I can't get Elton John out of my head. "Can you feel the love tonight. . . . ."
A number of you took me up on my offer to send you a KingdomTide Reader-- the way we are reading a common text together at our seminary this fall. Well, part two is ready. . . . . . . and it's worldwide.
Wanted to invite you to a shared journey in THE STORY for the next 40 days.
Check out our Reader Blog here
A gifted team of our students have put together a combination of visual art, scripture readings and audio recordings of the readings done in multiple languages where available. It's a proto-type. So let us know what you think.
Be sure to check the trailer out dated october 23 or so. posted by John David Walt | at 10/24/2006 11:11:00 PM | 3 comments
Friday, October 20, 2006
Coming Back
Man have I ever missed FARMStrong. And I fear I have lost my 8 wwr's. (that's bloghand for world wide readers).
Whatever the case, I'm ready to get moving again. We've been through some particularly difficult days at Asbury Seminary.
We baptized our Samuel last Sunday and I thought I would reemerge with a photo and a poem from the occasion.
The Poem is aptly titled
Baptism
Watering
the Seed
of a Word
made flesh
Liquid Love
like Spirit
pouring
Life Forever
in the field
of a
Name
We baptized Samuel along with his cousin, Chase, on the banks of the Arkansas River. Both my parents and Tiffani's parents live on the river about 2 hours apart. Tiffani's folks graciously hosted us at their home for the baptism celebration. The bridge is part of the spectacular view my parents have of the river. And doesn't the bridge make an interesting statement about baptism.
Let me know if you are still with me. posted by John David Walt | at 10/20/2006 08:59:00 PM | 21 comments
Thursday, October 12, 2006
I'm coming back to the heart of FARMStrong. . . . o.k. o.k. o.k. . . . . . FARMStrong is needing a boost. Pray for us. Going on a 10 day trip to Arkansas -- pilgrimage. We are baptizing Samuel out by the Arkansas River on Sunday. Hoping to spend some time on the FARM. This may well be my Dad's last crop. We're all hoping he will park the tractor after this one.
Pray for poetry and peace.
i'll do better in the coming weeks.
Thanks to you encouragers who have called me back to the heart of blogging. . . . . it's all about you.
photo of Omar Alrikabi, who shared his story in chapel a week ago yesterday. check it out on itunes-- search for asbury at worship and you will find our podcast feed.
posted by John David Walt | at 10/12/2006 10:59:00 PM
| 4 comments
Monday, October 02, 2006
Back in the Shire (a.k.a wilmore)
Reaching back to earlier last weekend I wanted to get the FARMfam a few photos of the gang. We visited Boyd's Orchard (for about the 85th time) this time with the Crockett family. Daniel and Tonya have four kids-- Jared, Meredith, Blake and Grayson along with our four. Every Friday night is catfish night so that was good.
BTW, I'm back from Austin. More on that trip to come. posted by John David Walt | at 10/02/2006 10:11:00 PM | 9 comments
Today...