Saturday, December 09, 2006

THE SOFT SELL

Posted by Reverend Ref + at 4:43 PM

When Jesus said, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you," (Matt. 28:19-20) just how did he expect us to accomplish that?

I happen to think that this recorded saying is a bit out of order. I personally think it should say, " . . . make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Why, you ask? Because it seems that, over the years, people have forgotten about the teaching aspect of that command. People get so wrapped up in making sure other people are baptized that they forget to do any teaching. It's almost like this has become a litmus test of Really True Christians -- "How many people have you baptized?" Or, "How many people have you brought to be baptized?"

I could be wrong, but I think that the whole "baptism by the sword" (or the baseball bat, if you were lucky enough to hear my sermon on this in the chapel at Seabury) confirms my point that people are more intent on baptizing others come hell or high water rather than teaching them.

Why do I bring this up? Because from 11/28 through 12/12, St. Paul's has been hosting a Soup & Family Advent program. We made Advent wreaths on 11/28 so that everyone would have a wreath in time for the first Sunday of Advent. On 12/5 and 12/12 we are making Nativity sets.

Mrs. Ref invited some friends to join us for these events. They missed the first one, but were there last Tuesday for the first session of the Nativity set. This is a long, convuluted story, but suffice it to say that they used to attend the A.G. church on the north side of town. They don't anymore because they disagreed with the pastor of that church and he told them to "step back" for awhile. They've left permanently.

Anyway . . . so they came to the festivities on 12/5. This was their first time inside of a mainline liturgical church and I was giving them the tour. At one point the wife, looking at the hymnboard, asks, "What's Advent?"

Wow.

We went back downstairs and I explained that and some other things. To make a long story short, they will come back on 12/12 and they have invited some of their friends to come with them; because (as it was relayed back to me), "It's really nice to learn something without feeling like you can't question some doctrine that's being shoved down your throat."

Teach them. Answer their questions. Struggle with them. Make disciples. And then baptize them. It's why my entire evangelistic speech says, "Here's my card; feel free to drop by sometime."

The soft sell -- it may take longer, but I think it also lasts longer.

Labels: ,

3 comments:

Anonymous | 12:47 PM, December 10, 2006  

Either way you put that quote, the "make disciples" part comes first. And there has to be some education before someone can commit to Christ in a way that makes that individual a disciple. Hard to have faith in something you don't know anything about, isn't it? Can you truly say you "believe in Jesus" if you haven't a clue who this Jesus character is, or what he did?

This all, of course, makes the case that infant baptism isn't a valid practice, for you can't teach an infant in the same way you can an adult...

Jane Ellen+ | 9:33 AM, December 11, 2006  

Okay, my turn on the soapbox.

Dear Nutjob+: no, not exactly. Can you honestly say, with all your education, that you understand all there is to know about Jesus? And goodness, we certainly don't stop teaching (or learning) after baptism; nor should we.

We do not-- cannot-- presume how much one needs to know before one can be baptized. We all come as children before the Lord, to one extent or another.

I think the point here is that the number of baptisms one performs is not the goal, like tally marks in a score book. Making disciples, and walking with them, is. Baptizing and teaching (both/and) are both part of that, at whatever age.

Reverend Ref + | 1:54 PM, December 12, 2006  

Okay ... So I haven't really had time to chime in until now. I think Nutjob+ (may I call you Rev. Nut?) brings up a good question; and that is, "How can we baptize infants into something for which they have no choice?" It does seem to present the issue of forced baptism.

I think there is a difference, however, and that difference is this: Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and brings us into the community of faith that is the Church.

God adopts us. Almost every instance of adoption occurs without the child choosing to be adopted. It is the new parents who choose to adopt the child; and it is the biological parent(s) who choose to give that child up for adoption, often in the hopes of a better life.

So . . . the biological parents of a child give it up for adoption, through baptism, to become a child of God. All of this assumes, of course, that the parents will teach the child about, and raise the child in, the faith which we proclaim. I will agree that we could do better in that department, for how many people have their children baptized and never grace the doors of church again?

But the point remains: Parents give up their child for adoption by God, just like biological parents give up their children for adoption. And because of that, I will maintain that infant baptism is just as valid as adult baptism.

Post a Comment

First time comments will be moderated.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)