The Waters of Baptism
Acts 10:34-48
Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
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Introduction
For the life of me, I can't remember my baptism, granted I was only an infant. And apparently, my memory is lacking enough that I can't even recall my sister's baptism, where apparently I shouted out, "My baby, my baby," as the minister walked my sister around the church (I guess I thought the minister was trying to steal my sister). Baptism is a moment in our lives that most people probably can't recall, yet it is something that plays such a tremendous role in the lives of disciples today (just as much as it was in the lives of ancient Christian communities). It is a lasting reminder that we are loved regardless and sealed in the heart of God.
The Sacrament of Baptism
A beautiful French Reformed liturgy for baptism says, "For you, little one, Jesus Christ came into the world. For you, he lived and showed God's love... All of this was done for you, though you don't know it yet. But we will continue to tell you this good news until it becomes your own, and so the promise of the Gospel is fulfilled: We love because God first loved us." Isn't that what we hear in Peter's message? We hear that baptism is more than the act of sprinkling or submerging oneself in water; it is a visible sign of a story of redemptive love, reflecting the heart and ministry of Jesus.
Baptism is not a sign of purity reserved for the few. But it is a sign of radical divine love that states that before God, both the clean and unclean will find welcome. In the new cosmic order, Jesus sits as judge over the living and dead, not us, for all living things find that they are bound to Christ and Christ to them, reaffirming the holiness of creation. In a time when we are quick to make judgments, put others down, or condemn them for simply being who they are, baptism reminds us that there is a greater love. And that divine love from our God sustains us in times of hardship.
Tending Wounded Hearts
"I truly understand that God shows no partiality," words from Peter that I pray we take to heart. Yet without sounding cynical, we live in a world full of beauty and simultaneously a world that can be quite cruel. As we hear in our reading today, baptism is not only a mark of discipleship but a sign that we are loved and claimed by God, and we are responsible for making sure that message is heard loud and clear. To proclaim as a part of our discipleship that each person has worth, value, and is loved, even if the cruel forces of this world try to say otherwise. Baptism is as much about saving hearts as it is about the soul's salvation.
Tending wounded hearts is part of the waters of baptism's role (as individuals and as a community. We should not forget it as we hear Peter's reminder of how Christ suffered and rose again, knowing the total weight of human pain. Though often we wrestle with this calling (as did the community Peter addresses), if we cannot support and love those wounded, what values does our baptism have in the end? Dr. David Litts, Special Advisor to the US Surgeon General, once said this about the role of the church in relationship to those struggling with mental health issues:
"People think about suicide for all kinds of reasons, but it basically comes down to two: A loss of hope and a loss of social connection. And if the church of Jesus Christ can't do something about those two things, it might as well just close its doors." (Dr. David Litts, MD, Special Advisor to the US Surgeon General)
I have to agree with Dr. Litts. What are we doing if we, as disciples and as a church, cannot live out our baptismal vows by meeting the needs of hurting hearts? I believe that we can be better, that we should be better, and that if we cannot work to address the hopelessness, desperation, anxiety, or social disconnection that people are feeling, what are we doing? The waters of baptism draw us to a story of healing and salvation that sets about a new order of things.
Fulfilling Our Baptism
In this today's passage, we hear that faith is all-encompassing; it permeates and works itself into all areas of our lives. That is why the vows we make in the Sacrament of Baptism, and the promises we make to God to follow Jesus Christ, are so important! Because these things are not some abstract offerings to a far-off cosmic entity. These waters of baptism are essential because they remind us that our faith reflects a God who came down to earth, took on human flesh, walked around the earth to be with those who are hurting, and put his teachings into action.
Conclusion
So how am I, how are you, how are we, living into our baptismal vows and the promises that we make to God when we choose to follow Jesus Christ? How are you nurturing your soul? And I know that I've said this before, but the spiritual endeavor is not done alone. Peter even says in this morning's text that we are not alone in our struggles, and the waters of baptism remind us that we are loved [by God] even in our darkest times, and we are called to love as we manifest that love in the lives of those in need. It is then that we will be living out the promises and the vows that we make during the Sacrament of Baptism. It is then that we will laugh, cry, and grow together as we journey along with life and faith together. It is then that we may genuinely remember our baptism.