Walking Wet (What, exactly, is baptism?)

Baptism, at its most basic definition, is the Christian act of ritually "washing away" sins and dedicating one's life to Christ. But even that definition is a bit problematic- mainly because in trying to create a basic, one-size-fits-all defintion, I had to overlook so many differences between Christian denominations. When we hear (or read) the word "baptism," we probably have a well-formed idea come into our heads. For most of us (at least in the Immanuel UCC youth group), that image is probably a small baby in a white outfit being held in front of a church, while a pastor pours or sprinkles a small amount of water of his/her tiny head. Then a few words are said, everyone smiles, and the family goes home after church to perhaps have a bit of cake and give the child some keepsakes to remember the day. But....... why? Why baptize as a child? Why wear white? Why sprinkle water on his head? Is it just tradition? Or are there layers of meaning behind these questions?

Since even the first paragraph of this topic is starting to get deep, we played Jeopardy to answer some of these questions without being too serious. And I have to say, I was pretty impressed by how much you guys remembered from Sunday School and confirmation! Well done! Now read on, my faithful friends, to find the questions and our answers! (Note: Yes, I know there aren't an equal number of questions in each category....)

Sodden Speedy Scriptures

(whichever team can read it first gets the point)

100 points: Matthew 3:13-17

200 points: Mark 1:1-8

300 points: Mark 16:15-16

400 points: John 3:1-8

500 points: Acts 8:34-40

 

 

Soaked Symbology

100 points: What are people baptized wearing now days?

Answer: Pretty much anything. Sometimes they're naked or in their undergarments (primarily for infant baptism), some wear a swimsuit, sometimes it's a white outfit (usually either very plain or very intricately decorated), could be anything that wouldn't become see-through during submersion, or it could be a special baptismal outfit (like a christening gown).

200 points: Why do people wear a white garment?

Answer: Two reasons. First, to signify purity and the washing away of sins. And second, to symbolize equality under Christ. Converts used to wear regular clothes until baptism (old life), would be baptized wearing little to nothing (there is nothing that can hide us from God), and then put on a plain white garment after baptism (because it doesn't matter if you were wearing a king's robe or tattered peasant rags before baptism, once you are a member of the church, all are beloved children of God).

300 points: Until the Middle Ages, people wore ______ to be baptized?

Answer: Nada. Zip. Zilch. (It was sort-of answered in the 200 point question, but I know you guys always go for the higher point questions first... :) )

 

 

Christening Queries

100 points: Name three people who may complete a baptism.

Answer: A priest/pastor, a bishop, the Pope, a deacon/deaconness, a chaplain (like in the military)- all of these are more or less no-brainers. Some denominations routinely choose a layperson or a specially certified "mature believer" to perform baptisms (such as having your specific mentor complete your baptism rites). Other traditions state that a child can be baptized by his or her mother/father. And while some churches require the baptizer to be an already baptized member of the church, others allow a non-baptized believer to baptize if they intend to do it with the meaning and symbology of the church, particularly if there are extenuating circumstances (like a life-or-death situation, where getting to church is just not an option). And finally, a believer may "baptize" him- or herself (depending on the denomination) if it is a life-or-death, completely remote situation.

200 points: What does "anabaptist" mean? (hint: it's not just "the Amish/Mennonites")

Anwer: It means "re-baptizer." Anabaptists believe strongly that infant baptism is not a valid baptism, since the child isn't aware of what is being done; if a believer had been baptized as a child, they would be re-baptized as an adult (and if a person had grown up in the anabaptist faith, they would simply be baptized just once as an adult). Anabaptists do not practice "confirmation," as they view baptism to be the confirmation of a believer's faith. As a side note, the belief and practice of re-baptizing adults was hugely controversial in the middle ages (it was radical even for the Protestant Reformation), and it resulted in persecution and even death for heresy.

300 points: Can a believer become "unbaptized?"

Answer: Legally, no- unless you're in France. Many people who were baptized as infants and stop believing as adults simply drift away from the church- but some would like a much more formal split. France is the only country to have had this fight go through the court system, but others have attempted it. For those who aren't legally able to strike their names from the baptismal roll (such as the Catholic church keeps), there are atheist and agnostic organiztions that will offer a certificate of "unbaptism."

400 points: Is baptism a sacrament to all Christians?

Answer: Nope. Some denominations view baptism as a time when the Holy Spirit enters a believer, making it a sacrament. Others view it as a public proclamation of faith, a ritual that is spiritually symbolic, rather than a holy transformation of the individual. And others, like the Salvation Army or the Quakers, don't practice baptism at all! (The Quakers, for example, believe that a Christian believer is being inwardly baptized by the Holy Spirit in a process of ongoing purification- meaning Christians no longer need the outward, water baptism of John).

500 points: Give 2 reasons some churches practice paedo-baptism (infant baptism).

Answer Options: Some view baptism as a covenant with God, much like the Jews view circumcision. Some believe infant baptism marks the child as God's, something that is incredibly significant on the spiritual plane (i.e.- spiritual warfare against the devil). Some denominations believe that baptism is necessary for salvation (it is NOT just a symbolic act, but a real cleansing of sin). And finally, there is evidence that the early church would baptize entire families when the central family member converted (see the book of Acts). Also, it's important to note that these reasons can and do overlap within denominations.

 

 

 

 

Characteristic Classes

100 points: Pouring water over the head of the baptized (aka: affusion) indicates which Christian event?

Answer: The pouring out of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2)

200 points: Submersion, or completely covering the new believer with water (such as in a lake or a large tub) is symbolic of _____________?

Answer: The death and resurrection of Christ (see Luke 23:44- 24:12)

300 points: Immersion indicates which form of the baptismal right?

Answer: This is a tricky one (often confused with submersion). Immersion is having the convert stand or kneel in water, while having water poured over her head.

400 points: Sprinkling the baptized one with water (called "aspersion") reminds us of which covenant with God?

Answer: Moses sprinkling sacrificial blood on the altar during the confirmation of God's covenant with the Israelites in the desert. Now, before you think this is a bit of an odd event to honor, remember that this covenant included the 10 Commandments- which you can probably recall the importance of (see Exodus 24:6-7)



 

We ended the day with a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing, and the opportunity to dip a finger in our cup of water to remember the significance of our own baptisms. The prayer we read is from the UCC Book of Worship, very slightly modified for our group:

We thank you, God, for the gift of creation called forth by your saving Word.
Before the world had shape and form, your Spirit moved over the waters.
Out of the waters of the deep, you formed the firmament and brought forth earth to sustain life.

In the time of Noah,
you washed the earth with the waters of the flood,
and your ark of salvation bore a new beginning.

In the time of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam,
our people Israel passed through the Red Sea waters
from slavery to freedom and crossed the flowing Jordan
to enter the promised land.

In the fullness of time, you sent Jesus Christ,
who was nurtured in the water of Mary's womb.
Jesus was baptized by John in the water of the Jordan,
became living water to a woman at the Samaritan well,
washed the feet of the disciples,
and sent them forth to baptize all nations by water and the Holy Spirit.

Bless by your Holy Spirit, gracious God, this water.
By your Holy Spirit save those who confess the name of Jesus Christ
that sin may have no power over them.
Create new life in us this day
that we may rise in Christ.
Glory to you, eternal God,
the one who was, and is, and shall always be,
world without end. Amen.

 

And finally, our Five Minutes of God Time: an instrumental Can't Help Falling In Love. Why? Because our relationship with God should be less of a fear that "Big Brother" is watching us, waiting to punish us. It should be more like falling in love- when the more you know of Him, the more you want of Him.