The movie OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
popularized the Appalachian hymn DOWN TO THE WATER TO PRAY, with its
celebration of baptism. The movie’s protagonist dismissed baptism, saying he
had bigger fish to fry. Hardly!
What is
baptism? Is it an act that gets you heaven’s eternal reward (as the character
in the movie claimed)? Is it something which must be done to infants to keep
them from hell in case they die? Is it like a kindergarten graduation ceremony
or a birthday party to make someone feel special? Baptism is too often
misunderstood and underappreciated by the Church, even by us Baptists who carry
its namesake (the 2008 Baptist Hymnal lists but two baptism hymns!).
The first
urgency, the first order of business for a new follower of Jesus, is to obey
his command to be baptized. Baptism is not optional. Nor is it to be deferred
for the sake of one's personal feelings or preferences. If one fails to be
obedient to this first command, what is the point of following Jesus at all?
Yet, baptism
is not something which saves. Rather, it is for the person who is already
saved. It is for those who have already decided to follow Jesus. Indeed,
baptism is a person's declaration to the world: "I am a Christian. I
follow Jesus. I pledge my life and devotion to him." As such, baptism is
not a private event. It is a public event, to be undertaken before many
witnesses.
Moreover,
baptism is a multifaceted symbol: 1) the washing away of sins through faith in Christ; 2) the dying and burial of the old
life, and the beginning of the new life; 3) the placement of a person
into the family of God, the Church.
If you are
already a believer but have not received believer's baptism, why don't you join
us down at the water to pray?
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