What is baptism? Baptism is a sacrament of the Christian church involving the action of washing with water in the context of Christian worship. Christian baptism is done in the name of the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) following Jesus Christ s words in Matthew 28:18-20. There are a variety of metaphors and symbols in the Christian Scriptures that elucidate the meaning of baptism. Thus, the precise meaning and mode of baptism will vary from church to church, as it has throughout Christian church history. The Christian church generally agrees across time and across the theological spectrum that baptism must involve water, the name of the Triune God, and the church. The following material is taken from resources of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) known as the Book of Order and the Book of Confessions. These resources are rooted in the language and thought of the Christian Scriptures. Water "The water used for Baptism should be common to the location, and shall be applied to the person by pouring, sprinkling, or immersion. By whatever mode, the water should be applied visibly and generously." - Book of Order (W-3.3605) Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan by John the Baptizer (see Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). Though washing with water for purification was a part of the ritual life of ancient Israel, there was no precedent for the movement of water baptism that John the Baptizer initiated. Christians practice baptism because Jesus was baptized and Jesus commanded his first disciples to baptize (see Matthew 28:18-20). Some Christians desire to be baptized with water from a specific location - ocean water, river water, or lake water. Some even desire to be baptized by water from the same river that Jesus was baptized in, the Jordan River. The church encourages water common to the location because what matters most to Christians is that all water comes from God and so all water is sacred. There is no ultimate difference between the water in the Jordan River and water from the church kitchen tap. Water doesn t become holy or sacred because of words or prayers said over it, rather, water is sacred because God created it and instituted it as the primary symbol for the cleansing of sin and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
The mode of baptism means the method through which water is applied to the body. There are three modes common to the Christian Church: pouring, sprinkling, and immersion. Throughout history, Christians have prioritized the essential nature of one mode over and above the others, often citing different Scriptures to validate their perspective. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) recognizes all modes of baptism: As there is one body, there is one Baptism (Ephesians 4:4-6). The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) recognizes all baptisms with water in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit administered by other Christian churches. - Book of Order (W-2.3010) The most common mode of baptism in a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is sprinkling. Sprinkling involves the Pastor / Teaching Elder of the church cupping water from the baptismal font with his or her hands and applying it to the head of the person being baptized. The amount of water used varies from pastor to pastor, and there is no minimum or maximum amount of water prescribed. In a very important sense, baptism is a very human ritual. It is imprecise and each baptism is, in its own rite, unique. So, Presbyterian churches will generally use the mode of sprinkling, though depending on a person s faith background, a different mode may be chosen. The Church In Jesus Christ, God calls people to faith and to membership in the Church, the body of Christ. Baptism is the visible sign of that call and claim on human life and of entrance into the membership of the church. - Book of Order (G-1.0301) In our day and age, the word church is often used to describe the physical location or building used for gathering and worship. While this is generally acceptable, biblically and historically the church is not the building but the people. The physical building is important in as much as buildings give Christians a sense of sacred space, and a vital resource for worship and ministry. Still, baptism need not be done in a particular building; rather, baptism involves particular people, what we often call the visible church. These are the people who represent the church in a gathering of worship or who represent the church as appointed leaders. Baptism is celebrated in a service of public worship. Extraordinary circumstances may call for the administration of Baptism apart from the worship of the whole congregation. In such cases care should be taken that (1) the congregation be represented by one or more members of the session; (2) a proper understanding of the meaning of the Sacrament be offered by the teaching elder; (3) the session be consulted when possible; (4) the Baptism be reported by the officiating teaching elder and recorded by the session. - Book of Order (W-2.3011)
The Christian worship service is the time and place where Christians gather together most frequently and most wholly. The vast majority of Christian churches hold worship on Sunday morning. Other services of worship are held at other times (i.e. Saturday evening or Sunday evening), depending on a particular church s values, mission, and resources. In the a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) the appointed leaders are known as the Session (a.k.a. Ruling Elders) and the Teaching Elder (a.k.a. Pastor). As stated above, in extraordinary circumstance these leaders may represent the church during a baptism outside of the worship gathering. Such circumstances, however, must be truly extraordinary, as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) places a high emphasis on the communal dimension of baptism. Throughout Christian history, baptism has been the primary initiation rite for both a new life in Jesus Christ and membership in the Christian church. So the meaning of baptism is, on the one hand, about an individual person s faith in Jesus Christ and, on the other hand, about a whole community s faith in Jesus Christ. This communal dimension of baptism is important in a day and age where everything in our American context is tailored to fit personal tastes and needs. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds high this value of Christian community, especially when we talk about the meaning of baptism In Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, God unites persons through baptism regardless or race, ethnicity, age, sex, disability, geography, or theological conviction. - Book of Order (F-1.0403) This last quote is a good final word for what we mean when we say church. The church is not a group of people who all look the same, think the same, or even wear the same clothing. The visible church ought to reflect the wide diversity of people in God s good world. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) strives to be an inclusive community, just as Christ Jesus was inclusive in his approach to table fellowship and ministry. The church does not always live up to this inclusive ideal, but strives to follow Jesus Christ to create a more accepting environment where all people can feel included in the fellowship of the people who belong to Christ (see Galatians 3:27-28; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Words Baptism is a sign and seal of our cleansing from sin, and our being grafted into Christ. - Book of Common Worship In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) the words used to describe the sacrament of baptism are equally as important as the water itself. The Teaching Elder (Pastor) will spend time with those who desire baptism for themselves or for their children, teaching them the meaning of baptism and nurturing the faith God has given them. Because baptism has a long and sometimes complex history, there are a variety of beliefs, some of them Christian and some not Christian, that arise around the event of baptism. Teaching helps to preserve the integrity of the sacrament
as faithful to Jesus Christ and nurture helps to preserve the integrity of the people involved as genuine to themselves. As stated above, the most important words used are the name of the Triune God, the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are the essential and specific words. Other words used by the Teaching Elder to teach the meaning of baptism can vary, as there are a variety of biblical metaphors and images used to inform baptism: As an identifying mark, Baptism signifies: 1. the faithfulness of God 2. the washing away of sin 3. rebirth 4. putting on the fresh garment of Christ 5. being sealed by God s Spirit 6. adoption into the covenant family of the Church 7. resurrection and illumination in Christ." - Book of Order (W-2.3004) Other words used around the event of baptism are sometimes called baptismal vows. These vows are promises made by those being baptized and promises made on behalf of those being baptized. Those desiring the Sacrament of Baptism for their children or for themselves shall makes vows that: 1. profess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior 2. renounce evil and affirm their reliance on God s grace 3. declare their intention to participate actively and responsibly in the worship and mission of the church 4. declare their intention to provide for the christian nurture of their child." - Book of Order (W-3.3603) The profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the single and most important vow in the life of the church, as it distinguishes those who have committed themselves to a new life in Christ from those who remain undecided, unclear, or uncertain about their own place on the way of Jesus. Infants cannot make such a profession of faith and children cannot understand the implication of this profession of faith. Because this is the case, some Christian churches do not baptize infants or children. Christian churches who practice infant baptism, as it is called, do so emphasizing the biblical precedent that faith in Christ is not ultimately dependent on the individual s decision but is the result of God s free and gracious gift. (see Ephesians 2:8-10 and John 3:5-8).
The baptism of children witnesses to the truth that God s love claims people before they are able to respond in faith. The baptism of those who enter the covenant of membership upon their own profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior witnesses to the truth that God s gift of grace calls forth a response of faithfulness. - Book of Order (G-1.0301) Of course, the infant or child who is baptized will grow up and seek to discover her own sense of identity, community, and purpose. This is why within a Presbyterian church (U.S.A.) the visible church also makes a promise at the event of baptism. The congregation as a whole, on behalf of the church universal, assumes responsibility for nurturing the baptized person in the Christian life. - Book of Order (W-2.3013) The intentionality behind this promise will vary from church to church. Some churches may assume that those baptized will become part of their worshipping life and part of their Christian education process. Others will go so far as to provide a sponsor, specifically designated to the role of nurturing the baptized person. Sometimes that sponsor will be present at the baptism and will make their own vow committing themselves to the role of nurture. Many churches who practice infant baptism will have a time of formal Christian Education during the transitional time when a person moves from childhood to adulthood (adolescence). This is often called confirmation. At confirmation, the baptized person makes their own profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and so confirms their baptismal identity as well as their part in the church community. The church nurtures those baptized as children and calls them to make public their personal profession of faith and their acceptance of responsibility in the life of the church. When these persons are ready, they shall be examined by the session. After the session has received them as active members they shall be presented to the congregation during a service of public worship. In that service the church shall confirm their baptismal identity. - Book of Order (W-4.2003) The profession of faith in Jesus Christ is one of the three vows a person makes at baptism within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Teaching Elder may ask these vows at baptism this way: Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil in the world? Do you turn to Jesus Christ
and accept him as your Lord and Savior, trusting in his grace and love? Will you be Christ s faithful disciple, obeying his Word and showing his love? In our day and age, people will make these vows from a variety of faith perspectives and religious backgrounds. With this in mind, the Teaching Elder works to nurture the faith of the person seeking baptism, wherever God s Spirit is leading them on their faith journey. That the person seeking baptism can make these vows with a sense of sincerity and integrity may be the most important aspect of the process. In the case of infant baptism (including the baptism of a child), the parent(s) or caretaker(s) of that child also make an additional baptismal vow "When a child is being presented for Baptism, ordinarily the parent(s) or one(s) rightly exercising parental responsibility shall be an active member of the congregation. Those presenting children for Baptism shall promise to provide nurture and guidance within the community of faith until the child is ready to make a personal profession of faith and assume the responsibility of active church membership." - Book of Order (W-2.3014) The vow of the parent(s) at a child s baptism takes seriously the reality that faith in Jesus Christ is nurtured not only within the life of the church but within the life of the family. Knowing full well that the path of faith is a difficult one, the church seeks to partner with the parent(s) in nurturing the child in the life of faith. In the above quote, it states that under ordinary circumstances the parent(s) are already in some way nurturing their own faith within the life of the church as active members. Of course, the Spirit of God s activity within a person s life is not always ordinary. At times, baptism represents an opportunity to awaken a family to an otherwise dormant faith. It is the responsibility of the Teaching Elder and the Session to ensure that whomever is seeking baptism on behalf of their child, they themselves are provided the opportunity to do their own soul-searching and enabled to say yes to the baptismal vows with sincerity and integrity. Story It may be that in reading this, you feel overwhelmed with the meaning and commitments surrounding Christian baptism. You may wish things were simpler and more straightforward, Can t we just get our child baptized and move on? some may ask. Allow me to suggest that baptism is as much a story as it is an event. Scripture is a story and water is present at every major event throughout this story (Genesis 1:2; Genesis 7:7; Exodus 14:10-13; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Mark 1:4; Acts 2:28-41; Revelation 22:1).
Baptism is the way every Jesus story (Gospel) begins. And baptism tells the Christian story - the way we who are baptized become united with Jesus Christ in his life, death, and new life (Romans 6:3-4). Stories are always more complex and layered than we often at first realize. This is true of our personal stories as well. Consider baptism an invitation to explore the way your story, the Jesus story, and the story of this particular church all intersect. Perhaps this event of baptism is really a new chapter for you, for the church, and for our world. "Baptism points us back to the grace of God expressed in Jesus Christ, who died for us and who was raised for us. Baptism points us forward to the same Christ who will fulfill God s purpose in God s promised future. - Book of Order (W-2.3002) Scriptures cited: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 7:7; Exodus 14:10-13; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Mark 1:4; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 3:5-8; Acts 2:28-41; Romans 6:3-4; Ephesians 4:4-6; Galatians 3:27-28; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Titus 3:4-5; Revelation 22:1