20/5/26 - What is Baptism?
When you think of baptism, do you think of a baby having their head sprinkled with water, do you think of a priest pouring water on a little child's head, or do you think of a born-again church that goes the whole way and immerses their new adult or teenage believer in Christ after they made a profession of faith in front of the whole congregation. People think of different things when we use the term 'baptism'.
What about the meaning of baptism? Is it literally a washing away of original sin? Is it a public demonstration and symbol of dying and rising again in Christ spiritually? Or is it something else.
Baptise comes from the Common Greek word 'BaptismÅ' which means to drench in water. That could be done through sprinkling, pouring or through full immersion. I prefer pouring of water over the head of a child as that - I think - best demonstrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon new believers in Christ. It is a parallelism, an outward sign of an inward spiritual event.
The purpose of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon believers is to cause regeneration of their spirit, or put another way, to start a new beginning where we over time become more Christ like in our progressive transformation. Some call the beginning 'born again', I prefer to call it 'born from above' or simply call it 'the beginning of a new life in Christ'.
The outward sign (baptism) with the inward grace (the coming of the Holy Spirt) is sometimes called a 'sacramental union'. This is something that is essential to our growth in Christ as it not only confirms out spiritual death to our old sinful selves and rising again to 'new life' in Christ spiritually speaking, it is also a means of grace, a part of our growth in Christ where the sign becomes united to the inward grace of the Holy Spirit leading to our further transformation in Him.
This inward grace of beginning a new life in Christ by the Holy Spirit is called 'the Baptism in the Holy Spirit'. Not a separate experience, but one that occurs when we first believe in Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
Now you might ask another question, can a small child or infant be baptised since they cannot necessarily have the capacity to profess faith in Christ? This is probably one of the stronger objections to infant baptism, but I would respond by saying that John the Baptist when he was in his mother's womb leaped due to His soul having life by the Holy Spirit. So this means that while an infant or a small child cannot perhaps comprehend Christ intellectually, their soul may still be made alive in the Holy Spirit meaning they are in Christ spiritually and unified to Him. However when they grow up, they will likely place their faith in Him consciously. Baptism could even be that instrument through which the grace of the Holy Spirit reaches them but not always, it is up to the Lord in the end.
Hopefully that clarifies things about baptism.
8/5/26 - Charity in the Church
My wife and I are blessed to belong to a Church where all are included. This includes the following: people who are old time Christians from childhood since their baptism and first communion, new Christians who converted and accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour, seekers who are open and curious about different religions and Christianity. It includes those who may be refered to as doubters but a better name for them may be those who question things and do not blindly accept something labeled as truth, it also includes people who are still trying to figure things out, and who this Jesus really was and is. It includes diverse kinds of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, different upbringings, different political views, differing ideas than commonly held to in Christianity in their belief systems, different genders and sexualities, different racial and cultural backgrounds, and those of different neurodiversities. A church that allows for dialogue and accepts people for who they are is one that will not be stuck in an echo chamber but will flourish and grow in Christ as iron sharpens iron in love, acceptance, conversation and dialogue.
There are many churches in the world that are like ours in that they are open and affirming of diverse kinds of people and expressive of the love of Christ as it's foundation to being inclusive. I know personally that I have some ideas and beliefs that may differ from others but are still accepted as within the wide scope of beliefs accepted as compatible with our core foundations that are a belief in living the life as exemplified and taught by Jesus Christ Himself.
The Anglican church in my opinion, while not unanimous by any stretch of the imagination about what beliefs or perspectives are acceptable within a single congregation do allow the safety for congregations like ours to be welcoming and accepting of people where they are in their faith journey toward Christ. I personally feel accepted where I am in my faith journey where I am and so does my beloved wife. So if you are a born-again Christian, a Christian from birth, a person interested in Christianity, a seeker, or someone who seeks answers and does not blindly accept something as truth without validation, then you are most welcome in a church like ours.