Exodus 24:3-8; Hebrews 9:11-15; Matt. 3:1-17; Psalm 116

June 3, 2018

Craig Terlson

 

Who Wouldn't Want to Hear That? (Baptism Part One)

Over the last decade I've given homilies on baptism more than any other topic. Most recently, last year, I questioned if the ritual of baptism is still relevant today, and why is it that so many people, notably young people, are choosing not to be baptized? In this series of three homilies, I provide some answers to those questions I posed a year ago -yep, a year ago... if anything, I'm patient.

Also to say that these thoughts have come from a significant amount of study, thought, and prayer, and while I will not be mentioning all the theologians, church fathers and mothers, and spiritual leaders that brought me to my conclusions—I would be happy to provide anyone with those sources.

So - baptism. Is is still relevant? The answer: yes. Now, more than ever.

Today's gospel tells the story of Jesus coming to where John is baptising people in, or around, the river Jordan. John's baptism is one of repentance, calling for people to turn away from their way of thinking, living, sinning— including a group of Pharisees gathered to watch, who John, in his delightful vernacular, refers to as a "brood of vipers."

It's important to distinguish between what John is doing, and what Jesus will do. John alludes to this when he says that he is baptizing with water, but the one that comes after him, will baptize with fire, and with the Holy spirit. He also says that he is unworthy to carry this one's sandals, or in the Luke account untie them. Jesus's baptism will be different. Very notable is the poetic, mystical, and vital difference of water, fire, and spirit.

So what is Jesus doing? How does this act that he submits to stretch across the two millennia and speak to us now? What does it call us to do? How and more importantly, why, do we want to engage in this ritual?

Our culture today is lacking greatly in ritual—think about that. Where are the rituals in your life? There may be some. But are birthdays, thanksgiving feasts, or sorry... sporting events, rituals with a deeper meaning? Nothing against any of those things, they each have their own purpose. But what ritual do you take part in that draws you into a deeper part of yourself, and even your very existence? Communion is certainly one of the main ones (point). The sacred and mystical moment when we share a meal with our God—however you understand it, or don't understand it—taking part in this sacrament changes us.

Which brings me to the word sacrament. How much do you understand this word? The early church defines two sacraments only (other denominations such as Catholic add some more, while others, like the Salvation Army, have none.) So these are the two original big ones: Communion and (ask people), right... baptism. So why these two?

I think a bit of background here might be helpful. In the first couple of centuries after Jesus's birth, pagan, or mystery religions were involved in rites of initiation. Some of these used a form of baptism (water or blood.) These rites were given the name mysterion, a Greek word. Around the third Century, Christians took this word and applied it to their initiation rites (baptism).

Now, the early writer Tertullian wanted to separate this pagan word from what Christians were doing. So he started using the Latin word sacramentum. Incidentally, Tertullian was the first known writer to use the word Trinity (so he was good at naming things).

Sacramentum was a military oath—swearing to the Emperor. The actual words of the oath were: ... soldiers swear that they shall faithfully execute all that the Emperor commands, that they shall never desert the service, and that they shall not seek to avoid death for the Roman republic!" That was the sacramentum (hang onto that thought).

At the time, there were Christian soldiers that were told to say the sacramentum, but Tertullian said the only oath, or sacramentum, that Christians should observe is baptism.

So here we have this word that has come to mean so much in the Church—based on mystery and a military oath. So what does it mean to take part in a mystical oath? And who am I giving this oath to? And what does it even mean? (Think about what it meant to the soldiers—they shall NOT seek to avoid death. Or willing to die for the cause.)

I started by saying we lack in ritual, even more so, I say we lack in sacrifice and surrender. We lack in an ability to truly give ourselves over, not just to something else, but someone else... someone that is not us. You may have heard of Martin Buber's idea of I-thou. Here it is best expressed by a giving over of our whole selves to something that is not us. It's not anyone else—anyone in this human existence, or this plane of reality—but a giving over to someone who is not us. This is the eternal Thou. I call that other: God.

So this mystery oath is given to someone that is not us. It is an oath given to God.

And now the mystery... while the act of Baptism is rooted in mystery, I want to stress that mysterious moments are not necessarily expected to happen in the ritual. To come to this conclusion is using magical thinking. Linked to this is the idea that this magical moment now makes us something that we were not before.
This is not a moment of salvation. Not a moment of being saved.

The moment of Baptism is a moment when you get it. This is a moment of realizing the work God has done in your life all along—and will continue to do. This is a marker, in front of your community, that draws attention and signifies that yes, you get it. Even if you don't.

What is vital here is that baptism is not about having it figured out, of being pure enough, moral enough, a good enough Christian, etc. In their research project, my colleagues at CMU, Irma Fast Dueck and Peter Epp, have found that the number one reason for young people not being baptized is that they aren't ready, aren’t feeling committed enough (likening it to a marriage) that somehow they have to have all this stuff figured out before they take the plunge.
Nope. Nope. (let me check my notes) and Nope.
It is not about figuring it out. It is about saying yes, I get it.

There is a newish slang term that some of you may have heard—understand that when I use it as a 55-year-old man, that by the time I speak it, it will be outdated. But it is this: woke. Are you woke? He's woke. She's woke. We're woke.

It is a term that came out of the Black Lives Matter movement—when someone becomes aware of something like White Privilege. And then it spread to mean other things about becoming aware—like the MeToo movement. When a male understands how he speaks and acts can deeply affect a person of the other gender, he is Woke—he gets it. Broadly, it is used when someone is woke to the true plight of the oppressed. Woke to how the way we live our lives, the choices we make, deeply affect others.

This morning, I am going to say that baptism is a deep woke moment.

Of note is that Jesus asks, or rather demands that John does it to him. He does not baptize himself. He requires the other. This is significant in the giving over, the high coming low if you wish (recall John's remark about not tying his sandal strap) It is a surrender. An oath. An immersion.

And what happens in that moment of surrender is one of the most beautiful, poetic, mystical moments in scripture. The heavens open, the spirit descends as a dove, and the voice is heard: You are my son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased.

Who of us would not want to hear that? Who would not want to feel that? Who would not want to know that? You are my beloved son. You are my beloved daughter. With whom I am well pleased. Who would not want to hear that?

This here is the relevance. This is why the ritual, in a non-ritualistic culture, still holds so much power. This is why the surrender in a culture that is not real big on surrender still holds so much for us. A moment of understanding. A moment of giving over. A moment of getting it. A beginning. For sure not the whole story, because so much will change. So much changed for Jesus, because after this moment, he begins his ministry. The idea of beginning... without really even knowing why.

(pause)

Now, some of you may be wondering - wait, he didn't talk about the difference between sprinkling, or dousing, or immersing. About who can perform that rite. And notable, what about babies? What about infant baptism? How do they get it?

Next time... I will build on this, and further explore Baptism in a homily called:
It's not all about you.