A note from Pastor Travis 9/19/24

The other day, I logged onto the internet and MSN had an interesting headline, no doubt curated by my search history and designed to get me to click. It read, “14 Christian Beliefs That Have Faded into History.” Their algorithm is good and it worked. I clicked. I imagined that the article would contain theological fossils that were labeled heresies, such as Gnosticism, Arianism, Marcionism, and Docetism. I thought that it would be fun to look at theological concepts that I learned about in seminary and haven’t though much about in a long time. The article wasn’t what I expected.

The article was written by someone who didn’t spend too much time thinking about it, and probably didn’t do any research. However, one item caught my attention, “The Significance of Baptism.” Though the article misrepresented the practice of Baptism in the early church, it piqued my interest. Its 3 sentences on Baptism implied that for many people Baptism in just a ceremony.

I will admit, that in the 30 years that I have Baptized people, I have met those who have only brought their children to be baptized to satisfy a grandmother or a parent. There have also been people who have wanted their children baptized because it is one of the things that you are “supposed to do.” However, most of the families that bring their children to be baptized have a reverence for this sacred act. Even if they don’t attend church regularly, they understand something of the covenant made at Baptism and the gift of God found in it. Yet, more than that, the congregation is moved when we Baptize someone. The gathered community understands the importance of its commitment and the joy of the sacrament.

Last Sunday, we celebrated the gift of Baptism in our children’s lives, and, in doing so, we recommitted ourselves to the promises we made to them and God. I celebrate that our church takes these promises seriously. Though our children are not in church very often, we continue to live out the promises we have made in all of our interactions with and for our children. 

I celebrate our congregation. I celebrate our children. I celebrate the blessings of Baptism and trust that through this sacrament God is moving in the life or our congregation. 

Blessings,

Pastor Travis