Isaiah 43:1-7 Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17,21-22
Baptism is referred to as Christian initiation. And what kind of initiation is baptism? We are familiar with formal and informal initiations in different organizations that we belong to in our lives.
Baptism is referred to as Christian initiation. And what kind of initiation is baptism? We are familiar with formal and informal initiations in different organizations that we belong to in our lives.
Some initiation rites are very formal and even private, like various Freemasonary groups and Lodges for men and women. College Fraternities and Sororities have initiation rituals; some are infamously hazing ritual that are extreme ordeals for those wishing to become members.
Other organization like scouting organizations and clubs have membership requirements and fees.
What would be some of the main features of baptism as Christian initiation?
The main feature of Christian initiation of baptism is the notion of personal intention. One has to choose the community with the chief values with which one is going to live.
But you say, I was baptized as an infant, so I did not choose. You didn't choose as an infant to be baptized, but as an adult you intentionally were confirmed or you have agreed to participate in the church as a baptized member.
Intentionality is important in Christian baptism. Why? We are passively and unintentionally human. We did not choose to be born and and have the parents in the setting of our birth. So, we received as passive young infants, the coding of the language and habits of our family and cultures. Part of responsible maturation is to grow in our moral significance by understanding the intentionality of the identities which we choose to embrace.
Many people can live unexamined lives; that means they may remain satisfied with what they have been raised with from birth and so they may not want to change or see any need for value adjustments, even as they grow older.
But in the rigorously examined life which can happen through significant education and exposure to various models of moral and spiritual influence, one is forced often to new intentionality, the intentionality of repentance, the intentionality of the renewal of one's mind, with attending behavioral changes as well.
How intentionally are we baptized Episcopal Christians now? And what does that mean? Is our community what we are used to from early age, or is it also a community within which we are rigorously and intentionally being made more Christ-like?
Jesus Christ set the bar so high for humanity, that we have to be those who want to intentionally be more Christ-like.
We, Episcopalians are out-numbered these days, since we are losing members. There are people who have left the Episcopal Church because we changed our prayer book to more contemporary English language. There are people who left the Episcopal Church because we believed that baptized women could also serve on vestry, serve at the altar, and be ordained as deacons, priests and bishops. There are people who have left the Episcopal because we have embraced sacramental justice and full participation for gay, lesbian and transgendered persons. It would seem that a more inclusive church, should be a more popular church, but that has not been the case. Many people who follow Christ do not allow the full participation of their churches lots of people because of knowing themselves to be women, gay and transgendered people.
One of the radical things about our baptismal liturgy are the vows that we take to love our neighbor as ourself and to respect the dignity of every human being, because we seek the image of Christ which is on each person. But why are these values of Jesus Christ regarded to be radical instead of the basic values of human justice, dignity, and respect?
You and I have to be intentional baptized Episcopal Christians today, because we value the basic dignity of every person. We must be for the equal justice for all people if we are going to live up to our baptismal vows. Rather than leave the Episcopal church because of being offended about who God loves; let us stay and and invite people to be initiated into a community which holds to loving our neighbor as ourselves.
God in Jesus Christ is how God chose to show us how to be our human best. When Jesus was baptized he was initiated into a particular group of people at a particular time. This was God's way of saying, I am with you completely even though you are not perfect and never will be perfect, I am with you in the messiness of human community.
And today, Jesus is still baptized as one among us, initiated into our community, and not because we're perfect, or even adequate, so why is Jesus the beloved one of God with us? Because he believes that you and I are called to be beloved ones of God too, and that we are to be a community of people who are calling other people to know their belovedness in God's eyes and in our ours.
May God help us today to be more intentionally Christ-like, as we invite every person to know themselves as beloved children of God, who celebrate the mutual belovedness of all people in the great Love of God. Amen.
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