Baptism: Just Add Water

This Sunday, January 12 at the Imperial Beach United Methodist Church, we will be observing Baptism of the Lord Sunday.  This is the Sunday in the Christian year when we remember the baptism of Jesus. And it so happens there will be a baptism at the 10:30am worship service.

Baptism is practiced in a variety of ways depending on the Christian denomination.  Some traditions, practice full immersion where the person is dunked completely under water.  Others will pour the water over the candidate’s bowed head.  And there are some, like United Methodists, who “sprinkle” the water on the person’s head.   But then again, I have upon the request of the person to be baptized have entered a pool and offered baptism through immersion.

And for some traditions, baptism is reserved only for adults who can say for themselves that they desire baptism, while others, like United Methodists, will baptize infants with the parents and sponsors accepting responsibility to raise this child in the church and teach through their example what it means to be a Christian.

Regardless, baptism remains a powerful outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given to us from God.  It is a sign that we are loved and accepted by God.  It is a sign that we are children of God.  It is a sign that God knows us.   Even before baptism, God loves and accepts us and we are all most certainly children of God.  Baptism is simply a reminder to us of all this.

To be baptized in the United Methodist Church, all one really needs to say and believe is that Jesus is primary in their life.  One must strive to take to heart Jesus’ life and teachings to direct one’s life.   So if one wants to follow in the ways of Jesus, he or she can be baptized.  There is no test.  There is no document to sign saying you now must believe just like me or someone else.  In being baptized, you need only to want to follow Jesus.

The first step in following Jesus requires one thing: Just Add Water

Baptism is only the starting point of one’s journey into the Christian faith.

If for example, I baptize you, you are not baptized as a United Methodist.  You are baptized as a Christian.  That is important to understand.   After baptism, one can certainly decide if they want to a member of this church or that.  But baptism stands outside of the denominational realm.  It is a declaration that one wants to follow, not a particular church, but specifically Jesus Christ.

While baptism can happen easily (as just adding water), it is following Jesus that will prove to be a lifetime challenge.

So...have you been baptized?  

If you haven’t, have you thought about what it might mean to follow Jesus?

If you actually decided to followed Jesus, how might your life and the lives of others be impacted and changed?

If you would like to be baptized or are thinking about it, email me at JonEdwin@aol.com.   I would enjoy talking with you.

And if you were baptized, even as an infant, it is good to take a moment to remember your baptism. 

Now I know, some will say they were baptized but they cannot technically remember the actual event of their baptism.  Some ask, “Do I need to be re-baptized?”  In the United Methodist Church, we do not practice re-baptism.  We acknowledge one baptism, even if one cannot remember it because they were too small.  But in simply knowing one was baptized is in itself a kind of “remembering.”   So, remember you were baptized and give thanks to God.

You know, it can be when we jump in the shower, or wash our hands, or jump into the ocean, we remember our baptism; we remember that God loves and cares for us so very much.

Like always, if you have other things to talk about, I am more than happy to listen.

You are always invited to church.  Maybe I might see you this Sunday.

Pastor John

Imperial Beach United Methodist Church

455 Palm Avenue

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Sunday Worship

9am – 30 minute worship with Holy Communion

10:30am – worship service with Holy Communion celebrated the first Sunday of the month.

Child care offered at 10:30am

www.IBMethodist.com

A Church where Our Hearts, Our Minds, and Our Doors are always Open.