From Your Pastor:
“So then those who had received the word were baptized; and
there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves
to the Apostles’ teaching, and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer,” Acts
Yes! Yes! not No! No!
One of the great experiences in our church this spring was the ability to officiate in so many baptisms. It was a true joy to witness a goodly number of parents or sponsors who, by the grace of God, had been led to bring their older and younger children to the waters of Baptism, vowing to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of our Lord and in the fellowship of His church.
Sometimes unchurched people, visiting or hearing about us also desire to have their children baptized, and inevitably give me a call to request that I perform the act. Some of these folks are children of my members. My response is always the same – YES! YES! - I would love to be a part of this celebration! Then, in light of Acts chapter two, I share with the parent(s) the connection between the fellowship of believers and the need to continue to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord in such a fellowship. Will they do it? The answers are usually NO! NO! for many and varied reasons. Don’t have time. None of my (the pastor’s) business. Don’t believe in church. Just looking (shopping) around. And the list goes on.
Again I try to fulfill their wishes by offering to come and teach them about the faith, or to set up some kind of class so that they can learn about fulfilling their baptismal responsibilities. Again the responses are: Don’t have time. Not interested in church. Who am I to tell them what they must do. Many also pull out their credentials such as family ties to the church, confirmed in the church, raised in the church. But will they fulfill the vows and maintain the fellowship that is so vital in the spirit of baptism? – No! No! Now I will grant that there are exceptions that prohibit fellowship where I have done baptisms. People who are terminal and have come to know Christ and wish to be baptized. People in nursing homes who cannot get out to participate in a fellowship. Little infants in intensive care units whose lives are quickly passing away. I have even done baptisms for those facing combat, having come to know their Savior and may never have a chance for the joy of Christian fellowship. Yes, there are exceptions.
This situation is a common dilemma for all ministers and their parishes. We all have such a strong desire to include all folks into the Christian fellowship through the ministry of teaching and baptizing but many times we run into a dead end. The primary reason for this is that we face a culture that is very foreign to the concept of commitment. As we can pick and choose goods and services from mega grocery stores, electronics stores and the internet, the church becomes just another outlet for choosing what we want when we want it. The same holds true as we move our children through hobbies, sports and even school. The concept of committed fellowship in Christ where we join together to worship, learn and share, as well as praying together has become foreign indeed. Just think what these folk miss!
When we are born again through the waters of baptism, our lives change. We see a tension between the world’s ways and God’s ways as He speaks to us in His word. Additionally, when we study His word we learn deeper truths about who we are especially as children of God. The Holy Spirit sears on our hearts the wonderful hope and forgiveness that keeps alive in spirit each and every day even in the midst of our failings. AND THIS IS TO BE SHARED IN FELLOWSHIP!! Christianity is not solely a “personal” journey in and of itself. It is not something that only you practice behind your own closed doors. The Body of Believers need each other every bit as much as every member of our physical body needs the other member to make it function. And this truth must be ingrained and exemplified in the rearing of our children as they journey in their own baptism. Thus the Hebrew writer would exhort us in chapter ten, verse twenty five “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.”
So, I again remind you that we who are shepherds of Christ’s church are always YES! YES! people when
administering the sacraments of our Lord. Our doors are always open. Yet we do it within the teachings of Scripture in all of their intent and purpose to the glory of Christ and His church.
Serving our Wonderful King,
Pastor Jim Bloker