I was baptized at 13 days old in the kitchen sink. My parents were unsure if I would survive the medical complications surrounding my birth.
So, they called the local priest and asked that I be baptized. Since then, my baptismal identity has been an important part of my life and has greatly contributed to my call of ministry.
Whether we are baptized as an infant or an adult, one of the basic questions of our faith is: what goes on in Baptism? After all, the Bible talks a lot about baptism.
On the day of Pentecost, when people asked how they were to respond to the proclamation of the gospel, Peter responded, “Repent and be baptized every one of you” (Acts 2:38).
Similarly, in his epistle, Peter states boldly that “Baptism…. now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism is an indispensable part of our spiritual walk.
As Christians, therefore, it is important that we have an adequate and biblical understanding of what Baptism is and how it affects our lives.
Sadly, there can be many misunderstandings about the nature, meaning, and importance of this rite. For example, it is said Emperor Constantine got baptized just prior to his death, as he feared future sins might invalidate the effects of his baptism.
Yet, in doing so, did he not negate baptism’s spiritual potency? Similarly, we can become unduly focused on controversies and arguments surrounding how Baptism is performed and who receives it.
Such arguments and misunderstandings, which can be easy to make, can be disastrous to our spiritual livelihood.
Below are three misunderstandings that people often make when thinking about Baptism.
1. It's Not about the Ritual
There are layers of meaning and ritual attached to the celebration of baptism. Some denominations involve specific liturgies, statements to be said by the presider, and questions to be responded to by the individual or the godparents.
Other denominations appear to be less structured yet still have a specific way that baptism is to be practiced. If you think about the way baptism is conducted in your own church, you will probably notice that it is the same way each time.
But is baptism just about the ritual? Is the meaning and importance of baptism held by the structures and rules that the church places upon it?
It can be easy to focus more on the ecclesial rules rather than the presence of the Spirit. We see this in Scripture. In the Book of Acts, for example, Paul happens upon a group of believers as he wanders through Ephesus.
This group had accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but upon investigation, it became clear that they were missing a vital component of their faith. “Into what were you baptized?” Paul asks (Acts 19:3).
The group responds that they were baptized into John’s baptism alone and had no knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
Into what have we been baptized? Some people are baptized into a denomination. Their baptism is about furthering a denominational lineage.
People might state triumphantly, “My mother was Anglican, my grandmother was Anglican…. so, I will be an Anglican!” Baptism, however, is not about being an official member of a denomination or congregation.
Others get baptized merely to please parents or grandparents. Babies are “christened” with little to no connection to the life of faith.
In the same way, teenagers and young adults can feel the pressure to go through the rite of baptism solely for the pleasure of the wider family. In each case, baptism becomes disconnected from the life of faith.
When we focus our attention on the rituals and rules we attach to baptism, we fail to recognize the presence of the Spirit. Baptism isn’t about denominational affiliation, and it matters not whether it occurs via sprinkling or immersion.
Arguing about such things places our liturgical rules above the power of the Spirit. Fundamentally, baptism is about immersing our life in the presence of Jesus.
In fact, the word baptise, literally means “to immerse.” To be baptized, therefore, is to immerse our lives in the risen presence of Jesus and to live in tandem with his Spirit.
2. Baptism Is Not about Our Profession
Another common misconception maintains that baptism is a public profession of faith. Of course, the profession of faith is an important part of any baptism.
Whether an individual makes a profession him or herself, or the profession comes via parents or godparents, the rite of baptism always contains a personal articulation of the gospel.
Yet, is the meaning of baptism just about standing before a congregation and declaring our faith in Jesus? Is baptism about what we offer and what we do? I would argue not.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul writes that we are “buried with Christ in Baptism [and] raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Jesus from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).
In baptism, we join with Christ in his work on the cross. Thus, the image surrounding baptism is not a vocal profession, nor is it about the washing of sin; baptism is about death and resurrection.
As we go through the baptismal waters, we die to a life of sin and waywardness so that we might rise with Christ in his resurrection.
Thinking that baptism is about a profession of faith means we mistakenly focus on what we do or accomplish. A baptism focused on our profession makes this nothing more than a testimony of works rather than a testimony of grace.
Baptism is a testimony of what Jesus has accomplished. Whether one is an infant or an adult, we are but the recipients in baptism, not the agents. Baptism conveys Christ’s work upon the individual.
The baptized person moves from darkness to light, from sin to righteousness, and from death to life. All attention and celebration in baptism is to be placed on Christ alone.
3. Baptism Is Not an End
One of the constant arguments about baptism involves the age at which someone is baptized. Should we follow Constantine’s example? Is infant baptism legitimate?
Regardless of where a church or denomination stands on this issue, it should always be recognized that baptism is never the climax of faith. Baptism doesn’t culminate one’s faith journey; it begins it.
Because baptism is about immersion in a life with Jesus, baptism necessarily begins our public witness as followers of Jesus. We see this throughout the Scripture. The early Christians (as well as their families) were baptized at the beginning of their Christian life.
In many ways, this echoes Christ’s own baptism. Jesus was baptized at the start of his public ministry (Matthew 3:13). Just as the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in his baptism, so too did the Holy Spirit descend upon us, empowering us to live the Christian life.
Baptism and the bestowal of the Spirit are always linked. Sometimes, the bestowal of the Spirit happens after baptism. In the Book of Acts, Paul baptizes a group of disciples in the name of the Lord Jesus, and then the Holy Spirit descends them (Acts 19:5-6).
At other times, the Spirit comes prior to baptism. After the Spirit falls on the house of Cornelius, Peter says, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have (Acts 10:47).
The important part here is not the order of baptism and the bestowal of the Spirit but the connection between the two. Baptism and life in the Spirit are always connected.
Baptism, therefore, doesn’t signify an “arrival” at Christian faith. The newly baptized has not risen to some exalted place of understanding or status. To think this way suggests that no more growth in the Spirit is necessary.
This is not the case. Baptism, therefore, is but the first step in our walk with Jesus. Baptism marks the beginning of our walk with Jesus and our life in the Spirit. Ultimately, this is the focus of our Baptism and in our ongoing baptismal life.
For further reading:
What Does Jesus’ Baptism Tell Us about Our Baptism?
What Is the Significance of Jesus’ Baptism?
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Josue Michel
