In defence of baptism

I am a fan of baptism—infant or adult. I think Jesus commanded us to do it in Matthew 28:19; and I think the early church made the most of it, constantly using it as theological launch pad, being guided by it to an understanding of what conversion meant (e.g. Rom. 6:1–11; 1 Pet. 3:21).

Amongst some there is a tendency, though, to suggest that when the New Testament authors spoke of baptism they were speaking not of the Christian rite, but of Christ’s death—”the baptism that I am baptized with” (Mark 10:38). I sense that this is motivated by a desire to defend Christian faith from “religion”.

There is, of course, much to be said for this program. However I am simply not convinced that this is what the New Testament authors meant. It seems to me that this is a case not of a not… but…, but a both… and… The references is the New Testament to baptism both speak of the Christian act and evoke the death of Jesus. This is the whole point of the imagery.

A more positive reflection on baptism comes from Oliver O’Donovan:

In contrast to the formative moment [of our conversion] we are given a public sign that keeps it before our minds and prevents our ignoring it, as we can so easily ignore what is hidden about other people. The sign is baptism. It is a ritual, and therefore liable to the loss of significance which can befall any ritual when it is taken outside its proper context of understanding. It is a sign, and therefore distinct from the reality to which it points. Nevertheless, a ritual sign is the only appropriate way for the hidden moment of conversion to take public form; for without such a form the reality, given from outside man’s sphere of activity, lying beyond the scope even of his religious capabilities, will be in danger of confusion with the merely human acts of repentance and belief which it produces… Baptism does not point to the high moments of devotion or to the sustained achievements of moral fibre of which the human spirit is capable, but to the formative moment in which the whole of a person’s life, past and future, is taken up and pronounced upon by God in the ‘Yes’ that he has spoken and will speak in Christ. (Resurrection and Moral Order, 258–59)

In my own church experience I have seen baptism really work. It allows someone to see the reality
that has happened in their life enacted in a wonderfully powerful way, giving them a clarity about their decision and the change God has worked in them; and it speaks powerfully to the congregation in which it takes place. Baptism is a much more solid and powerful symbol than, say, ticking a box on a response card. I suspect we do ourselves no favours if we let it slide.

Photo by slagheap, Flickr.com