2008-01-13

Matthew 3:13-17 The Baptism of Jesus January 13, 2008
Patrick Preheim

This past week I have been reflecting on baptisms: my own baptism, the baptism of Jesus, my computer. Yes, my computer. On Wednesday I started up my computer to begin organizing thoughts and stories I had been collecting. Perhaps it was wrong of me to assume an earthly tool like a computer could adequately hold a divinely inspiring topic such as baptism. Obviously the material I was typing onto the hard drive was too hot to handle. The smell of burning wires caused me to peer into the grating of the fan vent. Inside my central processing unit I witnessed fire from on high anointing my hard drive. I knew at that moment I either had good material for Sunday’s sermon or the stuff of Sodom and Gomorrah.

This week I have been asking people why they have chosen or not chosen to be baptized. Erica Wiens is a woman in her twenties living in Edmonton. She comes from Saskatchewan, but not this congregation. Erica took the time to write her reflections down on paper and has allowed me to use them this morning. Her comments highlight themes I have heard in other conversations. Here are excerpts from Erica’s writing,

Here is a bit of free writing on baptism and why I think it is important to be Mennonite. I grew up in a community where it seemed like everyone was Mennonite. Never one to follow the crowd, I tried to distance myself from being labeled as a Mennonite. As I grew up, and entered a world where most people have never even heard of Mennonite, I distanced myself in order to avoid conversations [where Mennonite is confused with Hutterite or Amish]. I have to say it wasn't until I took part in a conference in Greece where I was the only Mennonite that I felt comfortable explaining my heritage to other non-Mennonites. I spoke with Muslims, Catholics, Lutherans and many other people from various religious backgrounds about my faith. All of them were genuinely interested in what I had to say and, if they had any judgment, they did not show it. Explaining my religion to people that were unfamiliar with it but interested in learning finally made me realize how important being a Mennonite is to me. I decided on this trip that I wished to be baptized…I still haven't been baptized. I would still like to be, I just haven't found a community that I feel comfortable being baptized in. If my home church was still active I would have been baptized there. I also think if I lived in Saskatchewan and attended Nutana, I think I would probably feel comfortable being baptized there. There seems to be a general trend among young Mennonites to rebel against our faith only to come back to it later. I guess the rebellious streak makes sense given the actions of our founders. I think I needed to see what else was out there to realize how much I fit into the religion I grew up in.

Some themes Erica mentions were echoed in my local interviews:

Erica chose not to follow the crowd and remained un-baptized when many of her peers choose baptism. She does not outline if her reasons were simple individualism, or if she also had some theological or Christological concerns. Individualism and perceived assumptions of doctrinal incompatibility with the tradition are both expressed reasons why people have not become members of church or been baptized.
Many young professionals who are not baptized consider themselves to be Mennonite regardless of their church membership status. For many of these people being Mennonite is not necessarily tied to being baptized.
Some young people need to see what is out there before owning a faith tradition. It is in conversation with other value systems that a person sometimes clarifies their own values and beliefs.
Erica hesitates receiving baptism just anywhere because she links baptismal vows with commitment to a community and she is still waiting for the “right” fit. Erica’s hesitancy to join any old church has been reaffirmed in other comments I have heard this week. I have heard things like, “I like Jesus, but not the church”, or “baptism does not seem to change hypocritical behaviour, so why not let actions speak louder than ceremony”.
Baptism makes sense for Erica, and other un-baptized, when it “fits” who they are. Baptism becomes a viable choice when there is a congruency with personal values and the values which the tradition supports. Values important to many people’s choice to affiliate with Nutana Park or become baptized Mennonite include things like “a peace-making tradition”, “a counter cultural movement”, “values of generosity and service”.

I have really enjoyed my conversations with people and could share other observations, but I want to move on to a second set of interviews I conducted this week. These interviews were with the biblical texts. Just as I was curious about the current thinking of young professionals on the topic of baptism I was curious why Jesus (also a young professional some would say) chose baptism.

First and foremost we must acknowledge that Jesus was not baptized a Christian. He was baptized into the baptism of John which was one of confession and repentance (Matt 3.5-12). In comments on the baptism of Jesus in Mark’s gospel (Binding the Strong Man) Ched Myers lines up theologians who suggest that Jesus too expressed true repentance at his baptism-- genuine repentance for participating in structures which exploit people. Myers states that the baptism of Jesus formally ends his participation in the values of society. His mission from that time forward is to challenge the oppressive structures around him (130). In this way the baptism of Jesus is for repentance and consecration to a specific task. This understanding of baptism is strengthened when we look at the words which come from heaven, words that appear in Matthew, Mark and Luke. The voice from heaven utilizes verses from the Hebrew Scriptures which support an understanding of Jesus’ baptism as identity and mission. Psalm two speaks of a royal begotten son (2.7), and the Psalm is a messianic drama in which the Davidic King breaks the bonds of the Kings and the nations. Isaiah 42 also has linguistic connections to the divine words at the Baptism of Jesus. Isaiah 42 talks about God’s chosen one who brings justice without violence. And not to be outdone, Genesis 22.2 names Isaac as a beloved son on his way to the sacrifice scene on Mt. Moriah. The early church would have found in the Genesis story, in the Psalms, and in Isaiah language for describing the life of Jesus. Based upon my study I would suggest several ways to understand the baptism of Jesus.

Baptism for Jesus affirmed his identity as God’s servant, as opposed to a servant of himself or a servant of the empire. Baptism was a symbolic action reflecting his choice against oppressive systems. But it wasn’t just a personal choice for himself. As a public action it was a witness against all that would draw us away from God. His baptism had social implications, which is why it was public and not private.
For Jesus baptism is consecration to a mission. In baptism Jesus accepted the task of challenging the kings and nations of which Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42 speak. This task is not safe. Even as public baptism has social implications, it has social consequences. Unjust people and systems rarely go without a fight. So baptism must mean at least one more thing.
In baptism Jesus acknowledges that he may very well die. None the less, he is willing to accept whatever comes, even if it means death. He so trusts God’s power to overcome the wrong in our world that he will allow himself to be sacrificed (like Isaac) if it comes to that.
In baptism Jesus identified with those choosing repentance. Some commentators were unwilling to say that Jesus needed to repent of anything, that the divine parentage of Jesus made repentance unnecessary (see Alyce M. Mckenzie’s reflections (p. 20) in the bible study resource that companions the Biblical Commentary series Interpretation: Matthew.) None the less, Jesus chooses baptism. He is baptized because Jesus wants to support and connect his movement with those who know they need to change their ways, not those who are arrogant or oblivious to personal and social sin.

I return from this survey of the baptism of Jesus to conclude with just a few remarks about my view of baptism.

Baptized individuals at Nutana Park or in the Christian tradition are not more beloved of God than others. We are all created in the image of God. We are all God’s children. God loves us all equally. As the Apostle Peter says in Acts, “God has no favourites, but anybody of any nationality who acknowledges God and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Baptism is foundationally a response to God’s love, not a prerequisite for God’s love.
Baptism reflects a commitment to act like God loves us and others. Baptism, then, is not just an affirmation of God’s love, it is our acceptance to be God’s agents of love in this world. And here now is the great challenge for those of us who are baptized. It is our joy and challenge to follow after Jesus the Christ in healing broken people and challenging wayward kings and nations. Christian teachers not only represent the school district. Christian parents not only need to think of the family name as the raise their children. Christian businessmen and women do not just defend the stock holders and the bottom line. Pastors do not just represent the church. All baptized people are a reflection of the Christ we claim to follow. And in most our cases that means we need more consciously conform our lives and actions to the Christ we claim to follow. We need honesty. We need patients. Above all we need love. Let us ask our neighbors how they are doing. Let us engage the store workers. Let us listen to the children. Let us maintain a clear boundary of right actions and wrong, but hold that line with compassion and love. If we are struggling to show love let us steep ourselves more deeply in the love of God so that it flows out into our community. We Christians have a responsibility to conform our lives to that of Jesus the Christ.
It is important to note, however, that we at Nutana and Christians everywhere will not do discipleship perfectly. We will not always love others the way God has loved us. Baptism does not mean perfection. Baptism is a commitment to the way of God in Christ, not perfection. In many ways baptism formally welcomes a person into the community of learners. We are all still learning more deeply the way of God and Christ. The repentance and consecration that are a part of any Christian baptism is a script that most of us play out weekly. I heard some skeptics this week wonder about the necessity of baptism if baptism does not help us attain perfection. It does help me be more holy even if not perfect. Remembering my baptism helps me remember who I want to be. Remembering my baptism gives me a routine to lay my mistakes at the feet of God and not be overcome by them. And there are the ways it helps me that my limited intellect cannot discern. We are baptized, in part, because Jesus was baptized. And if it was important for Jesus, then may be in some way we are not even aware of it may be good for us too.
How does a person know when the time is right to be baptized? For some people the decision is sudden. One day they see clearly God’s love and that Christ’s way is the only way for the world to be reconciled without destroying itself, and they choose to respond in baptism. For others, particularly those raised in Christian homes, the call is sometimes less sudden. Over time a person takes on the values of a faith community. The three questions I always ask when considering a person’s readiness for baptism are: do you have a belief in this cosmic energy we call God?, do you follow the way Jesus in your business and family life?, do you commit yourself to helping and being helped by a specific congregation? If a person can answer yes to these three statements then I don’t much mind their other questions. When a person is committed to being a force for goodness in our world then much else can be sorted out along the way. It is similar to the situation Peter found when visiting Gentiles in Caesarea in Acts 10. The Holy Spirit was with those gentiles, and baptism was the only authentic response for Peter and for them. So they weren’t circumcised, Peter would sort that out later. So Cornelius was in the Roman army, Peter would sort that out later. Very few biblical characters wait until everything is clarified before being baptized. A belief in God, a trust in the way of Christ, commitment to learn among others— why wouldn’t a person symbolize this with baptism?

Well, I don’t feel as if I have had enough time this morning. I wanted to share with you some of the stories of baptisms that have been important for me. The other things I have shared this morning, however, are important too. It is good for the congregation to know some of the attitudes toward baptism that are prevalent today. It is good to know some of the meaning behind the baptism of Jesus. And it is good for the congregation to know how I view baptism. I will tell my stories another day. May God’s spirit continue to guide the baptized and guide the seekers onto the path that leads to baptism. Amen.

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