July 26, 2010
Public Viewing
I can understand the pros and cons of having baptisms during a Sunday worship service, both from the perspective of the baptizer and the baptizee. Today the waters of baptism for many churches have to be moved into place, filled-up and warmed-up. There is something to be said for planning ahead and scheduling, but I do miss the spontaneity we once had with the confession of faith followed immediately by the public witness of baptism. It’s interesting to think that God could have scheduled the crucifixion for a time when only a couple of witnesses could be present, instead he sent Jesus to die on the cross openly, for all to see. I would hope that those coming to the Lord would be encouraged to do no less than to die openly in the waters of baptism.
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Gail;
-----I remember when, many years ago, there was an actual alter call at the end of every sermon which often evoked responses. As the respondent was moving forward I would wonder if this person was just recommitting some aspect of his life to the Lord, or if his response meant we would be there another twenty minutes or more just to witness another baptism. I admit, being ready to go home I would hope for the former. But that impatient attitude always melted away at the gravity of the situation during or soon after the baptism. With this melting also came the realization of my need to practice patience and personal care for others. It is like there is a whole system of important stuff involved.
-----But all that has changed. I suspect it fell prey to the trimming of church services for better appeal to the world’s masses. Or it could simply have emerged from a declining appreciation for baptism. Either way, what we now have is a process of new birth exhibiting more respect for convenience than for urgency. That in itself should give call to thought.
-----I have nothing against convenience. In fact, I believe it serves some important purposes. But so also does urgency. Having lived a life spent in more years of difficulty and impending peril than not, my sense of convenience is always challenged by my sense of urgency. Maybe this is why I hold so tightly to such Scriptures as, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (I Pet 3:21) and, “See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?” (Acts 8:7) It seems to me the urgency which produces a mental decision to accept Christ during a worship service is destroyed by forestalling the appeal to God for a clear conscience until a more convenient time. And with it many, related ideas wither.
-----”But, Steve,” one might object, “hasn’t a person appealed to God when he makes the decision to call on Christ?” And I acknowledge the whole process of rebirth can be sliced into stages. Maybe during many years of mental and emotional unrest a climate of acceptance has been generated within a lost soul. But has the process then been completed? So a decision to attend church was made. Complete now? So, once there, an honest hearing of the word is given. Process complete? When the decision to accept Christ comes, does a person then remain seated in his pew? It is the decision that‘s important, right? Not only. He is compelled to go forward like the preacher said coming forward is the decision’s expression. But is the decision the call, or the determination to call? Either way, why forestall the completion of the salvation process by delaying until a more convenient time the call upon God for a clear conscience as the Bible presents the its realization - baptism? Maybe immediate baptism can be a matter of inconvenience as it was for the repentant thief on the cross or a soldier on the battlefield. But maybe also the urgency of the call for a clear conscience should compel a church to build a baptistery and keep it conveniently readied with water to avoid itself creating an issue of inconvenience. But then again, maybe the attraction of the masses is more urgent than the appeal of the Word. Ridiculous, aren’t we?
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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