Baptism, Belief, and Who We Want to Be

This past weekend, I attended the UCC’s Annual Meeting in Rutland (see previous post), which dedicated significant time to exploring the problem of white Christian nationalism. Michele Boomhower, who attended on behalf of the congregation, has also written about her experience.

For some of us, this might sound “too political.” (Michele’s blog touches on this sentiment as well.) But before we shut down or think the UCC is playing party politics, let’s remember how often Jesus spoke of the “kingdom of God.” While Jesus was not looking to set up an earthly political kingdom, his choice of metaphor is intentional (and not solely a euphemism for the afterlife). God’s realm, which is active here and now, invites our allegiance to the same self-giving love that Jesus modeled. If we’re not clear on whom we’re following and serving (and on the character and mission of whom we’re following and serving), we may well find ourselves swept up in the pursuits of less-than-loving kingdoms and powers. And that is true no matter where we are on the political spectrum.

This is one of the reasons why I find the Christian  baptismal vows (and the audacity of reciting them in front of a crowd) so compelling. It is a public statement of allegiance, not to any earthly kingdom, but to God’s kingdom and its mission. The vows call us to “resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.” They ask us to “confess Jesus Christ as Savior,” reminding us to “put our whole trust in his grace…and serve him as Lord.” And if Jesus is Lord, that means no one else is. With these kingdom-seeking priorities clear, Matthew writes, everything else will fall into place (6:33).

But, of course, baptism isn’t primarily about what we do; it’s about what God does. “In baptism, God works in us the power of forgiveness, the renewal of the Spirit, and the knowledge of the call to be God’s people always,” says the UCC. “All this is God’s gift, offered to us without price” (UMC). At baptism, we pledge our allegiance not in order to receive God’s grace, but because we believe (help our unbelief) in the power of that grace. Baptism ties us not to one church, but to the universal church. It marks our entry into a family and a kingdom of eternal consequence.

Baptism is a sacrament that needs no repeating. We believe that God’s grace, once extended, is never retracted, and our ritual practice reflects that belief. But in a few weeks (June 8), we will have an opportunity to either reaffirm our baptismal vows, or take them for the first time. After church on Sunday, May 18, I’ll hold a brief session for those interested in being baptized and/or having children baptized. If you’d like to be baptized (even if those dates don’t work), please let me know. We’ll make sure to find time for it as soon as possible.

Because when we know who we want to be, and whose we want to be, there is no need to delay. All we need to prepare is for God’s grace to take hold, empowering us to stand for a kingdom that is not of this world, but with real-world implications.

With prayers for gracious power,

Pastor Jen