this was the next-to-last sermon of the baptism series, but my last sermon in the series. I have greatly enjoyed each of the sermons, and this one was no exception. In a way, it felt like the final sermon of the series because I was using several stories that I had planned to use in one of the sermons. I hope I was able to tie the stories together in a fitting way for the sermon.
“Baptism: From Womb to Tomb?” January 28, 2024; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church; Baptism series; Isaiah 43: 1-7
We continue our baptism preaching series for two more weeks, then Transfiguration Sunday, then Lent arrives early this year. Feb. 14 is Ash Wednesday.
Isaiah 43: 1-7 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. 4Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. 5Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; 6I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth— 7everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Move 1: David Beckham story
Ron Byars, in his commentary on baptism, tells the story of David Beckham and his wife Victoria, one of the Spice Girls, arguably one of the most famous celebrity couples in the 21st century, choosing to christen their sons Romeo and Brooklyn. As you may know, christening in the Anglican church includes baptism, so this is how they planned the baptism.
David Beckham was quoted as saying, “I definitely want Brooklyn to be christened, but I don’t know into what religion yet.”
As the BBC described the event planned by Victoria, it was noted that the chapel had been built for this occasion on the family Hertfordshire mansion.
The chapel had a white angel about the arched doorway. To get to the doorway, guests walked past fake ruins modeled after the crumbling Irish church where the couple wed.
Two Buddhist shrines were on either side of the chapel entrance. at the entrance. of the chapel.
As an added note, Brooklyn’s godfather Elton John was on tour and unable to attend the ceremony. Ronald Byars, The Sacraments in Biblical Perspective, from the Interpretation series, 25-26; also https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1479657/Beckhams-sons-christened-in-back-garden-chapel.html)
An over-the-top example of recognizing that baptism holds a special place in the person’s life, but not quite understanding how God is at work in the waters of baptism.
Baptism is more than a family tradition that grandparents pressure their children into doing for their children.
Baptism is more than a special ceremony associated with the birth of a child.
Baptism is more than some kind of Christian bar mitzvah that arrives at the culmination of confirmation.
Baptism is more than some type of New Year’s resolution to mark a new direction in someone’s life.
Baptism is more than a time for friends and family to pledge their support of the person being baptized.
Baptism is not a magic act. We are reminded of that in the story we read from Acts.
The magician Simon, is so amazing people call him Great and think he is a man sent from God.
But, then Simon met Philip
Simon heard the good news about the kingdom of God and Jesus.
Simon was baptized and recognized that his magic could not compare to what God was doing in the waters of baptism.
Move 2: some refer to baptism as working from womb to tomb
a. Let me explain.
In the early church, baptism was tied to the womb. because of the emphasis on baptism on new birth.
The womb image connected with birth, of course, and perhaps also connected to the story from the Gospel of John when Nicodemus asks Jesus, How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. John 2: 4-5)
And, of course, the early church practiced infant baptism.
Just out of the womb, the child is baptized.
Baptism;
new birth;
womb.
b. later, the tomb image for baptism grows in its usage.
Biblically, it is tied to the words of Paul, who tells the Romans: Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Baptism unites us with Christ, the one who is resurrected and leaves the tomb.
likewise, as the Reformed tradition has focused on its liturgy for funerals, the tomb image of baptism has become important.
When Tom Long, the well-known preacher and homiletics professor did work on the funeral service, he noted that he began with the belief that the primary purpose of the funeral was to provide comfort for the family.
he grew to believe that the funeral service should, of course, comfort the grieving family, but the service also plays an important role in retelling the gospel story, worshipping God, and reaffirming the baptismal identity of the one who has died. (Byars, 177).
Baptism - from womb to tomb, from new birth to united with Christ in his death.
c. it seems to me when describing baptism as being from womb to tomb, we are also describing the depth and breadth of God’s claim on us in the waters of baptism.
God has called us into relationships at our birth, a relationship that will continue through our deaths and beyond.
Baptism does not just mark us as one of God’s own but marks the ongoing, covenant relationship God has with us.
Baptism - from womb to tomb and beyond.
Move 3: Each summer, a member of First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo, TX, worships with us when she is in the metroplex for a work seminar. She usually sits on the pulpit side near the aisle about ten rows back.
she was here this summer when I told the story of my having to go to the Disciples of Christ church in KY back when I did my first baptism by immersion.
After the service, she told me that the First Presbyterian, Amarillo has a portable baptistry. They roll it into the front of the sanctuary when a youth or adult is to be baptized by immersion.
It can be plugged in to heat up the water (apparently not abiding by the early church practice of using cold water), and, if I understood it correctly, the minister does not have to get into the baptistry, but stands behind it as he or she immerses the person being baptized.
After she described the baptistry, I asked her, “Are y’all doing that many adult baptisms by immersion? Presbyterians historically have practiced infant baptism.”
She told me that the young adults who end up joining their church are influenced by the S. Baptist and other evangelical traditions, so they not only want to be baptized, but they want to be immersed.”
I’m not sure our chancel area could handle a portable baptistery. We might have to put some of our handbell choir in swimsuits if we had a baptism on a Sunday when the handbells played.
But imagine the power of the image of a baptistry being rolled into to the front of the sanctuary on a regular basis.
We have the baptismal font center stage each week, but imagine a big ole portable baptistry regularly intruding on our worship space, coming in and out of our worship life, reminding us of the God who pushes into our lives to claim us in the waters of baptism
the God who pushes into our lives to be in a relationship with us from womb to tomb.
Move 3: at font
I baptized him, along with his mother and his younger brother and younger sister, when he was a young elementary school kid. His family was joining the church - the father had been baptized, but not the mother or the three kids they had at the time (I would baptize their fourth child a few years later when she as an infant).
The family was active in the church, and he showed up with them until about Jr. High.
he never made it to confirmation.
In high school, he drifted away from the church, although I still saw him on a somewhat regular basis because our families were friends, and he was in the same high school class as my oldest daughter.
In a tragic accident on the Ohio River, he drowned river when he was about 20.
church members and friends looked up and down the river for more than a week before his body surfaced.
his memorial service took place in a packed sanctuary late one May afternoon with torrential rains.
The visitation took place in the sanctuary before the worship service and people lined up and down the aisles because it was raining to much to have a line on the sidewalk outside the church.
The Streets were so flooded that some people who came to the service were stranded at church for several hours until the water across some major streets in town receded.
No one missed the connection between the ring waters in which he drowned and the raging waters that poured down as we gathered at his service.
I stood at the baptismal font at the beginning of the service and announced that in his baptism, he was united with Christ in his death and resurrection.
Images of water permeated his life and death, but the final image was at the baptismal font at the end of the service as I lifted the water and declared: “his baptism is complete.”
Conclusion: But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior
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