3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore 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.
~ Romans 6:3-4
Baptism is central to our Christian identity, yet I think we often take it for granted. We may think: “Baptism is one of those things that happened when I was young and doesn’t seem to have any real impact on my everyday life today.” Christians differ on how and when we baptize: by immersion or sprinkling; as babies or at the age of accountability. Since Lutherans tend to baptize babies rather than when a person chooses Christ, we don’t remember our actual baptism and Christians who baptize differently may view the Lutheran form of baptism as being not real or valid.
Martin Luther writes: “Baptism is not a work that we do but … a treasure that God gives us and faith grasps. … In baptism, therefore, every Christian has enough to study and practice all his or her life. … Thus, we must regard baptism and put it to use in such a way that we may draw strength and comfort from it when our sins or conscience oppress us, and say: ‘But I am baptized! And if I have been baptized, I have the promise that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body ….’ ” (Book of Concord, edited by Robert Kolb and Timothy J. Wengert; Fortress, 2000).
Bethel’s annual theme, “All God’s children have a place,” gives us an opportunity to help children and their families remember their baptisms at home, give thanks for their baptisms at church, and have the children lead the congregation in giving thanks for our baptisms. Beginning October 1, we will invite children whose baptism birthdays fall between July 1 and October 31 to join me at the baptismal font, and they will sprinkle baptismal water on the congregation. Together, we will declare with confidence and thanksgiving: “I am a baptized child of God.”
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
From October 2017 Bethel Bell Tower newsletter
If you would like to read more about baptism, Luther’s Small Catechism is a great place to turn. It is available in paper form, and there is an app available from Augsburg Fortress here: https://tinyurl.com/Luther-app
Epicurious Lutheran 