Celebration of Baptism
As a society, we seem to celebrate a lot of events in life. We celebrate graduation, marriage, birthdays, and special occasions. We have events to commemorate significant times in life. At a wedding there are gifts given, meals served, and encouraging words spoken. At a graduation party, people bring gifts and encourage the new graduate for the future. In baptism, it seems that the level of celebration is smaller than weddings and other important events. We tell the newly baptized individual that this is the most important thing you will ever do, that this is the most important day, but we typically do not celebrate baptism as we do other times in life. We know the Angels are rejoicing, but on earth we seem too quick to pass on to another activities after a baptism. Baptism is a big deal; we need to celebrate it.
I have envisioned a way to make baptism into a congregational celebration. We have showers for babies and brides, maybe we could have a baptismal shower in which the congregation brings gifts that has helped them on their Christian walk. These gifts could be presented to them. Also, we could have a lot of food because this is a sign of rejoicing. These baptismal showers could be used to encourage and invite new people to the fellowship of the church. A lot of times the newly baptized individual has family that are not Christians. These family members might not come to church but would could to celebrate with the newly baptized individual. This would open doors for Christ. This baptismal shower would encourage the members too as they are given the opportunity to share some of the most meaningful avenues of spiritual growth with one another. It would be nice to sit around together and present the gift by telling the story about why the gift is meaningful to them. Overall, I would like to see the church celebrate this glorious moment more in the church. I really loved the day I was baptized into Christ–July 6, 1997 I will never forgotten.
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I’ve thought of this before, but I’m glad you’ve put it out there for me to think of again.
I think some sort of recognition of a person’s new birth, in the way of congratulation and encouragement, would help the new convert begin his or her journey.
Thanks for this post!
You better be careful, you might find yourself in trouble for suggesting that we actually celebrate a person’s descision to be baptized.
When I was an undergrad student at Harding, we went on a domestic mission trip to work with a particular congregation. At the time we did not know this congregation was in the middle of splitting (we should have never gone). We had a baptism and decided to ask people to join us up front after the baptism, where we would greet the new sister in Christ and the whole nine yards which ended up being a group gathering around in a circle praying and singing praises to God for what had happened. Low and behold, some members accused us of being “cultish” for holding hands while praying, singing, and greeting the new sister in Christ with such a celebrative joy. If I had to do it all over again, I would have done the same thing. WE OUGHT TO CELEBRATE AND MAKE A BIG DEAL OF IT WHEN A PERSON SURRENDERS THERE LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST!
Rex
Matthew,
This is a good idea if baptism aren’t frequent. Sadly, it’s rare for most churches in North America to have a lot of baptisms close together, but elsewhere it is more common. In Brazil we got into the habit for a while of having a barbecue (true Brazilian barbecue, not hamburgers and hotdogs) to celebrate after every baptism. Sometimes two or more people would be baptized at the same time. Baptisms were always at homes (usually mine) so it was easy to have a barbecue. We got to a point for a while of having two barbecues a month.
Rex,
Yikes! That must have been the year after I graduated! Glad I missed out on that one!
Rex, we always come up and hold hands and sing and pray. I do not see this as cultist, I see it has being a family and loving.
I would never be against having a barbecue for baptism, what do you mean by Brazilian barbecue? I have a good friend who was a missionary in Brazil for numerous years, Mark Haguewood, do you know him?
Rex, was this a crossroads type of situation?
I think its a wonderful idea.
Matthew,
I am glad you all get to do this. What a great way to begin life in the body of Christ – to raise out of the waters of baptism and be greeted by the family of God celebrating and welcomeing you into the family.
Adam,
It was the year after you graduated. That experience taught me exactly what sort of congregation I wanted to avoid (Lord willing) in ministry.
Matthew,
The experience that I was referring too has nothing to do with the “Crossroads/Boston Movement.” It was simply the result of one congregation whose faith was dead, lost in the waters of traditionalism.
Rex
This is a fantastic idea. i’m definitely going to pitch it at my congregation now. thanks!