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Remembering your Baptism
I don't remember being baptized.
Like many of you, I was baptized as an infant—as a Roman Catholic, in fact. (It was administer by the same priest who had also baptized my father—and in case you're wondering, yes, it still counts!) The water was poured over my head and the triune name spoken over me while I was still in diapers, a few years away from any conscious reminisces. So no, I don't remember being baptized.
Nevertheless, I do remember my Baptism. Allow me to explain.
In the Large Catechism section on Baptism, Martin Luther writes this:
"So a truly Christian life is nothing other than a daily Baptism, once begun and ever to be continued. For this must be done without ceasing, that we always keep purging away whatever belongs to the old Adam. Then what belongs to the new man may come forth" (IV.65, my emphasis).
And a little later on he adds:
"[Baptism] suppresses and takes away sin and then daily strengthens the new man...For this reason let everyone value his Baptism as a daily dress in which he is to walk constantly" (IV.83-84).
From Luther's perspective, Baptism isn't merely a past-time action; it's a present-tense reality. To live and walk by faith day-to-day is to remember who and whose we are—that is, to remember our Baptism. For in Holy Baptism, as I outlined in Sunday's sermon, you have been signed, sealed, and delivered by the triune God.
I needn't remember having been baptized to recall and lay claim to the gifts that God gave to me at the font before I even had conscious awareness of them. Rather, this remembering of my Baptism is simply a daily habit of faith. It's living into the reality of my identity as a baptized child of God.
But how do we do that, practically speaking? Let me suggest a few simple practices for remembering your Baptism.
1. Make the sign of the cross.
Some might consider this as being "too Catholic," but setting aside whether that's a valid charge (we'll take that up another day), making the sign of the cross is in good Lutheran tradition. Indeed, in the Small Catechism section on Daily Prayers we are admonished upon rising and when going to bed to "make the sign of the holy cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit." Making the sign of the cross isn't a superstitious thing; it's a reminder of your baptismal identity. It's appropriate to do it during the Divine Service at the Invocation, Absolution, Benediction, and elsewhere, and also in your personal devotions, family prayers—whenever you wish to invoke (literally, "call upon") the name of God.
If making the sign of the cross isn't something you've done before, it's really simple. Making three fingers (think: Trinity) with your index and middle fingers touching your thumb, touch your forehead ("In the name of the Father..."), your chest ("...and of the Son"), your right shoulder ("...and of the Holy..."), and finally your left shoulder ("...Spirit."). (Note: if you feel more comfortable touching your left shoulder before your right, the Ceremony Police won't bust you.)
2. Find out your baptism birthday, and celebrate it.
We make a big deal about our biological birthdays (sometimes to our chagrin, the older we get); how much more ought we to do so for our spiritual birthdays! Get one of those delicious ice cream cakes—or whatever suits your taste—and light your baptismal candle (we can get you a replacement if you misplaced yours). Gifts specifically related to your faith-formation are of course especially appropriate for this day.
3. Hang up that picture/certificate/banner of your Baptism.
Many of us have a banner that some precious lady at church made for us when we were baptized; most of us at least have a certificate. Blow the dust off of these items and hang them in a prominent place in your home. These mementos aren't like social security cards that you have to keep under lock and key; they ought to be readily visible as a regular reminder of your identity in Christ.
4. Learn the Catechism's explanation to the 2nd Article by heart.
You might expect me to encourage you to learn by heart the section on Holy Baptism in the Catechism, and by all means do! But the explanation to the 2nd Article of the Apostles Creed ("I believe in Jesus Christ...") is the very heart of our faith and one of the purest expressions of our identity and purpose as Christians:
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.
This is most certainly true.
5. Post baptism-related Bible verses on the bathroom mirrors.
A natural time to remember when you were "washed with water and the Word" (Ephesians 5.26) is of course when you're washing. In addition to that Ephesians 5 verse, some other appropriate ones might be John 3.5, Titus 3.5, 1 Peter 3.21, or Romans 6.4.
6. Sing baptismal hymns while bathing.
This one is an extension of #5. You know you're singing in the shower. Or it might be when you're giving the kids a bath. Learn a couple baptismal hymns and sing them while getting clean. A few of my favorites are "God's Own Child I Gladly Say It" (LSB 594), "Father Welcomes" (LSB 605), and "Go, My Children" (LSB 922). Not coincidentally, we sang all three of these this past Sunday, so you can find them in the worship folder.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. If you have any additional ideas for how to remember your Baptism, pass them along and I'll include them in a future Inklings. In any event, the point isn't how you remember your Baptism, but that you do so. After all, you're signed, sealed, and delivered!
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News & Notes
- At the Church Council meeting last week, the Council authorized Connie Macek to form a special committee attending to the historic preservation and beautification of our church building. If you are interested in being involved with the committee, shoot Connie an e-mail: cjmacek@me.com.
- For you classical Interlochen Public Radio (FM 88.7) fans, did you happen to catch Pastor Ted Beiderwieden on air last night? Pastor B. was co-hosting the 5 p.m. hour, sharing some of the classical treasures he has unearthed in his service as an IPR volunteer. If you missed it, fear not—he'll be back next week at the same time slot.
- Today I am heading up to Leland to meet with Pastor Josh Lafeve (Immanuel, Leland) and Pastor Jason Bauer (Redeemer, Interlochen). The three of us will be meeting regularly, Lord willing, at rotating locations for what the Lutheran Confessions call "the mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren": Bible study, confession and absolution, encouragement. Please pray for safe travel and fruitful conversation! I'll be back in the office later this afternoon.
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Built on the Rock, the church shall stand
even when steeples are falling;
Christ builds His church in ev'ry land;
bells still are chiming and calling,
calling the young and old to rest,
calling the souls of those distressed,
longing for life everlasting.
- "Built on the Rock" (LSB 645:1)
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From the Church Year
Tomorrow in the Church Year, January 18th, we commemorate the Confession of St. Peter (Matthew 16.13-16; Mark 8.27-29). From the Treasury of Daily Prayer:
St. Peter speaks for all disciples when he confesses, "You are the Christ" (Mark 8:29). This confession is the bedrock of the Church, which Christ Himself builds (Matt. 16:18), for "this Jesus," the stone rejected by earthly builders, "has become the cornerstone" (Acts 4:11). This was a scandal even to Peter. The Christ must suffer, be rejected, be killed, "and after three days rise again" (Mark 8:31), for through this work of salvation received by faith, God's "precious and very great promises" are granted, "so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). Wherever Jesus is the Christ, His disciples deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Him (Mark 8:34). They have been cleansed from their former sins and increase in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love, effective and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5_9). All who trust in Jesus, the Christ of Peter's confession, will save their life, though for His sake they lose it (Mark 8:35). "For there is no other name. . . by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
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Looking ahead to Sunday
The 2nd Sunday after Epiphany:
- Readings
- Old Testament lesson—Isaiah 62.1-5
- Epistle lesson—1 Corinthians 12.1-11
- Gospel—John 2.1-11
- Hymn of the Day—"Christ, the Word of God Incarnate" (LSB 540—the link takes you to a lovely rendition of the tune, since I couldn't find a recording of the actual hymn)
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+ Blessed Epiphany +
Pastor Tinetti
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