March 12 – “Baptism”

Last night's home group turned out to be a very special one.  For one thing some good friends of ours from Indiana, Steve and Amy, were there with their two kids.  They used to go to Seaside when they lived here, and they were in our home group back then as well.  Amy played the bass in the praise team and Steve was one of the sound guys.  They were at church Sunday morning as well, and we even did a child dedication for their son.  We did one for their daughter several years ago at home group.   April and Cailyn came over, too.  And Cailyn seemed to have the time of her life.  Little Colt was older than her but just about her size, so the two of them sized each other up all evening.  Ann and Eric were here as well as Corey and Janell.   As great as it was to see all those folks, the coolest thing that happened was that Mom got baptized.  We have been have several people at church indicate that they have become believers and want to get baptized.  Mom has been asking a lot of questions about it, and this past week she finally said, "I have never been baptized after I decided to follow Jesus on my own.  When I was baptized someone else made the decision for me."  That started a discussion, and in the long run she said she really wanted to be baptized to show that she had decided for herself.  The problem was, due to a combination of health issues and a very unsteady feeling about going into the beach, we turned to an early first century document called the Didache for guidance.  That document gives instructions for what to do with baptism when water is scarce or not available.  If that is the case according to these early church Fathers, then pouring water over their head or anointing them with water will suffice as long as the symbolism of the event is properly explained.    So that's what we did.  I did a teaching on baptism.  Then I took a small amount of water and anointed her head as I said, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit."  She was beaming.  The group gave her lots of affirmation, and she asked me for my notes so she could take her time and read them again.   Romans 6:4 says, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."   Father, thank you for touching Mom in a special way last night.  Amen.