Hey Friends, I just finished a ministry resource I’ll be using for church planting called Baptism & Its Significance. I hope you’ll find it useful for you and yours too. Would you kindly help me in getting these wonderful gospel-truths out to others? Here’s how:
- Pick up a copy here.
- Read it and send me any feedback
- Share it with a pastor, friend, or loved one
- Write a review on Amazon. (This last step is so helpful as experts say getting at least 20 reviews up ASAP is really important in getting the word out.)
Thanks in advance for partnering with me in this way!
And here’s an excerpt to to give you a feel for the conversational tone:
Chapter 1: Introduction
Baptism is a big deal, and it’s no accident that you care about it. In God’s providence, I’ve written this booklet for you, although I really wish we could discuss this essential topic personally over a series of weeks with our favorite beverages close at hand. It’s just that important.
The Christian Church worldwide[1] agrees that baptism is related to the beginning of a person’s Christian life and initiation into the church (both the universal invisible church and the local visible church). In the majority of Christian traditions, baptism is called a sacrament or means of grace. Again, a sacrament is a means of grace or better yet, as St. Augustine defined it, a visible/outward sign of an invisible/inward grace. Although some branches of Christianity have more, most Protestants churches emphasize two sacraments: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.[2] And both have a lot to do with your connection to a good church and growing your relationship with God.
Think about it like a healthy marriage: In this analogy, baptism is like the wedding ring and the Lord’s Supper is like celebrating a special anniversary or regular date night. Both wedding rings and the celebration of special days are essential to beginning and cultivating a secure and loving relationship. In the same way, baptism and the regular celebration of the Lord’s Supper are crucial to starting and nurturing a relationship with God. A wedding ring symbolizes committed love for a lifetime. But baptism symbolizes an even greater, never-let-you-go love that lasts for eternity. Regarding that eternal love, here’s one of my favorites from the Apostle Paul:
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”[3]
Baptism is an initiatory rite connected with amazing truths—like the one above—that many Christians meditate on for a lifetime. Truths full of mystery, joy, grace, and good news. Truths about how God lavishes his love on children, adults, and families.
We have a challenge, though. We live in times where many care less and less for reading, listening, and nuance. Yet, unless you read, listen, and wrestle with certain Bible passages, it’s hard to appreciate the Christian faith and all that baptism means. Additionally, as you can imagine, this makes it tough for pastors who are tasked vocationally by Jesus with his Great Commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”[4]
Making disciples, baptizing, and teaching depend heavily on passing on a shared literacy based on the Bible. It’s for this reason that I’ve included lots of Bible references in the footnotes. And it’s my hope that you’ll look many of them up and carefully consider them as you read through this booklet.
As we begin our conversation, you’ll note in considering Jesus’ words above, that baptism is central to the Great Commission. Again, all churches that call themselves Christian agree on this centrality and the precious truths associated with it. Not all, however, agree on the following:
- How should it be done?
- When should it be done? And, most importantly…
- Why should it be done?
The following is written to give you guidance on these questions in a way that:
- Is thorough and honest with the evidence. And…
- Seeks to intentionally facilitate genuine professions of faith in a manner consistent with the Great Commission.
[1] The three main branches of Christianity are Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants.
[2] The Lord’s Supper is often called Communion.
[3] Romans 8:38-39, NLT.
[4] Matt. 28:18-20.