I confess that I was taken back by her appearance and the naivety of her question, yet there she was, trying to be a conscientious Mother. For some, being a conscientious parent means taking their children to the Doctor for checkups, getting them inoculated and immunized, trying to feed them well, and keeping them clean, warm and dry; and of course, getting them done.

In one way or another, that young woman represents the attitude of many young people who happen to be parents. Maybe it is something in the back of their minds that was planted years ago by a Sunday school teacher or a relative. Maybe it is a superstition that somehow baptism will shield their child from the evils that can harm them.

For some it is carrying out a fear that if they are not baptized and they happen to die they will be lost to hell fire; unfortunately, a myth still proclaimed by some faith persuasions, yet a fear that still reigns unresolved within the parents' mind or maybe it is just that this is the way in which a child is properly named.

I don't know all the reasons why people come to have their children baptized though I have a hunch that for many it is the urging of Mom and Dad or Grandparents that is the catalyst.

No matter the reason, something tugs at parents that this is something that needs to be done to complete the miracle of that child which is now their joy and their responsibility.

Why do we baptize a child like Jade? Why does the Christian Church baptize people by whatever method they use and why was Jesus baptized?

In truth, the Church has a difficult time with the baptism of Jesus. None of the Gospel writers can agree as to what transpired or why. Mark, the first of the Gospel writers, has John the Baptist dressed exactly like Elijah, the great prophet of old and, like Elijah, preaching a note of repentance out in the wilderness, far away from the urban scene.

Mark tersely says, Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John and immediately, he saw the heavens torn apart and the spirit descending like a dove and a voice came from heaven saying, "You are my son, the beloved with whom I am well pleased."

Matthew, as you heard read, expands on Mark. Matthew has John trying to talk Jesus out of being baptized saying, I need to be baptized by you. Jesus answered, "Let it be so now for thus is proper in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then as Mark, the heavens open and the spirit comes and a voice proclaims to him, "Jesus, that you are my son, the beloved in whom I am well pleased." Luke tells the story but does not come out and say that John was the one who baptized him. Luke simply says, when all the people were baptized and Jesus also had been baptized, then the heavens opened and the spirit came as a dove and the voice came with the same message.

The writer of the gospel of John has John the baptizer announcing; here is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, then the writer says that John the Baptist saw the heavens open, the spirit come and light on Jesus. Then John the Baptist says, "I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."

There is agreement on two fronts; Jesus was baptized and each writer, one way or another, proclaims that Jesus is the Son, the beloved Son of God. None answer the question that if baptism is for the remission of sins, what was Jesus doing there in the first place?

John the Baptist made it perfectly clear that he was baptizing for the remission of sins. But why was Jesus there, he had nothing to repent of -- nothing to be forgiven for -- and why is there never a mention in the entire Bible of Jesus ever doing any baptisms? You see the problem?

Close examination reveals the editorial quality of the writers. "You are my beloved son" is a quote from Psalms 2 verse 7. "I will tell you the decree of the Lord, He said to me "today, you are my son; today I have begotten you."

The second part, "with whom I am well pleased" is from Isaiah, part of the suffering servant portion speaking of one who will redeem the world by sacrificing himself, an account often thought by many to be in the New Testament.

This we know suggests Barbara Brown Taylor, "Jesus went into the waters a carpenter and came out a Messiah; he is the same person but with a new direction."

Following the beginning of the Christian Church people, almost exclusively adults, were baptized into the body of Christ for the remission for sins. The symbolism was intentional and striking. One went into the waters as a sinner who by choice, symbolically dies, is buried and like Christ, is resurrected to a new life.

This ritual followed the Old Testament concept of the Jews that converts were cleansed in baptism by the use of water, a cleansing agent. Converts embraced a new way of life, namely the way of Judaism. Now years later this symbol was picked up by the followers of Jesus to represent the acceptance of a new way of living; namely following Jesus, thus becoming a Christ-ian.

Not long after this, people who were Christians began to ask, is there not something that we can do for our children? This question became a reality when the converts to the newly formed Christian Church began to have children.

Paedo baptism or infant baptism is predicated by the parents' desire to make a public promise to God to which the congregation holds them, that they will do everything in their power to foster in their child or children, all to which baptism speaks.

We believe that the Spirit of God is every bit as real in the rearing process of children by parents and the Church family as in the life of an individual believer.

All that has occurred today. But let's make sure we understand, baptizing Jade or any other child is not going to make them better than before. Nothing has changed -- and yet -- a great deal has changed.

In baptism a child becomes part of a community that will sustain him or her all of their lives. Today, parents made a promise before a roomful of witnesses and that promise will be supported and aided by all who are here.

Lastly we, as a Church, have made a promise. We promise to provide an atmosphere where children will grow up knowing they are loved by God and that they are not going to be scared into being a Christian by idle threats of Hell or banishment.

Children here will grow knowing that God loves all people, all races, all ethnic mixes, all economic levels: everyone from the derelict in central city to the millionaire in Morgan Creek, all, regardless of their sexual orientation. God loves and accepts all; and, like it or not, those who are poor and needy, or have lost control of their lives in addictions and selfishness ARE our responsibility.

Children here will grow up knowing that women are valued and their talents and abilities are equal and appreciated as much as any man's.

Children here will grow up knowing that people have heads as well as hearts. They will not have to leave their brains in the parking lot because here they will learn that science and religion ARE compatible. Here they will not be forced to believe ancient middle-eastern myths as literal truth. Here they will learn that true Bible interpretation is not asking "did it happen"? -- that's really not very important. Here they will learn that the real question is "what does it mean"?

Here they will learn that the Bible points people in a direction; serves as a sacrament that is, points to something greater; a spirit that fills our lives and guides our footsteps.

That is why we baptize children, so they can be partners with us in this quest in a world where so many Churches want to proclaim proofs, we want to proclaim a faith; a faith that is always in process, always changing as science and knowledge change: a faith in a God who is always before us, out there, beckoning us forward.

So there is Jesus out in the middle of the river because, "he is our servant and our Lord", and he never asks us to go anywhere he has not been first. From dust to dust and ashes to ashes, from the cradle through the waters of baptism to the grave, he knows what we are up against and has showed us how to live so that life never ends: choosing to go God's way; choosing whatever will bring us closer together, and above all choosing the things of earth -- doves, water, mud, skin, love -- to carry out the purposes of heaven.
(B.B.Taylor, Conley Publications, Cambridge MA, "Mixed Blessings" Page 60)



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