What is baptism?

Published 9:03 am Friday, February 4, 2011

Across the Pastor’s Desk

By the Rev. David Hernes, retired Lutheran pastor

Baptism is an important part of the Christian faith. Many bring their infants to church for baptism, and it is usually a lovely church ceremony.

But, do we really understand baptism? What it means for our children? And for us as parents?

Email newsletter signup

Baptism connects us to a violent event. Baptism connects us to the death of Jesus, and crucifixion was a violent event.

And a death involves a burial. Something needs to be done with the body. So Paul says that in baptism we are united with Christ in His burial.

What is Paul saying — that we seem to have missed? Paul is saying that baptism is about a death and burial. The end of something — and the disposal of it. What could that possibly be?

What if we say egos? Aren’t egos our human problem? Sometimes I hear people say, “Washington is full of egos, who are forever asserting themselves, and bumping into each other.” If that’s true of Washington, isn’t it true of every grouping of humans? Isn’t that the problem of every single one of us?

Egos, by definition and function, are always self-centered and self-serving. They are cunning, baffling, harsh or gentle, manipulative or overpowering — whatever serves their purposes. They can never be trusted.

Egos need to die. Apparently there is no other way. And there is probably no death harder for us humans than the death of our egos.

This included Jesus too. What a mighty wrestling match that was in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus wrestled with the will of His Father. Until finally He said, “OK Father, not my will, but Yours.”

And that’s what baptism is most deeply about.

But what have we said about baptism? We have said, “Jesus died — so that we don’t have to.” How could we have missed such a deep part of what Jesus said? And, even more importantly, what Jesus did?

He said, “A follower can’t get out of what his master couldn’t get out of.” Jesus said, “My way is the way of the cross. And that goes for anyone who wants to follow me.”

Often, we glibly say, “Jesus died to save us from our sins.” True, but notice how Paul said it: “Jesus died so that we would not live for and from our egos any more.”

Baptism is a gutsy business.

One of the supreme loves in life is the love of parents. Yet, in infant baptism, do you know what we parents say? We say, “God, this child is more Yours than ours. We acknowledge that, and surrender this child to You. May this child bring glory and honor to you, by living like Jesus. Free from ego.”

Is that what we parents meant when we sought baptism for our children? That’s a kind of death of our egos right there, isn’t it?

Thus, baptism is an acknowledgement of the cosmic battle going on. The battle between good and evil. The battle in every human heart.

The ego death is a tough one. But it is the only way to true love. It is the only way to true living. The only way to live fearless and free. As Jesus did. For His Father. And for our human family.

Let us, then, courageously accept the “death” aspect of baptism. The purpose of this death is not an end in itself. The purpose is “a resurrection life.” Life as God intended for us humans in the first place.