We All Need God (Holy Baptism)

 

We All Need God (Holy Baptism)

19 June 2011 

Trinity Sunday

Eucharist with Baptism of Children

All Age Worship 11:45 a.m.

St. John’s Cathedral Hong Kong

Matt 28:11-20

God, take away our hearts of stone, and give us hearts of flesh. Amen

A couple of years ago, I was in Seattle Washington.  I had been asked to meet a group of men from the parish where I live there.  In a weekly effort for outreach to the community, we were to meet in a bar, for discussion of faith over drinks, in what is called “Pub Theology.”  I arrived in my clerical clothing a few minutes early because the place was easier to find than I had anticipated.  I didn’t see the young lay minister who organized the event and had invited me.  But immediately, another young man called over to me, “Father, come here and drink with me, I want to talk.” 

Afer a few minutes of chit-chat, he asked me a hard question.  “I just had my little girl baptized. My wife wanted to do it even though our daughter is just six months old.  I’m not that religious, but I am a Christian and believe in God.  I know that we need to repent of our sins and be baptized.  But something really bothered me.  Our little girl is so innocent and helpless.  Why in the world did we need to baptize her?  I asked my priest, but he just said that I shouldn’t be confused by Protestants and their way of doing things—baptism of only older young people or adults. ‘Why not wait until she’s older?’ I asked him.  He replied, ‘you want to raise her as a Christian, and to be Christian, you need to be baptized.’  But that wasn’t very helpful.  Why does she need to have her sins washed off when she’s too young to have committed any?  Doesn’t this show a really negative view of life?  That you’re contaminated from birth?” 

What I said was this: 

“You’re absolutely right about the meaning of baptism.  It is a symbol of washing, or cleansing.  But that symbol is better applied to older people who have “gotten dirty” as it were.  But baptism is also a symbol for new life.  When a child is so young, it is hard to think that their life is old and in need of newness.   But that isn’t the point.  Earlier Church fathers like Augustine thought that we were all dirty.  Most theologians today—whether Roman Catholic or Protestant—do not agree with this negative view, and attribute it to some of Augustine’s own personal problems.  Instead, they talk not about moral corruption or dirt in the newborn, but rather about the inadequacy of all human beings.

The fact is, all of us—no matter how young or how good—need God.  What we’re born with, as good as it may be, is just not enough.  We see this early enough in the development of children.  We are by nature imperfect, and that is the case for each and every one of us.  That is the theological reason we baptize little ones.  It is a sign that we are all in the same boat.  We all need God.    God is his love gave us this sign that he is willing to help us, each and every one. 

Thank you parents for bringing you little ones to Jesus this morning.  He welcomes them.  And may He bless you to continue raising them in the love and nurture of God.  

In the name of God, Amen.