Baptism

Baptism is quite a weird thing, especially if you’re not from a church background. To be fair, even those from a church background would agree that it looks quite odd.

In front of a group of people someone - fully clothed - is lowered completely into water before being helped back up again and everyone claps and cheers. They’re dunked. This often takes place inside a Church building in a ‘baptistry’. This could be a hidden teeny pool at the front normally hidden under floorboards (I got baptised in a place like this, it was a little like magic when the floorboards came up) or in a strange movable dismantle-and-put-back-together pool like the one shown. Like a less fun hot tub. Or it can take place outdoors, in a real pool or a river or the sea. Perhaps more naturally. 

So what is going on? 

A sign

Baptism is a sign of faith in Jesus. It is someone publicly saying that they want to follow Jesus as God and as being in charge. 

A sacrament

It is also a physical act that symbolises a spiritual reality. It is an outward sign of God’s grace in saving.

A cleaning.

A bit like taking a bath to get rid of muck and dirt, it represents being cleaned from sin (failing to love God and others, breaking God’s trust, stuff we do that is wrong). This shows the forgiveness and grace that has been received. 

It also represents death and resurrection. The person dies in the water to their old self or way of life and is then born again when they come back out of the water. They are raised to new life in Jesus. 

I’ve been reading ‘I found my tribe’ by Ruth Fitzmaurice, a brilliant book. It’s not spiritual, but it is really. She says “the sea is my salvation”, “the sea saves me” and “We all need saving again and again and again.” There is a recognition that salvation is found in the water, in the sea. 

This echoes something of baptism which is, let’s be honest, a bizarre act. But also a rich symbol of faith, salvation and the hope of new life. 

At Ocean Church we are going to be celebrating some baptisms this Easter. We’ll do this outside, in the water! Come and join us!