8 Years Later

March 4, 2001.

That day, I was baptized into the Christian faith in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I remember that the day was incredibly dreary and rainy, but I was excited nonetheless. I didn't know that I was going to be baptized by full immersion and so I had dressed up in nice clothes. Luckily, I was able to change into someone's golf clothes (found in their car) in order to be baptized. It was a little ghetto, but I think it kind of suits my off-the-wall personality. I feel it's appropriate that I was disheveled and in mismatched clothes when I came before God to get washed up.

Looking back, I don't think I fully understood baptism at the time. I knew it was a public affirmation of my faith - a time to be cleansed of and forgiven for my sins. I knew Christ Himself had been baptized and that He urged his followers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," but that was all I understood.

When I came up out of the water, I was joyful and thankful - thankful for what God had done and thankful for the opportunity to be baptized. I was happy because I felt I had been officially welcomed into the Christian community and that I was following Jesus' instructions.

Eight years later, I'm still deeply moved when I think about my baptism. Now, however, I have a slightly different understanding of my baptism. That day was not only a public affirmation of faith, signifying my faith to the community of believers, but it was also the day that God claimed me for all eternity. My baptism sticks with me no matter where I am or what I do. I can always rest, knowing that I have been claimed by God in my baptism. I can stand strong knowing that nothing can separate me from the love of God. That's a powerful bath for sure.

Sons of God

Galatians 3:26-29
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

I was thinking about this passage the other day and it struck me that it could be easily updated to make it relevant to middle and high school kids:

“There is neither jock nor geek, popular nor nerd, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Random, I know, but I thought I'd toss it out there!