Baptism Information
United Methodist Beliefs About Baptism
WHAT BAPTISM IS NOT We do not believe that Baptism for children is any kind of magical zap from heaven. Baptism does not make a person an instant Christian for life. Every individual must at some time come to personally choose to accept salvation through Christ. This is why we have the opportunity of Confirmation for youth; Confirmation is when a person decides to respond to the love of God by confirming, or saying "yes" to, his or her Baptism.
Baptism for children is not "fire insurance". We thoroughly reject the notion that an unbaptized child who dies will end up in "limbo" or even hell. God is not so limited as to reject a young child simply because nobody managed to get there with the water.WHAT BAPTISM IS BAPTISM IS A DECLARATION OF GOD'S GRACE.
In Baptism for children or adults, we are declaring God's grace—God's freely given love—by which God accepts us even when we are not worthy, and forgives us even when we have not earned it. Thus Baptism proclaims first and foremost God's action—as God reaches out to us in saving love and cleansing forgiveness. This is why we can baptize children; in infant Baptism, we are recognizing that God takes the initiative in salvation. God begins to work in the life of a child even before the child understands anything of God, just as a parent works lovingly in the life of a child, even when the child understands nothing of what the parent is doing.
BAPTISM IS A COMMITMENT.
In adult Baptism, the person being baptized makes a commitment of his or her life to God. In Baptism for children, the parents make a commitment on behalf of the child, promising to raise their child in the Christian faith and in the church, until that time when the child can make his or her own personal commitment to God. The whole congregation also makes a commitment to help the baptized person grow in Christian life.
BAPTISM IS A COVENANT.
A covenant is a mutual commitment—in the case of the Baptismal covenant a mutual commitment between God and us. In any covenant, such as a marriage covenant, both parties must be faithful to the covenant in order for the promises of the covenant to be effective. God is always faithful on God's side of the covenant. On our side of the covenant, we must live out our commitment to God in order for God's promises to take hold in our lives. This is why, when parents bring children for baptism, it is extremely important that they actually intend to continue to bring their children to church, so that the children can indeed grow in the knowledge and grace of God.
BAPTISM IS INITIATION INTO THE CHURCH.
Whether for adults or for children, Baptism is initiation into the fellowship of the church. Unbaptized adults must therefore be baptized before being received into the membership of the church. Children who are baptized are henceforth recognized as "preparatory members" of the church, until they are confirmed and become "full members." By baptizing children, we recognize that they have a place right now in God's family.Methods of Baptism
The United Methodist Church recognizes as valid any of the three ancient methods of baptizing. These methods, as well as the particular aspect of the meaning of Baptism that their symbolism evokes, are as follows:
Sprinkling—Drops of water are placed on the head. This symbolism reminds us especially of the cleansing action of God's forgiveness.
Pouring—A stream of water is poured over the head. This symbolism reminds us especially of the idea that God is "pouring" the Holy Spirit into the life of the person.
Immersion—The person is dunked entirely under water. This symbolism reminds us of how our old selves are "buried" and how we "rise" to new life in Christ.
It is important to recognize that while each of these methods points to a different aspect of the meaning of Baptism, the sacrament of Baptism, by whatever method, means all of these things. Baptism is full and complete Baptism no matter which method is chosen. United Methodists, therefore, recognize any form of Christian baptism in any church as valid. A person who has been baptized in another denomination does not need to be re-baptized in order to come into the United Methodist Church.
Sprinkling is the particular method of baptism used in our church; it is used for baptism at any age.
Because baptism is initiation into the church, and involves a commitment of support by the whole congregation, baptism always takes place during a regular Sunday morning service of worship (at either the 8:30, 9:30 or 10:30 hour).Parents Considering Baptism For Young Children
Based on all that is discussed above, it would obviously be an empty act for parents to bring a child for baptism and then never be involved in a church again. Parents bringing a child for baptism are making a profound commitment before God, and so it is crucial that the parents also are committed to a local church.
If you do not have a church home and are thinking about baptism for your child we invite you to visit us in worship and see if this is the church where you would like to raise your child in Christian faith. You may wish to meet with our pastor or with our Director of Christian Education to talk further about our young people's ministry. You will need to either be a member of the church or have a commitment to become a member of the church in order to bring a child for baptism.
If you are a member of the church and desire baptism for your child you are encouraged to click here to submit your child's information, or contact info@kentmethodist.org to arrange for a baptism date. We schedule multiple baptisms during the course of the year.Baptism for Adults
COME TO THE WATERS
by Dr. David A. Palmer
United Methodist Church of Kent
This pamphlet is for adults coming for baptism in the United Methodist Church. It is hoped that this guide will help you to prayerfully prepare to receive the sacrament of Baptism
THE ROOTS OF BAPTISM
Baptism has its roots in the Old Testament, where water was used for ritual cleansings, both in the home and in the temple. Water symbolized the washing away of sin. In Old Testament times, these kinds of ritual water cleansings were repeated over and over.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
John the Baptist began to “baptize” people by immersing them in the waters of the River Jordan. This baptism symbolized the cleansing of the whole person from sin as a part of a spiritual movement of repentance. To “repent” means to “turn around”—to turn from sin and to turn towards God, receiving God’s forgiving and renewing love.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist at the start of his public ministry. Although Jesus did not need any cleansing from sin, he asked John to baptize him, because in this way he identified himself with our human condition and gave us an example of how we need to be baptized. We are told that at the baptism of Jesus “the Spirit of God came descending like a dove” upon him, and God said, “This is my beloved Son.” Baptism has henceforth been a symbol of how God pours His Spirit upon us, and how God through Christ claims us as His children.
JESUS’ COMMANDMENT TO BAPTIZE
Jesus after Easter said to his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) We baptize in direct response to Jesus’ words.
To be baptized “in the name of” means to be baptized “under the power of” or “under the authority of” or “in devotion to.” In baptism we take on “the name” of God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit—we become part of the family of God, we take on the fullness of God’s saving activity on our behalf, and we place ourselves under the reign of God.
And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
BAPTISM IN THE EARLY CHURCH
As soon as people began to come to faith in response to the apostles’ preaching, they were baptized. Baptism was and continues to be initiation into the Christian life and into the church.
Note in the passage in Acts 2 that people were baptized following repentance. To repent in response to the gospel is to turn from sin and turn towards Christ, accepting Christ as Savior, receiving the forgiveness and everlasting love that Christ offers us, and stepping forward to follow Christ into new life.
Note how the Acts 2 passage explicitly talks about baptism representing forgiveness of sins (the washing away of our sin) and receiving the Holy Spirit (the Holy Spirit is God present and working within us).
MODES OF BAPTISM
The baptism of John the Baptist was by immersion in a river. The New Testament does not tell us how people were baptized as the church grew, but we know from early church records that the question soon arose as to how much water must be used for baptism. This was a critical issue in an arid land. Did persons desiring baptism need to run to the nearest river, pond, or pool? The church ultimately decided on the minimum amount of water required for baptism—three drops (one each for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Today in the United Methodist Church, we believe that the amount of water in baptism is not important; the Spirit of God is at work no matter how many drops we use! We can baptize using any of three different methods:
vSprinkling—A few drops of water are placed on the head of the person being baptized. This is the form we most commonly practice; it has been a form of baptism since ancient times.
vPouring—Water is poured from a pitcher over the head of the person being baptized.
vImmersion—The person is completely immersed in a pool or other body of water.
Each method could be seen to symbolize different aspects of the meaning of baptism. The sprinkling reminds us of the cleansing of God’s forgiveness, the pouring reminds us of how God pours His Holy Spirit into us, and immersion reminds us of how our “old self” is buried and we arise through Christ into new life. But no matter which method we use, baptism means all these things.
BAPTISM IN THE CHURCH
Baptism in the United Methodist Church is always a public act in a service of worship. We never do “private baptism” (except in cases of impending death), because baptism is an act of the whole church and is initiation into the community of faith. Adult baptism is generally celebrated in conjunction with joining the church as a part of a membership class. The service includes an opportunity for the whole congregation to renew their vows of baptism.
PROFESSION OF FAITH
The person being baptized is always asked to make a public profession of Christian faith (usually this is done along with other members of a New Member Class). You are asked if you repent of your sin, if you believe in God, if you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, if you accept the truth of the Scriptures, and if you promise by God’s grace to lead a Christian life.
“The person who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16) In professing your faith and being baptized, you are taking hold of salvation in Jesus Christ.
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
The Baptism service in which you will be taking part is called a “baptismal covenant service.” The Bible speaks throughout its pages about God’s covenant with us. A covenant involves two parties making a mutual commitment to one another (the marriage covenant being the most common human example). In the Biblical story, God makes an everlasting commitment to us, and we are invited to respond to God.
Baptism symbolizes both sides of this divine/human covenant.
On God’s side, baptism represents:Øthat God forgives us, cleansing us of sin
Øthat God renews us, filling with His Spirit
Øthat God bestows on the gift of everlasting life (water being a fundamental symbol of life)
On the human side, baptism represents:
Øthat we come to God in repentance, ready to receive God’s grace (God’s freely given love)
Øthat we profess our faith and our commitment to God
Øthat we enter into the church, the community of believers
You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
COME TO THE WATERS OF LIFE
As you prepare to come for baptism, you connect with Christians through the centuries who have responded in faith to the good news of Jesus Christ. God’s Spirit will be at work in your baptism, for God stands ready to place upon you the forgiveness, blessing, and love that Christ has brought to the world, and to claim you forever as a child of God.
The church also stands ready to affirm you, and to receive you as a full, baptized member.
Baptism, of course, is a beginning. You are embarking into a spiritually abundant life as a disciple of Jesus Christ, committing yourself to grow in Christ and to share in how Christ is at work in the world. God’s Spirit will be with you to guide your steps; and you can rejoice that you now are journeying through life as a part of God’s people, sharing in God’s blessing, and traveling by the grace of Christ towards the everlasting promises of God.
The Prayer for persons being baptized (offered immediately before your baptism)— Almighty and everlasting God, we pray for the blessing of your grace upon names. Grant that in coming for holy baptism, they may receive forgiveness for their sin, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Receive them, O Lord, in your mercy, and grant that they may be faithful to you all the days of their lives, and finally come into the eternal kingdom which you have promised, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Kent, OH 44240
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