God Raining On Our Parade
This past weekend my wife and I, gathered with our brothers and sisters in Christ—members of our community of faith, to baptize our first-born son. Although we thought we had everything in place, God as He often does, had different plans. Our reception was planned to be held outdoors in a picnic setting, but it literally “rained on our parade.”
All week we had been worried about the possibility of rain, but when we woke up that day it was sunny out and we thought all was good. Then in a matter of minutes the dark storm clouds rolled in choking out the light of sun and unleashed the heavy rain which lasted most of the day.
None of us made it into the church without getting wet. However, I saw it as God’s way of reminding us that we are all being called to renew our baptismal vows. When someone is baptized, they are cleansed of original sin, brought into the Church—God’s family, and gifted with the Holy Spirit. All of these things we receive freely from our gracious God. It’s all rather profound, though I would assert that many don’t take seriously or appreciate the blessing of their baptism.
Reflecting On and Renewing Your Baptismal Vows
There a few vows that must be made before someone is baptized and this weekend gave us the opportunity to reflect on those vows.
- Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?
Sin is what separates you from God, so it’s mighty important that you reject that which would keep you from that relationship with Him. He has adopted you through baptism into His family (Rom 8:15). You are His beloved child (Mk 1:11). Being a child of God awards you amazing gifts, and as this vow states, the ability to live in freedom: freedom from sin (Rom 6:18). It’s not that sin or temptation will cease to exist, but the power of the Holy Spirit which lives within you—guiding you, protecting you, making you the person God meant you to be—is what leads you “not into temptation” but draws you closer to God, constantly forming you and inviting you into deeper relationship with Him (Lk 11:4). - Do you reject the glamor of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?
Glamor and evil aren’t often used in the same sentence, however it is through the glamorizing of evil that many of us fall victim to sin. Temptation is powerful and often the things that are bad for us seem so good! The world, the flesh, and the devil are what draw us away from God and often, especially in our modern culture, their primary mode of enticing us away from God is by glamorizing that which separates us from Him. The mass media do an unfortunately good job at making bad look good. Thank God that through baptism “we walk by faith and not by sight.” And through the Holy Spirit we are clearly able to see sin even when it is cleverly disguised (2 Cor 5:7). - Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?
Your relationship with God is and must always be monogamous. God wants you for Himself and is not willing to share you with Satan (Ex 20:5). Throughout the scriptures God refers to His relationship with His people as a marriage (Hosea, 2 Cor 11, Rev 22:17). That’s why adultery is mentioned so many times in the Bible, because it is referencing the breaking of the marriage vow both physically—with a spouse—and spiritually—with God (Jn 4:4-42).
These vows are serious stuff. They are promises that we make to God. And for those of you who are parents, you make these vows before baptizing your children in addition to the promise to bear witness to the faith. And this you do not only by teaching them, but by your lived example of your faith.
A Real Responsibility
With the greatest gifts come the greatest responsibilities. And as we’ve already explored, in baptism you received some very great gifts. With these gifts come responsibility. You are responsible for living up to your commitment, just as you are in your marriage. You’ve committed, vowed, promised your spouse to be faithful, to the love them, support them, protect them, challenge them… forever. The same is true in baptism.
The awesome thing about being a Christian is that you don’t have to rely on yourself to succeed. God gives you all the help you need through the Holy Spirit and through your family—your brothers and sisters in Christ that you call the Church. You’ve been set free, but it’s up to you whether you will fall back into sin or whether you will choose to live for God.