Baptism

As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized?” [37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]  38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Acts 8:36-38 (HCSB)

This coming Sunday we will continue to learn what God is doing in our midst as we have the opportunity to observe the baptism of a young wheel chair bound 13 year old boy and his mother. While the audible acceptance of salvation may be lacking, the audible sound of Worship will be very present.

As a participating Southern Baptist Congregation we believe; “Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper. (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000). 

This is something I believe, something I have shared; but yet I have often wondered how to proceed when one is not able to audibly declare their acceptance of Christ. For over 30 years I have been blessed to participate with the Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes program, Special Friends Camp. As a part of this ministry I have been a counselor, life guard, Bible Study leader and Pastor. I have sat with participants and sang countless verses of both Jesus Loves Me and Amazing Grace. Well, I have also song a number of Elvis songs, but that is something to share in another article pertaining to camp. I have also been able to sit and share how Christ loves me and how He loves them. I have shared Genesis 1:27 about “being made in His image” and Ps. 139:14 about “being fearfully and wonderfully made”. Then, as with any conversation, I had to trust the Holy Spirit to continuing in leading the conversation and for the one hearing to understand. 

As a part of Special Friends Camp I have been counseled and as a result I have counseled, that when extending an invitation of acceptance to a group of individuals with Special Needs know that all will respond and each will expect to be included.  To an extent that is a Pastor’s dream - extend an invitation and all will respond! But seriously an acceptance of salvation is difficult to observe in one that has a hard time letting you know any of their other feelings or emotions. 

Upon the recommendation of a friend I have recently been reading the book “The Bible, Disability, and the church: A new vision of the People of God” written by Amos Yong.  Yong writes in regard to the Ethiopian Eunuch as Luke records in Acts 8,  “if those with deformities are now accepted among the people of God, then aren't we also expected to accept others with defects and blemishes, even in the most sacred places they have heretofore been prohibited from entering?” Philip proceed with the the baptism of the eunuch, he did not allow any physical distractions to hinder a spiritual moment for a child of God.  Aren’t we also expected to accept? We should accept, teach, and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirt (Matthew 28:18-19). 

As we gather for Worship on Sunday I look forward to sharing with you the baptism of one that will indeed proclaim with an audible noise of Worship and one that will proclaim an audible vocal response of acceptance.  We serve a great, almighty, all knowing God!  God has accept and so should we. I look forward to seeing you in Worship this coming Sunday!

Serving Him,
Pastor Jeff