tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post8411280100741079173..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Baptism the rear view mirror or front windshield?Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-28163278236205990472013-07-11T15:10:50.701-05:002013-07-11T15:10:50.701-05:00Dear Rev. Peters: I really meant to lay off any co...Dear Rev. Peters: I really meant to lay off any comments for a while, having raised, I felt, too many passions. But Baptism is hyper-important, so I had to go back on my good intentions.<br /><br />The good Prof. Pless is, of course, right. But I find it interesting that it is also a matter of language. In German, Russian, and French you would say, “I am baptized.” This does not affect the truth of what he says, either for English speakers, or any other, but it is simply not that obvious an issue in other languages.<br /><br />The other thing is abut Baptism itself. The full statement from the Small Catechism, which you paraphrased, reads, “Fourthly.<br />What does such baptizing with water signify?--Answer.<br />It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.<br />Where is this written?--Answer.<br />St. Paul says Romans, chapter 6: We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death, that, like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” I simply cannot understand what this means in terms of the nature of Baptism.<br /><br />If the old Adam should (German, “soll”, “should” or “must”) be drowned and die daily, then why is he alive again on the next day? Who brings him back to life? It is not a question of somebody being fooled; that the old Adam did not really die. “Drowned and die”, or “soll ersäuft werden und sterben”; this does not seem to leave any wiggle room for the old Adam to bounce back the next day so we can repeat the procedure over and over again. Does the new man “daily come forth”? As I understand simul iustus et peccator, that means that we are both righteous and sinners all the time and simultaneously. The reference to Romans 6 says nothing about any daily dying and rising up again; it speaks of a one time event which is good for all time.<br /><br />About “water and the Word.” We Lutherans seem to have removed the Holy Spirit from Baptism. Only in the section on Infant Baptism in the Large Catechism do we find a clear teaching about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We have made the Word an independent agent, with a will and powers of its own, similar to the broom under the influence of the sorcerer’s apprentice. But Scripture is clear that the Word is, Eph. 6: 17, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” So that when we speak the words of the Word, it is the will of God Himself that is done in each case. The Word does not do it; God does.<br /><br />Finally, we do not clearly teach about the new nature of the person newly born of water and the Spirit. It is all there in our Confessions, but inasmuch as we do not clearly understand what it means to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God, we fail to understand that this is what makes us different from the world. It is not a question of understanding, or gratitude; in Baptism God has given us a new nature and He has come to live in each one of His Children in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Only because of this can we do anything that pleases God, including understanding the Gospel, being grateful to God, and believing in Him.<br /><br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. Marquart<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-80255187929834437902013-07-11T13:27:16.924-05:002013-07-11T13:27:16.924-05:00I was baptized in the Baptist church. It was in t...I was baptized in the Baptist church. It was in the Name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Though the minister who baptized me used the words, "We are baptized into Christ's death and raised to newness of life," It was simply a symbolic ritual to him. I have to smile now as I realize that those words, water and Name did exactly what they promise to do.<br /><br />God's own child, I gladly say it; I AM baptized into ChristJanis Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947508427040251166noreply@blogger.com