Towards a Better use of Baptism

As I have said in another place, it is good to have verbal acceptance on the part of the one being baptized as to his belief in Christ and willingness to follow him in adverse situations. I feel as if it is especially important to have the candidate kneel or stand or step forward as a physical dramatization of his consent. Prayers for the faithful keeping of baptismal vows, once they are made, are especially appropriate. 

In the post-apostolic church the individual was required to fast on the day of his baptism. Anything which would bring to mind the seriousness and importance of the act should be encouraged. 

No carelessness of administration or inappropriate elegance of ceremony, form, or baptismal receptacle should be allowed to take away from the inherent beauty and significance of the sacrament. A frequent misuse of baptism is the practice of rebaptism. It sometimes happens when a Christian realizes that his parents baptized him in ignorance of the gospel or even of any responsible reason for baptism. In other cases rebaptism is requested by an individual who didn't recognize the full significance of baptism at the first time he was baptized. He may have been an infant at the time, an adolescent, or even an adult. 

This latter motive for rebaptism will likely end in a flurry of second, third or even fourth baptisms since Christian experience, as often as not, is characterized by an increasing awareness of what faith is and often by a realization that one was formerly uninformed, unsanctified and unfaithful. Thus one's former experience is brought into doubt. 

Such a use of baptism is contrary to the spirit of the New Testament which never speaks of rebaptism and which is not inclined to support the idea that the working of God is nullified by human frailty. The former reason for rebaptism is insufficient because infant baptism is an ordinance of God which put the mark of God's kingdom on the child and should not be spurned. 

One ought not to be rebaptized because to do so is to misuse the ordinance. The sacrament of baptism is a sign and seal from God regarding his intentions, (if the conditions are met) To reject God's word in baptism because the conditions were not met until later is to reject God's word. One must not reject God's word but begin to use it properly. 

If one feels, as Christians so often do, that his baptism meant nothing to him or to his parents at the time, he should be thankful that it means a great deal now, even though he is late in perceiving it. His lack of appreciation for it at the time does not diminish the fact that God was speaking forcefully in the baptism, proclaiming his Gospel of salvation. 

The sense of renewal and deepening that Christians frequently feel is not appropriately celebrated in baptism because baptism is unrepeatable, even as circumcision was in the Old Testament. It is the communion, not baptism, which is the sacrament of renewed commitment and deepened Christian experience. This is the rationale for two sacraments in Christianity. It is the communion in which he issues his call to dedication and where we pray for and celebrate a renewed experience. It is worth noting that in most cases of re-baptism, the individuals involved and the groups which rebaptize have an inadequate view of the communion.

It is often assumed by those who do not practice infant baptism, that theirs is the view which is capable of practical use in the call to decision and discipleship. Certainly in cases of adult baptism one finds a situation where the baptism dramatically punctuates a recent commitment to Christ. The candidate should receive the water as an outward sign from God that his sins are taken away. It is good for those who observe to prayerfully remember their own baptismal vows, and to rejoice in their salvation at this time. 

But infant baptism is equally a call to commitment and discipleship. Parents should be refused baptism for their children if they are not walking in the light. Such a time is a time for consideration of previous covenants made by their parents or by themselves for their children. It is a time for appropriate repentance, thanksgiving, faith and renewal of the covenant as the case may require. 

Finally, the public celebration of adult or infant baptism should be a time to remind the assembled witnesses of their baptismal vows whether the vows were made by themselves or by their parents. All who have the sign of God's covenant upon them have an obligation to God and they ought to live consistently with that sign.

The following prayers are suggested merely as examples of the things an individual might pray or which parents might pray at a baptismal ceremony.

Dear Lord, I now formally and before these witnesses receive the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. I wash away my sins in his blood. Hide my past, present and future sins from your eyes for Jesus sake and deliver me from their power. 

I accept the righteousness of Jesus Christ which you now impute to my account and thank you that I stand before you, not as merely forgiven but as righteous as Jesus Christ is righteous and dear to you for Jesus sake. 

I also purpose to follow Jesus my Lord. In tribulation, in adversity, in trouble, in sorrow as well as in tranquillity, happiness, and success I promise to follow him who is my Lord and Savior. Give me grace to keep this promise. 

Now send the Holy Spirit to give me increasing assurance of my knowledge of you and of your knowledge of me.

0 Lord we thank you for the grace of life. You have given us this child and we thank you for this marvel of creation. 

We are now about to place the sign of your salvation upon him and we pray in faith that you will early bring him to a full understanding of and commitment to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Protect him physically and spiritually and use him for the glory of God throughout all the years of his life. 

We do promise and covenant before you and these witnesses that we will walk before this child as Christians, setting a good parental example. We will teach him your Word, your commandments, and your Holy Gospel. We will seek to lead him to a mature confession of faith in Christ. 

We are helpless in these things, dear Lord. Strengthen and purify us in our keeping of this covenant. We thank you for your unspeakable grace.

Gracious Father, it would be nothing of merit to my account if I had perfectly followed you since the hour of my baptism. It would only be my proper response to grace. So far from this reasonable obedience, I have been lax and uncommitted to you and to your Holy Gospel. Forgive me for my sins and for my failure to wholly follow you. 

Dear Lord, I renew those baptismal vows before you. I have, and do confess Jesus as my Savior and Lord and purpose to follow him in difficulty, adversity, suffering and persecution. By your mercy and grace strengthen me in this, for I am helpless without you. 

Dear Heavenly Father, I am deeply repentant for my failure to keep my covenant which I made before you at the baptism of my children. Oh give me grace and help me to more perfectly fulfill this obligation. 

Will you, irrespective of my failings and by your mercy, early bring my children to personal commitment of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to an acceptance of the truth of your Holy Gospel. Use them and me for your service and pleasure both now and in eternity.