What a day it was!

Yesterday was an absolutely wonderful day, I was able to perform the sacrament of Baptism on my own child...what a priviledge it was. The worship service was awesome and it was great to have all the family worshipping together in one place.

Just before I baptised Tayla in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I reaffirmed to the congregation why I believe in Paed Baptism. You see, I have never been one to get into a debate over the issue of whether or not it is right to baptise infants or not. I believe it to be a sterile debate since the practice of either Paed or Adult (Believer) Baptism does not elicit the wrath of the Almighty but rather the grace in every respect (there some debates of certain practices that some would say elicit God's wrath...I won't get into that, that's digitaldion's department, ask him).

In Paed Baptism, we welcome a child into the Universal catholic church (not the Roman Catholic Church and not the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God). So Tayla is not a member of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, she can choose to be a member when she is old enough to. For me, however, the most important thing about Paed Baptism is the recognition of Prevenient Grace. This is a Wesleyian principle that teaches that God's grace is already at work in a person's life before they are aware of it. The greatest image that scripture offers is in Psalm 139 where the psalmist portaits the Holy Spirit as a granny because he knits us together in our mother's wombs. That is to say that the Holy Spirit forms us, gives us life and begins to place in us all the wonderful gifts and talents which we now possess. The water that we use is a symbol of new life, cleansing and the Holy Spirit.

The litugy that we use best describes all of this:


The Baptism of Young Children

THE DECLARATION

Sisters and brothers, Baptism is a gift of God. It declares to each of us
the love and grace of God.In this sacrament we celebrate the life of Christ laid down for us, the Holy Spirit poured out on us, and the living water offered to us. God claims and cleanses us, rescues us from sin, and raises us to new life. He plants us into the Church of Christ and sustains and strengthens us with the power of the Spirit. Although we do not deserve these gifts of grace, or fully understand them, God offers them to all,and, through Christ, invites us to respond.
We recall the words of the risen Christ:
‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the Gospel of Christ's resurrection. Those who heard the message asked what they should do. Peter told them: ‘Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls.’

...and later on in the liturgy


THE THANKSGIVING OVER THE WATER

All stand.The minister stands at the font and says:

Gracious God, we thank you for your gifts of water and the Holy Spirit, for your sustaining, cleansing, and life-giving power. From the beginning your grace has been made known through water and the Spirit.
Your Spirit moved over the waters at creation and you led your people to freedom through a parted sea.In the fullness of time you sent Jesus.He was baptized in the waters of the Jordan and anointed with the Holy Spirit. He passed through the deep waters of death and lives for evermore. He offers living water and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The minister may extend her/his hands over the water.Pour out your Holy Spirit that those/the one baptized in this water may die to sin, be raised with Christ, and be born to new life in the family of your Church. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Cheers