` Front and Center: Baptism in the Life of the Church

Front and Center: Baptism in the Life of the Church



Front and Center:
Baptism in the Life of the Christian Congregation

During this past Eastertide, we moved the baptismal font to the front/center of the aisle, right in front of the communion rails.  We talked about this with both the Elders and the Altar Guild, and are now considering whether to make this a permanent move.

This has caused me to reflect on the place of Holy Baptism in the Christian congregation.  For Lutherans, our practice flows from our theology.  In other words, what we believe determines how we do things in church.  The readings, vestments, even the architecture of the space itself flows from our believe that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19).

So what does this have to do with God’s gift of Holy Baptism, and how does this relate to moving the font front and center?

The connection is this.  It is very easy and even tempting for us to look at Baptism as a one-time event, an eternal rabbit’s foot that wards away evil spirits.  Now obviously Baptism is a one time event, but it is a one-time event with eternal implications.  Consider the following Scripture passage:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen (Matt. 28:19-20).

There are several key words in these verses.  First of all is the word disciples.  A disciple is a follower, and it is the same root from which we get the word discipline.  So what is the discipline of the Christian faith, what pattern do we follow?  We follow the pattern of sound words.  We follow Christ’s words of Law and Gospel to me.

So how do I become a disciple?  I come a disciple by being baptized, and by learning (hearing) all the things that He has said.  This isn’t simply Law.  It is talking about how we learn the faith.  We learn the faith by hearing Jesus’ words.

So for the Christian Church, there is an incredibly close link between Baptism and teaching.  This is why teaching the faith is so important to Christian parents.  My responsibility as a Christian parent is to teach the faith to my child.  Our responsibility as the Christian Church is to teach that one same faith to all of our spiritual children.

Second, remember the our Lord Jesus Christ links Baptism and teaching the faith (preaching) to His eternal presence.  Lo I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.  This is God’s work.  Baptism is what God is doing for us.  He gives us Jesus Christ and His eternal forgiving presence.

So how does this understanding of Baptism impact our practice as a Christian congregation?  It does so in several ways:

Anything we can do to continue to extol God’s gift of eternal life given in Baptism is a good thing.  Moving the font front and center is one way.  Making the sign of the cross is another.  Teaching our children about Baptism and what God does through it is still another.

We link Baptism and teaching.  This is why we catechize (teach the faith) to adults who wish to be baptized and become members.  This is also why we take Christian education so seriously.

So the next time you have to move around the font to get to the communion rail, remember this: God is always putting things in front of us to help us remember who He is and what He has done for us.  Maybe having the font front and center is a good way for us to remember that it is God who draws us to Himself through His great gift of Holy Baptism.

—–Pastor Todd Peperkorn
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This page was created on 01/15/2007 and last edited on: 01/16/2007
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