Don't Talk About It, Be About It: Baptism

Recently, one of our high school students mentioned that he wanted to talk to me about being baptized again. He had been baptized at an earlier age, but he really put his faith and trust in Jesus this summer during our mission trip.

Now before everyone gets into whether he should “be baptized again” or not, I would like to investigate why baptism is significant in the first place.

Baptism has become tricky in modern application. There are questions of infant baptism vs. believer's baptism, immersion vs. sprinkling, denominational views of baptism and membership, whether you even need to be baptized, and my favorite - “does that kid even know what they are doing?”

Sometimes we make baptism too complicated. Sometimes we make it too easy. Sometimes we make it the destination, the finish line, instead of the starting line.

So why is baptism significant anyway?

Simply put, because Jesus did it Himself and He commands it.

In Matthew 28, Jesus clearly states “...baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...” This is the first step of a disciple. Baptism is the act that tells the world that an individual is following Jesus. [Note: The thief on the cross in Luke 23 is the exception NOT the rule.]

So why are baptisms declining in churches today if it is Jesus' command?

Hmmmm....

Because 1) we are not following Christ's commands, and 2) we don't make a big deal about baptism anymore.

Baptism should be one of the biggest deals in our churches. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

We should celebrate it. We should take time to do it right. Tell the person's story. Make it the whole point of worship that day.

Too often, it is another thing we have to add into our busy schedule with some pastors getting flustered because it takes time away from their sermon.

So what should we do?

1. Make it a big deal.

   
   

   Since I mentioned this earlier, I will simply reiterate to celebrate it. And go big. Pull out all the stops for baptisms.

   
   

2. Look at it as the starting line not the endgame.

   
   

   Think of baptism as the beginning of the journey of faith. Well not even the beginning, but as a major mile-marker. This decision and this act put an individual on an intentional path which is usually met with NOTHING and NO ONE.

   
   

   Churches clamor about discipleship, but then leave a newly baptized individual with no plan and no support.

   
   

   We dunk them, pat them on the back, and say good luck. Then six months later we sit around wondering whatever happened to them.

   
   

   Leaders, show some intentionality.

   
   

   If you are reading this as a “person in the pew” - I encourage you to seek out mentors. Hold your church leaders accountable to disciple you intentionally.

   
   

3. Preach it regularly.

   
   

   Not just preach it, but tell stories about baptisms.

   
   

   Promote them. Post previous baptisms as “this day in history” stories on social media.

   
   

   Have a tab on your website that outlines the process. Equip people to talk about baptism with their neighbors, co-workers, and classmates.

   
   

   Anything that gets in front of your people regularly where it becomes part of their normal vernacular.

   
   

   Who knows, maybe pray openly for it every week.

   
   

4. Set an annual goal.

   
   

   Churches love to debate whether you should track numbers.

   
   

   My thought. Yes. If you track the right ones.

   
   

   What if your church set a goal for a certain number of baptisms next year? And not just any baptisms (not the moving from one denomination to another ones) but New Conversion Growth ones.

   
   

   This kind of goal shapes your decision-making and action as a church. Everything should be seen through the lens of “how does this help us make disciples and baptize them?”

   
   

   So in the youth ministry I lead currently, we set a goal of five baptisms in 2021.

   
   

   We have had one so far, but as we work toward this goal we have clarified which

   students have and have not been baptized and intentionally prayed for those individuals.

   
   

   

   
   

   There are around a dozen students associated with us that have not been baptized. Which leads us to the next point.

   
   

5. Work with individuals.

   
   

   Everyone has a story. Some people are scared of water. Some people are handicapped, and logistically how can you immerse a person in a wheelchair. Some people are shy. Some people do not want to be baptized again just to join your church.

   
   

   This is where knowing your people comes into play. Some reasons are totally understandable. Some are excuses. Regardless, we should help people move forward and trust that God will take care of the rest.

   
   

6. Remember what baptism is all about.

   
   

   Finally, we must remember what baptism is all about.

   
   

   My belief based on Scripture is that baptism is not needed for salvation. Believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord saves you.

   
   

   Baptism is an act of obedience.

   
   

   It is an outward expression of an internal decision. Think of it as your Christian life pep rally. This is a great celebration where you get motivated and the people around you are cheering for you and supporting you.

   
   

   Unfortunately, many people get nervous about getting in front of people to do this – which I personally have never experienced, but I do understand.

   
   

   Many pastors and evangelists ask for commitments to Christ “with every head bowed and every eye closed,” but Erik Reed, a Tennessee pastor, while speaking at our mission trip this summer, told everyone to keep their eyes open because “if you can't stand for Christ in a setting and environment where people are cheering for you and supporting you, how do you think you will stand for Christ out in the world which is not cheering for you and supporting you.”

   
   

   I'd like to apply that same logic to baptism.

   
   

   Baptism does not save you. But it is an act of obedience. It is a step of faith. It is a public profession of faith. It is your first act of telling the world about how much you love Jesus and of your commitment to follow Him.

Don't just talk about baptism, be about it. Be intentional. Be thoughtful. Follow the Words of Jesus.

Anyway, I was just thinking...

P.S. Comment below with your baptism stories, or if you have not been baptized feel free to ask any questions you may have or contact me directly.