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Presented by Michael Reid, Tuesday 22 June, 2010

As a ritual Baptism pre-dates


Christianity
- signifying purification
- signifying conversion
- signifying commitment

Baptism is the ordinary rite


of initiation by which most
Christian Churches welcome
new members into their faith
community.
Not all Churches do baptise
and not all Churches do it in
the same way.

Christianity is based on the belief


that God offers himself in loving
relationship to the individual and
the community.
Baptism is an expression of faith
- in this one God
- in this relationship
- in the nature of the
Christian community

For this reason some Churches


will only baptise adults who make
a conscious faith commitment
(believer baptism)

Others believe that baptism is a


commitment to a journey of faith
that will grow over time
(adults, children & infants)

As a ritual Baptism expresses the


Christian belief that a candidate is
entering into a new life in Christ.
This theological position is
supported by numerous Scriptural
references
- the Waters of Creation (Gen 1)
- the Great Flood (Gen 6-9)
- the Flight from Egypt (Ex 14)
- entering Canaan (Joshua 1)

Augustine of Hippo (4th century)


emphasised this renewal in his
reflection of Baptism
Whilst the individual chooses to
accept God into their life it is
through the ritual of Baptism that
salvation is effected by the grace
of God.

Augustine also concluded that the


essential effective elements of the
Baptism ritual were
- the pouring of water
- the confession of faith.

The Oriental and Latin Churches


afford Baptism the status of
Sacrament (mystery) in keeping
with this understanding of Grace.
we believe in one baptism
for the forgiveness of sin

Those who depart from this


teaching regard Baptism as
simply a sign that points Gods
saving action, which is effected
without human co-operation.
These Churches speak of the
ritual of Baptism as an ordinance
(a symbolic expression of faith).

The significant implication for the


individual who enters into a new
life in Christ is that their living
must now be in keeping with their
commitment.
To fulfil this commitment the
individual must continue to form
themselves according to the
teaching and practice of the
community into which they have
been Baptised.

baptised in Christ, you have


clothed yourself in Christ you
belong to Christ. Galatians 3
Sharing in Christ the newly
baptised person also shares in his
life and ministry.
If anyone would follow me, let
then take up the cross each day
and follow me Luke 9

The community that embraces the


newly baptised person also takes
on a significant responsibility.
Having welcomed the new
believer the community must
continue to nurture their faith,
supporting and leading the
individual to Christ by giving
witness to the love of Christ in its
observance and celebration of the
Christian life.

The newly baptised individual


becomes a member of the body of
Christ, strengthened significantly
by the faith of the community.
This community is greater than
the local Church; it is the
universal communion of the
faithful who have shared, suffered
and stood together for two
thousand years.

The community also benefits


significantly by the adoption of
this new child of God.
The faith of the newly baptised
Christian renews and enriches the
faith of the whole community in a
tangible way.
The community is drawn to
reflect upon their own faith and
the living witness they bring to
the love of God.

As baptismal practice varies


across the spectrum of Christian
belief the question of what
constitutes a valid baptism arises.
The Oriental and Latin Churches
and the various Churches of the
Reformation each accept as valid
a baptism that makes use of water
and the Trinitarian formula.

Matthew 28:16-20

Then the eleven disciples went to


Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had
told them to go.
When they saw him, they worshiped
him; but some doubted. And Jesus came
and said to them, "All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to
me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptising them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you.

The common practice among


certain Evangelical Churches is to
baptise only in the name of Jesus.
In this case the validity of the rite
may still be accepted if the verb
phrase I baptise you is used.

There are many other important


ritual elements that form the rite
of Baptism in different Christian
communities.
Among these are the use of
- promises/vows
- white garments
- lighted candles
- prayers of blessing
- scented oils
(catechumens and chrism)

In the early Church candidates


undertook a period of formation
called the Catechumenate.
Adult initiation in the Oriental
and Latin traditions still requires
each candidate to undertake a
period
of
instruction
and
discernment.
Other Churches have their own,
less structured process of coming
to learn about the Christian faith.

Churches that baptise infants and


children require their parents to
undertake preparation to fully
understand their commitment.
In the Oriental and Latin
Churches these children will later
be required to confirm their own
commitment to live out the
Christian faith.

Within the Oriental and Latin


Churches the sponsor or godparent also plays a significant
role.
This is a practice brought forward
from the ancient Church as a
means of vouching for the bonafide faith of baptismal candidates.
Today the sponsor is a companion
who guides the candidate on their
journey of faith, before and after
their baptism.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church,


though not a universal expression of the
faith of all Christians, states that the faith
required for baptism is not perfect and
mature.
Instead it acknowledges that faith is a
gift from God that will continue to grow
as ones relationship with God grows, it
is the beginning of a lifelong conversion.
(CCC1253)

Baptism then is a starting point, a


moment of saying yes to that relationship
and of committing oneself to become an
active member of the body of Christ
expressed in the community of believers,
whichever community that may be.

2009 HSC Exam


(a) Outline ONE significant practice within Christianity drawn
from the following:
Baptism
Marriage ceremony
Saturday/Sunday worship

2007 HSC Exam


(a) Describe the significance for the individual of ONE of the
following Christian practices:
Baptism
Marriage ceremony
Saturday/Sunday worship

2008 HSC Exam


(b) Explain the significance of the practice outlined in
part (a) for the Christian community.

Both of these questions are asking you to clearly identify the implications.
How does the life of the individual or the community change as a result of
participating in the ritual of baptism and what is expected of them as a
result?

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