Below is a piece I had to write concerning Baptism and Holy Communion for the Board of Ordained Ministry in the UM Church. Since we recently experienced Baptism of the Lord Sunday and I was invited to share with a Sunday School class on the topic, this could be a good addition.
How has the practice of ministry affected your experience and understanding of the meaning and significance of the sacraments?
The practice of ministry has had a profound affect on my experience and understanding of the sacraments. As Wesley asserted, “By ‘means of Grace’ I understand outward signs, words, or actions ordained by God, and appointed for this end-to be the ordinary channels whereby he might convey to men the preventing, justifying, or sanctifying grace.[1] A sacrament is a means of grace, and unique. I have witnessed many Christians experience God’s presence and grace in a real and meaningful manner when they partake in the sacraments. I have intentionally fostered a greater appreciation for the sacraments through teaching and providing meaningful experiences that celebrate the sacraments with a deep appreciation without poor abbreviation, rushing, or trivialization.
Kristine, was a new member of our Church (Ocala) and had an Anabaptist background. Prior to joining our church Kristine participated in my new member’s class. As we were discussing the sacraments Kristine asked about infant baptism. I began explaining that baptism begins with God, not us. “The grace of God works in a person’s life prior to their awareness moving them into a loving relationship.”[2] In the United Methodist Church we believe that we all stand constantly in need of divine grace. Grace is God’s free and unmerited favor, the expression of divine love for us.
Baptism, the rite of Christian initiation, is the action of washing or plunging in water (Acts 2:41). I then refer to what people of her tradition would understand as, “believer’s baptism.” For adults, baptism is a symbol of God’s justifying, or convicting grace. Baptism conveys several important meanings, including symbolizing the Holy Spirit’s washing away of sin (Titus 3:5), the death of sinful nature and the resurrection of a new Christ-like nature (Romans 6:3), and being joined to the Family of God.[3] Baptism is not something humans do alone, such as repent or have faith. Rather, it is something God does by bestowing grace upon a person’s life.
God’s grace begins in the individual’s life before his/her acceptance of God, preparing him/her to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Because of this, God’s prevenient grace is proclaimed and celebrated in the baptism of babies. This is not the child’s confession of faith. This is a covenant sign of God’s work on our behalf making our response possible. “When infants are baptized, it is right and necessary that when they come to maturity, they make their own confession of faith. But they do so with the clear witness that it is not their confession alone that saves them, but the work of God already done for them long before they ever believed.”[4]
Baptism makes the possibility of confession greater. “The baptism of a person, whether as an infant or an adult, is a sign of God’s saving grace. That grace—experienced by us as initiating, enabling, and empowering—is the same for all persons.”[5] Our Church has a great process for discipleship. When persons who were baptized as infants are ready to profess their faith, they participate in the service we call Confirmation.
I explain to Kristine and the others, that confirmation prepares children to profess the name, ‘Christian’ for themselves. The sacrament of baptism is not a private matter between the person and God. Baptism should always take place in the presence of God’s family, the church where we into into covenant to “nurture this child in Christ’s holy Church, that by your teaching and example they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves, to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian life.”[6] I explain to the group that this is why we should never have trouble finding Sunday school teachers and youth leaders. While Holy Communion is repeated many times, baptism is only done once; it is God’s act of grace, marking the individual as a Christian disciple.[7]
The practice of ministry has given me several opportunities to share these teachings. First, it was with two Southern Baptist youth Pastors in Madison, FL. Then, to a young adult in my Church who was baptized as an infant requesting to be re-baptized because her boyfriend who was a member of the Church of Christ was pressuring her to have an adult believer’s baptism experience and be fully immersed. After the teaching we later held a baptism of remembrance service in the Withlacoochee River.
Jesus initiated Holy Communion with the disciples in the Upper Room, (Matthew 26:17-30), and promised to be with them. The whole Trinity is present in Holy Communion lavishing the benefits of Jesus Christ’s passion on those who partake. Eucharist, as it’s also known, from the Greek word meaning thanksgiving, reminds Christians that the sacrament is thanksgiving to God for the gifts of creation and salvation.[8]
The practice of ministry has led me to celebrate Holy Communion with the church in creative ways to experience afresh the presence of the risen Lord and receive grace for our lives as disciples. We have celebrated Holy Communion at parks, in nursing homes, outdoors underneath the stars, coffee shops, and in homes.
During my appointment at Lee UMC (Madison) I was invited by the owner of ‘Southern Living for seniors’ an assisted living facility in Madison to come once every three months and serve the residents, “The Lord’s Supper.” I interpreted this as a great honor and began with much gratitude. Jenny jokingly said, “Just don’t do all that Methodist stuff and everything will be ok.” Although this comment offended me, I know the owner personally and I know she has a Southern Baptist background. However, I would have never imagined this being cause for concern.
I quickly learned that ‘A Service of Word and Table’ wasn’t completely foreign to the residents but was completely foreign to the staff that assisted. I attempted to personally serve the group of eight to ten residents by way of intinction using one loaf of bread and a chalice but this was met with resistance not for sanitary reasons but because Mary a staff person and Missionary Baptist wasn’t comfortable. Mary insisted on only using little plastic cups and hard prepackaged wafers. In keeping the peace and maintaining unity I let her provide the elements. However, I did use a loaf each service during the liturgy to bless and break.
On a certain occasion while serving the residents I broke the bread and repeated the words that Jesus said, “Take eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Something came over me this day so I added, “and know that we not only remember Christ’s sacrifice for us long ago but we also experience what God is presently doing in a powerful, yet mysterious way, and anticipate God’s future work of salvation.” After the service Mary felt as though we needed talk outside.
Mary explained that The Lord’s Supper was to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and added we didn’t need to take the Lord’s Supper every month, especially if we are saved. I explained that ‘The Lord’s Supper’ is a sacrament that I hold in high regard. It’s an outward sign of an inward grace that conveys God’s grace to us in a powerful way that unites, nourishes, and sustains us as we constantly strive to be Christ’s instruments of transformation in the world. I need Christ’s love, forgiveness and healing. I don’t’ know about you but I need that, I want that as often as I can get it. Mary and I thanked one another for listening.
This experience taught me the importance of healthy dialogue, and maintaining an attitude of respect and openness to learning. I served these people for over a year and kept my focus on the ministry that I felt called to while remaining anchored in my faith tradition yet maintain unity and peace.
I am now an ordained elder (Pastor) in the United Methodist Church. A special role for the elder is the responsibility for administration of the sacraments.[9] The United Methodist Church teaches that baptism is to be performed by an ordained minister in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Water, by sprinkling, immersion, or pouring, is essential (John 3:5, Acts 8:36).[10]
In the United Methodist Church, persons who are ordained as elders may consecrate the Holy Communion elements, protecting Holy Communion from misuse. However, laypersons may offer Holy Communion and I remain intentional to include others. Pastors should be educated and trained in the history, traditions, theology, and spirituality of the sacraments and ways to best convey their full benefits. With humility and respect I am committed to this significant responsibility.
[1] Heitzenrater, R. and Outler, A. John Wesley’s Sermons: The Means of grace (1746) (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991) P. 160
[2] Gayle, Carlton, Felton. This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion, (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1997), P. 15.
[3] Grenz, Stanley, Theology for the Community of God, PP. 339-344.
[4] Staples, Rob L. Outward Sign And Inward Grace, P. 182.
[5] Gayle, Carlton, Felton. By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism, (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1997), PP. 27, 28.
[6] The United Methodist Hymnal (Nashville, The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989.) P. 40
[7] Anderson, Sara, We Believe (Anderson: Bristol, 1996), P. 45-52.
[8] Gayle, Carlton, Felton. By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism, (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1997), P. 17
[9] http://www.gbhem.org/site//The_Ministry_of_the_Elder.htm
[10] Anderson, Sara, We Believe, (Anderson: Bristol, 1996), PP. 45-52.
No comments:
Post a Comment