Last week, I wore a fetching pair of goggles to introduce some Baptisms in church. All the kids and Youth were in, some in the 'Splash Zone'. I was asking my friend if someone could become a Christian by going under water, or if God loved a person more, if they went under water. (I was actually bluffing and knew the answers to the questions. Shocking, I know). I also asked if everyone's story was the same, if everyone became a Christian in the same way.
I love baptisms. They're such life giving moments to be part of. Hearing someone describe the how and the when of getting caught up in God's story for their life. Of course people's stories aren't the same. People's lives arent the same. They may have something in common or be miles apart from the previous story, or testimony. They usually make me feel emotional. You can disagree with, or argue against lots of ideas and Biblical perspectives, but to hear someone tell their story of when they met Jesus and the joy that has brought them is not something easily dismissed. It's their story!
I know of people recently, who have quickly got baptised in the freezing sea, and a baptism service where the building's water was off, so everyone from church had to bring a container of water! Such fun.
Not long ago, my (nearly)14yr old son got baptised. It was a wonderful day, with the whole family in church, including the ones who are maybe working out their faith, others who had travelled to Brighton for it, some watching on-line and there may have been a confetti canon or two. It was afterall an amazing celebration, a celebration of new life. And we aim to celebrate well in our family. We invited people back for lunch, and made a whole afternoon of it. I made Baptism puddings of course!
I have enjoyed the sheer range of people's stories recently. Some people who have had no religious or Christian input, finding Jesus. Some people who have had religious input, finding Jesus and some people who have had Christian input and finding Jesus. There have been three young people recently who have got baptised, from Christian homes who talked to their parents, kids workers and youth workers about their faith, and it has simply grown.
When my son said he was getting baptised, my daughter was surprised as he 'hasn't had time away from God yet'. This prompted a quick theological lesson and huge encouragement that you do not need to have a time away from God before you are baptised. This refelcts my own story. I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home, found Jesus for myself, got baptised and stayed on that path to the current day. Some people grow up in a Christian home, and during the journey of finding God for themselves, they painfully wander away, hopefully to return at a later date, although sadly not always.
When the kids were smaller, it seemed easier to drip feed Jesus talk into their daily routines; Bible stories, popcorn prayers, catchy songs, the Jesus Story Book Bible, Bible themed dinners, pausing films or TV shows to discuss if it lines up with the gospel...
The great thing about going through these things with our kids, is the chance to see where they are at, teach truth and grow their faith. But it also does us good as we remember and repeat these truths for our own faith and walk with God. It enhances our own story of knowing Him and His Story.
"And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name." Acts 22v16