Be Yourself III

As one who constantly asks the question, "What might I do differently?" I often wonder if this blog needs a different title.  The title, "Practically Christian" was not meant to convey almost being Christian but practical, day to day reflections, observations, questions, and, inspiration for our day to day Christian life.  The practice of Christianity is an experiential process because we believe in an incarnate God, a God who lived among us and who now lives with us.  Theory, scripture, theology, are all important foundations and our beginning point to know about the life of Christ.  But to know the life of Christ, we must live in His Way.

That is why I am so intrigued by Mark 10:35-45.  It speaks of Christ's sacrifice, our life, remembrance and baptism all in one passage.  With these four points of reference, we are in a good place to live the Christian life.

The invitation to James and John through cup and baptism, which I believe is addressed to every disciple of every generation, "simultaneously looks backward and forward." (Feast on the Word, Year B, Vol. 4, P. 193).  God has prepared the way that Jesus and the disciples have walked together - symbolized in the cup of sacrifice and the remembrance of Jesus, and God prepared the way they will walk together in the future, symbolized by baptism as the new covenant of forgiveness sealed in Christ's sacrifice.

For the way God prepared, based on this passage, baptism is not possible before the gift of new life through Christ and Christ's teaching to his disciples about the meaning of his gift of life comes from that remembrance meal of bread and cup.

That could lead to the conclusion that sacrifice, remembrance, and cup precede forgiveness so that our practice could proceed from cup to baptism.

Yet the church celebrates these sacraments in the order they happened to Jesus.  Jesus began his public ministry in baptism so we begin our ministry, our life in Christ, through baptism.  Jesus ended his life with his sacrifice for forgiveness and we conclude, some say culminate, the weekly observance of our Christian life by receiving the bread and wine. We are accustomed to this pattern so it feels right.

Today there is much discussion about "Open Table" or "Open Communion."  The canons of the Episcopal Church state that all baptized Christians may receive communion, meaning anyone baptized in the name of the Trinity, can receive. That means from infant baptism onward throughout one's life. Many churches, St. John's included, adopted the practice of inviting everyone to the table as a seeker of Christ, "Open Communion." This meaning that Christ's presence is known to us in the bread and cup in the same way his presence healed the woman who touched the hem of his garment.  Seeking is receiving.

From this passage from Mark, we could also say that through the cup we are part of Christ's sacrifice and through baptism be are part of the new covenant created in his death and resurrection.  Jesus didn't designate a pattern for us based on the time line of his life but instead offered a way into his life by remembrance and baptism.

For me, I am asking what does the church need to do differently regarding our formation through cup and baptism.  I believe we need to teach about the Baptismal Covenant as a foundational guide to being "practically christian."  The covenant guides parents when an infant is baptized for being Christian parents and it guides everyone on living in Christ's Way of Life. Baptism is a celebration of continuity of faith, uniting families across the generations in their shared ways of faith, love, and togetherness.  But as a church community, when we leave most of the meaning at infant baptism, we are leaving out most of the meaning for the rest of us.

I am reflecting on, "What do I need to do to teach differently?"