Living out our Baptism - The Promise of Christ in Community

'Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?'

The question above is asked of all those gathered at the celebration of a baptism after the candidates have been presented by their parents or sponsors. The question to the community reminds us of one of the most important aspects of baptism. As we can read in the green Book of Alternative Services where the service of baptism is found,

"Christians are not just baptized individuals; they are a new humanity...Initiation into the Church was a vital concern of the whole Christian community and not only of the candidates for baptism and their immediate families...Becoming a Christian had as much to do with learning to live a new lifestyle within the Christian community as it did with specific beliefs. When the day of baptism finally arrived, the event took place within the context of the Sunday Eucharist, when the whole community was gathered."

This concern and support for those being baptized is expressed the congregation's answer to the question above, "We will." The unity of the Church that comes from baptism is also echoed in the opening responses:

There is one body and one Spirit,
There is one hope in God's call to us;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all.

In baptism, we are incorporated into the Church which is the Body of Christ. The support of the Christian community in living out our baptismal promises is another one of the ways that God's promises of love and support are fulfilled. Through our participation in the community of faith we show the love of Christ to one another and are sent out into the world to be Christ's hands at work in the world. Whenever a new member is welcomed into this Body, it rejoices and is strengthened with new gifts. As such, baptism is a moment for the community to recognize that we have been united in Christ. It is for this reason that at every baptism, the community reaffirms their own baptismal promises along with the candidates being baptized.

In their answer to this question, the community is speaking as the Body of Christ. They speak in the voice of God who became human in solidarity with us; who offered healing and service and new life by word and deed; who suffered and died and rose again to show the depth and power of God's love and forgiveness. In their answer they echo all of God's promises of help and salvation and in the worship, ministries and the whole life of the Church, they live out this promise and the others made in baptism.

Next post we will explore the first of these promises made by candidates in baptism: "...to continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?"