Toongabbie Anglican Church Blog

Weekly Blurb Is a Christening, Christian

Is a Christening, Christian

Sunday 28 June, 2009 · Posted by Raj Gupta

Welcome to church today, and particularly those who have come for the baptism of Lauren Lloyd.

Allow me to turn to this intriguing question: is a Christening, Christian? Many new parents struggle. Do they get their new babies Christened, baptised, dedicated, have a thanksgiving, do nothing at all, or spend so long trying to work it out that it that it is no longer an issue?

One of the underlying difficulties is that the Bible itself does not talk about what to do with babies in the regard. The practice of baptism started in the New Testament as people wished to identify themselves as followers of Jesus. Baptism symbolised the inward reality of a heart that had been cleansed by Jesus death and resurrection.

The symbol is akin to a wedding ring, which symbolises the commitment that a husband and wife make on their wedding day. No one, as far as I can tell, elevates the symbol (the ring) beyond the underlying reality (the marriage).

So, it is a little surprising that over thousands of years of church history this seems to be precisely what has happened with the symbol of baptism. For many, the shift is reflected in the change in language from ‘baptism’ to ‘Christening’; so that a common misconception today is the suggestion that someone must be ‘Christened’ in order to be a Christian.

But not only does the Bible not speak about babies being baptised; the Bible never confuses a baptism with a Christening. Someone becomes a Christian when they have a life changing trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins (Romans 5:6-8). The Bible itself has been written so that we may believe that Jesus is indeed the Christ (John 20:31).

The practice of infant baptism has developed over the years as an opportunity for Christian parents to make promises before people and God that they will genuinely do all they can to raise their child to know the same forgiveness of their sins that the parents have come to know through Christ. It is a powerful time because God promises to hear the prayers of his people, and what better way for Lauren Lloyd than as the church congregation that the Lloyd family is part of?
And this brings me back to where I started: welcome to church. Once again we will learn from the Word of God together and this special day we also have the privilege of being witnesses to the promises that Scott and Kirsty make on behalf of Lauren.

Raj