“Baptized into Community”
Isaiah 43:1-7
1 Kings 19:4-8
There is an inherent tension in living out our Christian faith, and the tension I want to invite us to reflect on this morning may not be particular binary you’re thinking about: say the tension between good and evil, or the tension between belief (which I prefer to think of as trust) and doubt, or the tension between faithfulness in following the ways of Jesus or going our own way.
All of those things are worth our consideration, but this morning’s baptisms and this morning’s scripture readings highlight yet another pair of seeming opposites: the individual and community, or, if you prefer, a personal relationship with a personal God and the God we meet together in community as God’s people.
The good news is that we don’t have to choose one or the other! The good news is that both things are essential for experiencing the fullness of life in God. But, as products of the American story and its preference for all things individual, most Americans of any and every spiritual bent focus on our individual connection with the holy. It’s my theory that this is one reason so many people say they find God in nature or in sunsets or meditation or prayer; because they can do that on their own, at any time and any place. They don’t have to deal with the annoying habits and differing preferences of other people or the messiness of group process.
But here’s the thing: Our scriptures paint a portrait of Divine Love as both/and: As a tenderly loving parent and good shepherd who cares for us so personally that they will go to the ends of the earth to bring us home when we’ve lost our way. As a sibling who walks with us through our lives, inviting us to discover how much we are loved, to know healing and hope, and to experience grace.
And . . . Divine Love cares for the entire community of humankind and all creation, giving us guidelines to help us live together and telling us to love our neighbor because it is in the sometimes hard work of loving each other and living together that we encounter the Holy and are transformed and become more fully who we were created to be. From the very beginning of our story, we are told that it is not good to be alone, that we are more likely to discover God and the fullness of life in intentional relationships with others when we cannot always get our way and do things the way we want.
So sure, go ahead and trust that God has a plan for your life, but understand that the essence of that plan is for you and every single creature to live together in love with every other person and creature. To love and care for another person or creation is to see the face of God, and to be part of a caring community is to bring God’s love to life.
Individual and community. Personal and all together.
It reminds me of my favorite bumper sticker ever, the one that says: “Jesus loves you but I’m his favorite.”
And that’s the truth! The love of God is such that each and every one of us is God’s favorite and all of us living together in love is the what keeps the Spirit of God alive and makes the world go ‘round.
Which brings us to baptism.
One of the reasons I love the sacrament of baptism so much is that it fully and joyfully resolves any individual-communal tension. Baptism says, “Yes, this is for you,” and, “hey, here are some other beloveds to help you through.”
This is one of the reasons most pastors will not do “private” baptisms: because the sacrament of baptism embodies the essential spiritual truth that we need each other. Children need parents and grandparents and other adults, and people of every age need friends and communities of love and support.
It is not one or the other; it is both.
Indeed, I would say that baptism reflects at least four things that are essential to the life of faith:
First, baptism is about identity—both who God is and who we are.
“I have called you by name, and you are mine.”
Second, baptism is about relationship—the relationship that defines and determines everything.
“Be not afraid, for I have redeemed you. You are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you.”
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you go through rivers they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire you shall not be burned; the flames will not consume you. Why? Because I love you. Because that’s who I am. Because you are precious in my sight.”
Third, baptism is about how we live—our vocation, call, mission, and how we treat others. We are not only God ’s beloved children but also God ’s anointed partners. In baptism, we accept the job offer, we say “yes” to the sacred call, we commit ourselves to carrying out the mission of love and justice.
But as the story of Elijah reminds us, it is not all up to us. We cannot follow Jesus on our own; we need help.
“Get up and eat,” the angel said to Elijah while bringing the second course of divine nourishment. “Get up and eat—take care of your body and soul—or the journey will be too much for you. Get up and eat—and return to the community you were called to serve.
Our baptism, when we remember it and claim its promises, empowers us for the journey.
And fourth, baptism reminds us that one of the ways God loves us is by giving us other people who will love and support us along our journeys. Some of them will be related to us by blood, others will be chosen family, some will be strangers, and, for the truly blessed, many of them will be church people we may hardly know but who love us fiercely because we are covenanted together as Christ’s church in a particular time and place.
We are baptized not only into Christ, but also into community.
Thank you, Jen, Julie, and Lili for reminding us of these blessings today. Thank you for being beloved children of God and cherished members of this community of faith.
