Our on Baptism on the Baptsim of the Lord Sunday

I wanted to highlight something that is truly an amazing part of my own religion - Presbyterian (PC USA) and why I stay a PC USA Pastor -- baptism. 

You see we have a unique view on Baptism, I say unique because most people when thinking about Baptism think about it in a VERY Roman Catholic way, even when you don't want to.  I can't tell you how many times as a Chaplain I have been called to the bedside of a family who wanted me to Baptism their infant who died in childbirth.  The Presbyterian in me always wants to run screaming "no" you don't have to do this!  But the Pastor in me, and perhaps the parent, understands the need for something to make this child official or at the very least mark this child life no matter how long as meaningful. 

I sort of digress...back to Baptism.  Baptism is not about getting into Heaven - it is not an assurance that one does get into to Heaven and it by all means does not make the Kingdom an exclusive club.  Baptism and the Kingdom are not mutually dependent.  In fact, people can and do receive the glory of Christ without being sprinkled with water!  God works in mysterious and wondrous ways.  God works within and through people, sometimes even without our knowledge, and most certainty knows the ways of our heart.  You can come to know Christ, to love Christ and to inherit the glory without ever being Baptized.  Baptism is a symbol and a recognition of your choice to follow Christ.  It is an outwardly sign of the things that have already taken place on the inside.  It is, also, a pledge to a church body to become a member, or to be raised up in the case of children's baptism.  It is a commitment from that same body to uplift you and nurture your Spirit.  Yes, our sins are washed away - but our sins are washed away through the amazing grace of Forgiveness.  For children that understanding isn't there yet but that doesn't mean the Spirit can't work in and through them. 

Baptism of the Lord Sunday is not a call to remind each of us to live into the Kingdom of God - whenever that may come.  But instead a reminder that we live each day for Christ.  We live in the here and the now - we live into the life that God has granted each of us and through our relationship with the divine we strive each day to spread that and to show others God's love.  Our purpose to living is not to inherit the Kingdom but is instead to live into the life of Christ in our lives - today! 

So begin today...not expecting that you just inherit the Kingdom because you have been Baptized.  Not just with the greed of privilege or expectation but instead live into the Christ, each day striving to be better then the last.

The Epiphany of the Christ Child

Epiphany!
This week we are celebrating Epiphany - what is Epiphany you ask? Well Epiphany is the moment - any moment - when the HOLY is revealed!
However in Church we celebrate a day called Epiphany on January 6th - yup that is right a whole day.  We celebrate this day, the day the wise man, the Magi, arrived at the Christ Child feet and presented presents.  Although we like to put the Magi in our Naivety scene the whole of Advent and we like to count the three Magi we actually don't know how many Magi there were nor what time they actually arrived to meet Jesus.  We do know there were a "few" Magi and we know that there they came when Jesus was a toddler. 

But let's not get stuck on the details.  They came to proclaim and witness the fact that the Holy is revealed to Earth in a baby.  The came to proclaim that indeed the Messiah had been born and that one day all people would be offered salvation.  They came to offer gifts to a child who didn't yet know the world he would come to save.  It was for them a true Epiphany.   They met face to face the divine incarnate.  How truly wonderful.

I had my own "Epiphany" as you will, when I heard God's voice calling me into ministry.  I had never thought about "being" a minister before that moment and it was such a strong voice inside me, I knew I had to listen.  God's voice revealed to be the Divine plan for my life and I was changed.  My own Epiphany has led me here today to stand and know that the Christ Child does save. 

I think it is also very fitting that Epiphany is at the beginning of the New Year.  Just a few days after you have made resolutions, broke them, and promised to be better.  Just a few days after reflecting on the years past has brought insight, and hopefully happiness, to your year ahead.  Just when we need more hope for a great year we celebrate Epiphany - the Holy Revealing!  A perfect time to realize that the gift of Christ on Christmas morning is useless, unless you accept the package.  That it isn't about "taking back" God's gift or using once a year.  Christmas morning is about the birth of Christ, God dwelling amongst us and with us.  God walking with us on this journey so that we may NEVER walk alone.  Surely Jesus now reigns with God in the Kingdom, but through the Spirit we are never alone - our God walks with us.  Let us remember that each and every day. Let us find ways to have Epiphany last for more then a moment ... Today and each day let us see the Holy Revealed to us and find the awesomeness of our God working in our lives!