Getting into Trouble

Mark 1:4-11

January 11, 2014 

Baptism of Christ

My previous congregation was a physically large,

downtown congregation that would come up first

in most searches of congregations in Austin.

So we would get a lot of calls from people

who were not very affiliated with the congregation

who wanted weddings, funerals, and especially baptisms.

Some people would want their children, usually babies baptized

without ever being at church or not being at church for a long time

So whenever we got these calls, we would ask the parents

why did they want to have their child baptized.

Often times it had something to do with grandparents pressuring them,

but other times, the word “protection” would come up.

Sometimes people thought their child would not go to heaven,

But I remember one specific conversation with

one mother who thought that baptism

would give her child protection from the world.

She said, “you know, like sickness, accidents, getting into trouble.”

I remember the discussion because I regretted what I said.

Now I was not long out of seminary and hadn’t quite learned

how important it was not to just say everything that

popped into my head in every conversation.

And I said to her, “I think if baptism happens right,

it should get your child in more trouble.”

That did not satisfy her or pique her interest at all

and I think the call after that point was pretty brief.

I regretted it because I probably should have

introduced the concept to her slower

and with more discussion,

but, with you all, I still stand by that statement.

Baptism should get us into trouble, not out of it.

As Lutherans, we stress the promise,

the forgiveness, the eternal life, of baptism,

and I believe those heartily,

But sometimes we stress it so much that we

omit the part about the

invitation of baptism, the challenge, the danger.

Baptism is a promise,

and it’s also a call to DO something in your lifetime.

Sometimes crazy things.

When Jesus was baptized by John,

it was in the wilderness, in an open river,

The Baptism, Andre Miller

with the rushing water around him,

not safe in a church with a font.

It’s outside where anything can happen and anyone can see.

Maybe there is something to that.

Because immediately after he’s baptized -

after he’s blessed by God and called the beloved and given his promise,

he’s chased deeper into the wilderness

without food, water, or protection

to be tempted by the devil.

And then right from there

he goes and starts his public ministry.

Trouble.

And in the same way,

Baptism has driven people to do some crazy things too,

it’s caused Paul to leave his life as a Pharisee

and start churches around the world,

it caused Martin Luther to speak up against

the Roman Catholic church at a time when

that was punishable by death.

It drove Martin Luther King, Jr. to lead

the civil rights movement in America.

 

It drives people to leave their homes

and work with strangers in poverty.

It drives doctors and nurses to risk their own lives

and help people with Ebola in West Africa.

It drives us to work in food pantries, to help homeless people,

clean up people’s lawns, make music, go to seminary,

to give our money away, to pray, to worship,

to join in community, to be on council…

Trouble.

Baptism is not just a comforting end, it’s a risky beginning.

It’s not some kind of protection from this earthly life,

it’s an invitation to really get involved in this earthly life

With the knowledge that wherever we find ourselves

God will be there.

The writer Annie Dillard suggests that we should

wear crash helmets and life preservers to baptisms.

Another pastor suggested that we shouldn’t issue

certificates with baptisms, but warnings.

In our baptism God takes us, loves us,

and whispers in our ear,

God gives us the courage to go where we didn’t think we could.

The promise of baptism is forgiveness, love, and eternal life.

That is the light we are given, nothing can take it away.

And the call of our baptism to walk in that light every day.