- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Those of you who read my recent introduction post know that my oldest son’s baptism is coming up soon. I’m having a lot of angst over it. For the past 13 years I’ve attended church regularly, but mostly to help my wife with the kids. Mentally and spiritually I’ve been very disengaged. But as my kids get older, I need to get my story straight and figure out what kind of person and what kind of Mormon I’m going to be so that I can raise them with integrity and purpose in a way that feels right to me. Part of that is figuring out this baptism thing. Someone commenting on my last post mentioned something to the effect that baptism is a symbolic event and that the event of baptism comes along with some good lessons. In your opinion, what is the benefit of baptism as a purely symbolic event? If we divorce baptism from some of its more literal, orthodox benefits, what lessons can it teach us and our children?
This is gospel according to me, so take it for what it’s worth. From the point of view of the person being baptized, I believe it shows a commitment to following Christ and that the individual has accepted Christ as Savior. From a more objective viewpoint, it symbolizes a rebirth or putting off of the old person and being born again as a Christian. I’m sure others here have different and expanded views of the symbolism, I then to keep such things simple. When you remove the religious aspects, I think baptism still can be powerfully symbolic. I see the central symbolism of baptism as being willing to show publicly that you are willing to try to “put off the natural man” and try to change into a better person – with the accompanying “gift of the Holy Ghost” as symbolic of being willing to listen for guidance in that effort to become better. At the most basic level, I don’t see it as any more complicated than that.
If someone sees it only that simply, I believe it still can be powerful.
Finally, read my signature line.
🙂 Thanks for your thoughtful replies. So, at a very basic level you’re saying baptism is a commitment to try to change into a better person, and the gift of the Holy Ghost is a willingness to listen for guidance in that effort. I like that idea. That’s something I could get behind. I think DarkJedi’s take is even a bit more literal, where your attempt to become a better person happens through your commitment to Christ. I also like some of the other comments people have made about the value of baptism as a family event that helps strengthen family bonds.
I’m still open to anyone else’s take on this.
I like what DarkJedi and Ray already said. It can also be a special time for that child. My son was recently baptized, and in our ward the primary president had all of his family members write a note to him. In the car driving home and once we got home, he was reading through those and they meant so much to him. After the baptism he was smiling a lot and seemed to really enjoy having so many family members there just for him. I don’t know what the ordinance meant to him though. Personally, I would prefer if baptism happened at an older age. I don’t think the kids at 8 really understand the ramifications of the commitment. But following Christ can be easily explained, it is being loving, serving, forgiving. Children can understand those things, so I guess it is nice that way. Thanks for your thoughts, journeygirl. Loving, serving, forgiving—I like that. I am baptizing my oldest son this coming Saturday. I really appreciate the views expressed so far. For me it is mostly about the meaning to my son. I saw an episode of “Last Man Standing” where Tim Allen’s character’s daughters and wife were upset about a tree getting cut down in their front yard by the city. He ended up going to some lengths to try to save the tree. One of his daughters said, “Wow, Dad, I didn’t think you cared about the tree.” His response is how I feel about my son’s baptism, “I don’t care about the tree, but I care about the people who care about the tree.” I am happy to participate in this ordinance because it means a lot to my son and my wife and our extended family. He understands that he is promising to become the best him that he can be and to repent when he makes mistakes. I can’t find anything in that simple view of it that I disagree with.
a recent thread of interest: http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?t=4555 Excellent, thanks for the additional comments. I like the idea of “becoming the best him” and trying to do better when he makes mistakes.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.