Taking the Plunge: Baptism In Acts (Acts 2, 8, 10, 16)

[This article was also posted on my pastoral blog Our Long View.]

Last Sunday, we celebrated the baptism of eight souls. However, in response to a number of tragic shootings in our country in the last couple of weeks, we took extended time to seek God in prayer for justice and reconciliation in our nation. The president of our denomination, Glenn Burris Jr., had sent a letter to all our churches entitled, Call to Prayer and Action from which we took our prayer focus. This is not a new topic to us as recent sermons have touched on issues such as civil disobedience, and passive racism from the text of Acts. Our congregational readings included 2 Corinthians 5:4 "we groan"; and verse 16, "From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh" (e.g., our family line, wealth, height, race, education, religious affiliation, etc.). We also read 1 John 4:10-11, and 19-21,

“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Then since we were doing baptism I did a short message on Baptism in Acts showing the road of reconciliation the church should take in matters such as we are facing today. We had the joy of baptizing 8 souls!

Our culture may emphasize our divisions (see list above), but the Book of Acts shows how we all come into the church the same way—through repentance and baptism. It also demonstrates that all who follow Jesus in faith may come, no matter how counter-cultural it may be.

Acts 2:37-38 Inclusively Translated 

The Apostle Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost was spoken to Jews gathered from many different cultures and languages. It contained the message of the resurrected Christ. In response to their question about how they should respond, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized.” 3000 souls were added to the church that day. Notice that the number was not broken down according to our popular demographic dividers (men, women, adults, children, race, education, income, etc.). The gospel message was not subject to the cultural biases of that day, even within Judaism. The message was for all audiences, in their diverse heart languages, not in the color-blind way of cultural conformity. Since language is tied to culture, we see the diversity of languages as indicating that the gospel was for all cultures.

Acts 8 Including the Excluded

After the persecution of the church broke out in Jerusalem and Judea, Philip the Evangelist expanded the Mission in partial fulfillment of Jesus’ command in Acts 1:8. In the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, he preached, healed, and baptized...

• v.12 Even the hated Samaritans (a racially and religiously mixed people) responded to the gospel, believed, and were baptized, both men and women!
• v. 35-38 An Ethiopian Eunuch, treasurer to the queen of what would be modern-day Sudan, was eager to be baptized after learning about Jesus Christ. It is important to note that he was a non-Jew black man who had come to worship God in Jerusalem, but he did so as one who had a physical exclusion as a eunuch that would have kept him from full inclusion in Judaism (Deut. 23:1). However, the one who could not come close in the past was now in Christ included. Ironically, when Philip struck up a conversation with him, the man was puzzled as he read Isaiah 53 about the suffering Messiah, just a bit farther in Isaiah the text speaks about the inclusion of foreigners and eunuchs when the righteousness of the Lord comes (56:3-5). Oh, how that must have encouraged that man as it was explained to him!

Acts 9 "Before Breakfast"

Once Saul (Paul), the great persecutor of the church’s sight was restored (physically & spiritually) the first thing he did was get baptized even before breaking his three-day fast (v.18-19). By doing so he declared a change of allegiance, joining those he had formerly persecuted. The church has as its heritage down through the centuries the thankful inclusion of its repentant former oppressors. We truly are to be ministers of reconciliation.

Acts 10 Withholding Nothing

Here we find the story of Peter being supernaturally sent to the home/headquarters of the Roman “Cop” Cornelius (the Roman Centurion). Cornelius summoned all his friends and relatives to hear the message. While Peter was still speaking, all who heard the gospel received the Holy Spirit and praised God (v. 47-48). Peter responded rhetorically, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. It was this event that convinced the Jerusalem church that Gentiles were to be included as equal recipients of the gospel.

Acts 16 Two Families in Philippi “And all their household were baptized.” If we read the text of Acts 16 carefully, we will see the Gospel transforming two families from different socio-economic strata. Is it any coincidence that they are presented in tandem? No, for that is Luke's oft-repeated pattern.

• Lydia the wealthy merchant woman (she sold “purple” which only the wealthiest people could afford) was baptized with "her entire household." One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. (v.14-15)

• The lowly Philippian jailer who worked in a dungeon (inflicting and suffering many of the same conditions as the prisoners) was baptized "with his entire family." Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. (v.30-33)

Acts 21:16 “Why do you wait?” Finally, let’s consider Paul’s speech to those in Jerusalem who were stuck in their ways and old loyalties, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”

Without going into an exhaustive theological treatment of Christian baptism, let me say that baptism is…

• A death to ourselves and a resurrection to Christ. In this transformation, we find new life and a new purpose for living.
• A public declaration of our change of loyalty. We are now citizens of the Kingdom of heaven, loyal to Jesus Christ above all.
• A recognition of our new identity in Christ. Historically, converts received their Christian name at this time, hence the term, “Christening.” While we are not accustomed to changing our name, we get a new identity—one not based on our past failures, present poverty, or unjust and unkind labeling from others, but one based on the finished work of Christ. Once we were unloved, we didn’t belong to anyone, and we were scattered before the nations. Now we know that we are loved, adopted into the family of God, and planted in the world for the purposes of Christ and the common good.

I presented this brief list in a survey format and with a minimum amount of explanation. Hopefully, you can see the racial, gender, and economic reconciliation modeled in Christian baptism as demonstrated in Acts and seek the same in the church and our community today.

In conclusion, I leave you with a personalized form of Paul’s appeal, “Why do we wait?”

Bridge-building in a Chaotic World

Tilikum Crossing "The People's Bridge",
a controversial new bridge in Portland, Oregon

Why do we need bridges? So the people can cross over something in their environment that divides them—like a canyon, river, or other body of water. Probably the first thing to be decided in building a bridge is if one is needed and wanted, secondly we need to ask who is going to pay for it. Once these questions have been addressed a bridge builder needs to know something about the forces (loads) that a bridge must withstand.

·         Dead loads that don’t move or change, the weight of the bridge itself.

·         Environmental loads that include hydraulic friction, seismic stability, and wind.

·         Live loads referring to temporary or moving forces (e.g., traffic), etc.

I frankly don’t want someone building a bridge that doesn’t know anything about engineering, geology, local weather, and the needs of the people it is designed to serve. Do you remember the famous debate over the very expensive “bridge to nowhere” in Ketchikan, Alaska? Right here in the Portland metro area, we have the failed Columbia River Crossing (CRC) an effort to build a very expensive bridge without solving a problem, and without the support of the population as an exercise in a government’s agenda being forced on the people. Thankfully it has been stopped, but approximately $240M of the people’s money was wasted on this project.

Obviously, my question isn’t really about building physical bridges but about building relational bridges, bridges of understanding, forgiveness, and reconciliation between individuals, groups, races, and nations. So why talk about the engineering of physical bridges? Because many of the same issues come into play when trying to metaphorically "build bridges" between people(s).  

As we build relational bridges, we first must ask if a bridge is needed. Bridges should not be built any further than they are wanted. Having a bridge spanning our defensive separation is scary if we don’t fully trust those people on the other side. If we seek to bring people together then we had better make sure we are not placing one group at a greater risk for oppression (2 Timothy 3:2-5). The bridge must be for the benefit of both parties.

Building a bridge also takes time. A physical bridge not only has to be planned, and built, but it has to be maintained against structural degradation due to the normal stresses of use and environmental stresses from corrosion, freezing, temperature fluctuation, insects, etc. Sometimes bridges cannot safely be crossed quickly. Are relational bridges so different? We all know that relationships take constant work to maintain. So how do we pass on the passion for maintaining relational bridges to the next generation? (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

Bridge-builders also need to be concerned about the safety of those working on the bridge as well as those who will use the bridge in the future. Do we care that some of those working with us might “fall off” during construction? When the Golden Gate Bridge was built in the 1930s they pioneered the use of hard hats and safety nets. Do we have a safety net in place for our relational bridge-builders that is at least as effective as when the Golden Gate Bridge was constructed? Or, are co-builders merely commodities to be used up, expendable resources before the overarching goal of completing the task?

Tragic bridge collapses in recent years cause me to warn against bridges being built too quickly on the unstable soil of assumption and misunderstandings. Recently, newly constructed highway bridge columns had to be blown up after it was discovered that they were built on unstable ground. Without measuring the cultural distance that needs to be spanned, doing the seismic mapping of past offenses, and completing the site preparation of building trust, the bridge is doomed to fall beneath the weight of the forces arrayed against it. When building relational bridges we need to count the cost as well. Is this bridge worth the cost it takes to build, or does it lead nowhere? (2 Timothy 2:23) Do we evaluate the process and participants on a worldly level or according to the metrics of Christ? (1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Cor. 5:16-17) Jesus, the ultimate bridge-builder, became one of us and completed the task not by force of power or decree of authority, but by the humble giving of himself to save others. Our calling is to follow his uncomfortable example in showing reconciling love for others.

I will explore some of these questions in future posts. I welcome your comments along the way. In the meantime, Ephesians 4:31-32 gives us a great place to start building, preparing to be safe, bridge-worthy people that others would welcome into their neighborhood. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Golden Gate Bridge in Fog

Why I am Compelled2? (Part 1)

The Crucifixion by Georges Rouault

Some of you have wondered why I chose Compelled2 as the name for my blog about the theology of cultural engagement and reconciliation. I am glad that you asked. I think that there are several reasons. 

• First, I am compelled to blog by my doctoral program directors. 
• Second, at this point in my life and ministry I have things to say that I can’t keep quiet on any longer…lest I get the bone consuming acid reflux that Jeremiah (Jer. 20:9) and David speak of (Psalm 3:3). 
• Third, and most importantly, the title is taken from 2 Corinthians 5:14 where Paul writes that, “the love of Christ controls/compels us”. He is explaining that whether he seems crazy or sane it is for a purpose, for God’s love compels him to live and act the way he does. He no longer lives for his own interests and desires. He and those who are with him are captive to the love of Christ and cannot operate outside of it. As their options were narrowed down, their focus was strengthened and their mission clarified.

Often, when studying a passage in the Bible I find it helpful to use a type of analysis that involves vertical alignment of repeated words and key concepts that allows me to better follow the threads of meaning as I scan down the page. I also may use different colors to highlight words and phrases. 

Here is an example... 2 Corinthians 5:13-21

   ¹³ For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God;

            if we are in our right mind,  it is for you.

  ¹⁴ For                           the love of Christ controls us,

because we have concluded this:

                             that one has died    for all,

                     therefore all have died;

                      ¹⁵             and he died    for all,

                                        that those who live

                                       might no longer live for themselves

   but for him who for their sake died

                                    and was raised.    ¹⁶

From now on, therefore,

               we regard no one

                        according to the flesh. Even

   though we once

                     regarded                    Christ

                        according to the flesh,

               we regard him thus no longer.

      ¹⁷      Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

                                           he is a new creation.

                                                The old has passed away;

                                    behold, the new has come.

      ¹⁸                                  All this is from God,

                                  who through Christ

                                     reconciled us            to himself

and gave             us

            the ministry   of reconciliation;

      ¹⁹                               that is, in Christ  God was

                                     reconciling the world to himself,

  not counting their trespasses against them,

and entrusting to us

            the message of reconciliation. ²⁰

Therefore,

               we are ambassadors for Christ, God

                                   making his appeal

               through us.

               We implore you

                                   on behalf of Christ,

                                 be reconciled        to God. ²¹

For our sake he made him to be sin

                              who knew no sin,

                     so that in him

               we might become

                                 the righteousness of God. [ESV]

If you find this approach hard to read, and you think I am crazy, that’s OK. It is not for everyone, but it helps me locate major emphases in the text. One of the reasons that I like the ESV translation of the Bible is the commitment to translate a Greek word using the same English word throughout a given passage rather than trying to constantly find a fresh synonym to fit it into English style. It is like being able to hear the verbal rhythm section in the divinely inspired symphony of scripture.

Just as this approach to reading the Bible (illustrated above) often changes my perspective and allows me to see more, so too allowing the love of God to compel/ control/ constrain me changes the way in which I see other people. I don’t just evaluate them according to physical or social labels like the world does asking, “What good is this person to me?” Now I can see them not as merely marginalized or powerful, as black or brown or white, but as the very ones to whom God has sent me as an agent of reconciliation. 

The love of God also constrains my own tendency to look at others economically since that is not the way that Christ loves me. It forces me to begin to relate incarnationally…for their good in Christ, not my own (though it does benefit me as well). The most important thing is that people are reconciled to God in Christ and for that to happen we must be compelled by the love of God…wholeheartedly offering reconciliation to others that we ourselves have received from God.

Stationed on the Cross

One of the reasons I am thankful for this Doctor of Ministry program that I am a part of is that it is compelling me to continue taking up my cross and follow Christ in the mission of reconciliation. I strongly believe that reconciliation, real reconciliation, the down-to-the-bones kind not the spackle-and-paint kind will require me to die to myself daily. I presume that may be why reconciled lives are so rare.

In future posts, I will address various aspects of the reconciliation that Christ calls us into. We all need to be reconciled with God because of our own sins. This is the most common understanding of the ministry of reconciliation yet it does not come close to exhausting the subject. We must also reconcile ourselves to Christ’s plans for our lives, our churches, our communities, our families, etc. We must also live into his call to be reconciled with each other whether over the cultural divides of race, gender, class, politics, worldviews, level of education, the baseball team you follow, or the simple relational issues we encounter within our families.

One afternoon during our first week, we visited The Grotto, to walk the Stations of the Cross path, reflect on the theme of suffering, and then go up to the chapel on top of the cliff (with the great view) to pray together. In it all, I began to see a metaphor for our walk with Christ, for we are not only called to remember his suffering but to participate in it as we die to ourselves. From that experience, I wrote the following poem.

Stationed on the Cross

  “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth,

                          will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)

On a Faith-filled

Walk of remembrance,

Humbled, bowed down,

Quieted from the bustling lostness of man,

Listening together,

Christ counter-intuitively elevates us

To the high privilege, even glory

Of suffering with him,

Unto death.

It is from this vantage point

Stationed on the cross

That we can finally see,

Through his eyes,

Beholding the reconciling mission of Christ,

The very heart of God…

Participating passionately in

Creation’s celebratory song

As from each tribe we are revealed as family.

“If we have died with him, we will also live with him…”

 (2 Timothy 2:11)

© 2013 Greg K. Dueker

It is only as I die to my own selfish desires that I am free to participate in God’s mission in the world. I have to confess that I don’t like suffering and I don’t like denying myself. I find that I tend to die hard. Yet, Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, seems to celebrate even small victories, every attitude check, and each of my small obediences! For every moment I take my eyes off of myself he gives me a glimpse of his perspective and hope for the world. 

It is hard to build deep relationships of trust with others like we are having to do in our DMin cohort, yet I am finding it well worth it as we take up our stations on the cross!