Baptism

There are status symbols all around us: wedding rings, shoe brands, house addresses. Baptism is a status symbol too. But baptism is not a mark of brand-consciousness or wealth or popularity. It’s a symbol that marks our status in relation to the God of the universe.

Baptism says, “because of your faith in Jesus and what Jesus has done for you, your status is no longer only as a person in your family of origin, or in your foster family, or in your adopted family, or in your workplace or neighborhood. You are now blessed and marked as a person who is welcomed into God’s world-wide family and empowered by God Himself to bless everyone around you.” 

Baptism is a symbol. Going under the water symbolizes God purifying you from sin, which is accomplished through Jesus’ death on a cross. Coming up out of the water symbolizes God raising you to new life, similar to how Jesus was raised to resurrected life and now shares this life with everyone who places their faith in him. It is because of God’s reckless love for you that Jesus died and rose again, and baptism is our way of symbolizing our status with this God of love.

If you haven't been baptized yet, you are invited to join the celebration and get baptized!