{source}<iframe style=”float: left; border: 1px solid #000000; background-color: #C0C0C0; padding: 2px; margin: 10px; -moz-border-radius: 3px; -khtml-border-radius: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 3px; border-radius: 3px;” width=”400″ height=”225″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/YVEHJ9C-H9I?rel=0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}Carrie Underwood has recently released a song about baptism titled, “Something in the Water.” It is a great song about baptism and I hope you all will enjoy it. I think the world is waking up just a bit! My last blog post was about two movies with Christian themes and this post contains a great song about baptism and redemption. The Denison Forum team begins each day with a prayer time and every Tuesday we pray for spiritual awakening in our world. I see God’s people stirring and I pray it will continue to escalate.
Jim has written a great deal about the documented awakenings that have occurred in history. We are praying to see the next one occur in our lifetime. People are beginning to notice the depths to which our culture has fallen and are looking to make the world a better place. Many in the business community are creating ways to sell their products and bless others in the process. Walgreens recently announced that they will donate a flu shot for every one that is purchased from them. Marketing choices like that reflect the desire people have to make the world a better place.
Christians also desire to make this world a better place, but we want people to understand that this world isn’t ever going to be the best place. When Carrie Underwood was interviewed about her new song she told Glamour magazine, “Country music is different. You have a Bible Belt-ness about it. I’m not the first person to sing about God, Jesus, faith and I won’t be the last. And it won’t be the last for me, either. If you don’t like it, change the channel.” I’ve always liked her spunk! (I voted for her each night she sang on American Idol.) God’s people can’t be perfect this side of heaven, but we ought to have that goal in sight at all times.
Take a minute and think about your baptism. There is something in those waters. In fact, there is Someone in those waters. Jesus was baptized by John, the Baptist. John did not want to baptize him at first, thinking himself unworthy of that task. But Jesus looked at him and said, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). John consented and as soon as Jesus came up out of the water, heaven opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” There is something about the water!
Baptism is such an important moment for God’s children. I have often thought that is why there is so much controversy in theology about the subject. Sprinkled, immersed, infant, child, adult, baptistery, river, bathtub, swimming pool are just some of the arguments I’ve heard. Theologians have debated baptism and people have actually died over those debates. I have been baptized three different times. I was sprinkled as a child, immersed as a teenager and then immersed again in a Baptist church. I wasn’t confused, I just wasn’t the same denomination for my whole life.
I can honestly say that my spiritual baptism occurred on July 4, 1976 when my sister and I were immersed in the waters of the Christian church we attended in California. That is the baptism that was between God and myself. The other baptisms were between me and a church doctrine. I knew when I entered the waters that Sunday morning in 1976 I was there because God had directed the moment. I told that congregation that Jesus was my Lord, and I meant every word. I have glanced back, but I have never deserted my faith since that time. I know when I came up out of those waters, God was smiling at his child. The other times, quite frankly, I think I just got wet!
People struggle over the issue of baptism and a variety of theologies and doctrines contribute to the struggle. I can only speak from my own experience. I am grateful that there was a moment in my life when I knew Jesus led me to dedicate my life to him through baptism. I am grateful that I entered the waters in obedience to Jesus that day, rather than obedience to something less. I think God could have said to me that day, “This is my daughter, whom I love; with her I am well pleased.” I’m smiling as I type those words!
I am not a theologian, but I know God. I’m glad that I don’t wonder about my baptism and I would wish the same for every Christian. Carrie Underwood is right when she sings, “there is something in the water.” There is and I hope that each of you have experienced what the Bible speaks about, and what the song proclaims. Baptism is an important event in the life of a Christian because it was an important event in the life of Christ. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to tell the world, and the Creator of the world, that Jesus is your Lord.
Peter told the crowd gathered around him at Pentecost, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Peter was speaking of salvation in Christ, witnessing to that salvation through baptism, and then choosing to live your life gifted and guided by the Holy Spirit. If there is any part of that you are missing, you can fix it today! Walk in obedience to God and change the world. Things are stirring – I hope the baptismal waters will reflect that the next awakening is at hand.
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