I opened my heart to Jesus five days after my eleventh birthday. Prior to that, Jesus had been in my life but only as a character in stories read to me at bedtime or as an image frozen in the glowing stained glass windows that surrounded me on Sunday mornings or as an invisible spirit-person worshipped by many of the most important people in my life. Growing up in a church-going, Christian household, I had sung of Jesus’ love for me from a very early age, I’d memorized Bible verses that explained His work of salvation, I’d taken part in pageants depicting His birth, an on many an Easter morning, I’d gotten up before dawn to celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead. But there was something different about that night in April of 1986. Sitting there in the Civic Center in Washington, D.C., surrounded by the thousands of people gathered to hear Billy Graham preach, this mythical Jesus was suddenly standing out on the front porch of my very own heart; knocking on my door and calling my name. Listening, I could hear Him asking to come into my heart! I remember being frozen in that moment; afraid to make a sound. Looking within, I could see that my heart was in no shape to entertain. I twirled and churned about within my heart; scrambling to neaten things up a bit. But as Graham kept preaching and later, as George Beverly Shea kept singing, the Lord kept on knocking and calling my name. And then, at just the right time, I opened the door to Him. I’m so glad that I did – He’s been dwelling within me ever since.
That was on a Monday and by that Sunday, it was announced in church that I would to be baptized in just a couple of weeks. Our church had a baptistry at the rear of the sanctuary; a deep, metal tub painted aqua blue and adorned with lots of grippy, plastic treads stuck to the stairs and the floor. That tub was to be filled for me and the morning worship service altered to showcase my decision. The pastor met with me to assess the nature of my understanding and to offer me an opportunity for any clarifications I might need. He took time to go over the particulars of my candidacy and to prepare me for the sacrament. We walked into the empty tub and talked about what to expect when both it and the sanctuary would be full. I was given the list of questions I would be asked and encouraged to prepare a word of testimony to share. My stomach tossed and turned at the prospect of my private, budding love being outed in such a public way.
That was almost forty years ago now and I don’t remember an awful lot about my baptism. I do remember the ill-fitting, musty robe that I wore. I remember the cold water and trying to talk through chattering teeth. I remember being buried under the water just long enough for the world to go silent in the submerging. I remember being lifted back up to hooting, hollering, and sounds of applause. I remember being prayed over and sent up out of the water. I remember afterward having grown men shake my hand and call me “brother”.
Baptism is an odd rite but considering that it bears passage into an odd life, I say the stranger the better. So much of the Christian life exists in the intangible. Faith is held in the heart and believed in the mind. Aside from the thirty-three years that the Son of Man dwelled with us here on Earth, God’s presence – if it has been felt at all – has been known almost exclusively in the metaphysical. Christianity is a spiritual reality that must be lived out by flesh and blood in time and space. But through the wonderful sacrament of baptism, Jesus would build a bridge between the two worlds; forever connecting our earthly dwelling with our heavenly address. Jesus would have His newly minted disciples step into a river, a lake, cistern, pool, or ocean and there lay down their lives; dying to self. Then, just as Jesus had been raised from the dead and taken out of the tomb, so all the submerged followers of Jesus would be raised to newness of life as born-again, new creations. It’s a truly amazing and miraculous thing; no doubt mocked and viewed scornfully by the world. But to those that believe – it is the best of experiences. For on that day and in that moment, the baptized climb out of the water by Jacob’s ladder. Having lain down their lives, a way is opened to Heaven. Hallelujah!
We’re looking forward to gathering together for our first worship service of 2025. No matter the dates with destiny that will be written in on our, as yet, empty calendars, no matter what difficult and unsettling headlines will scroll along the chyrons of our lives, and no matter what ups and downs will keep our stomachs queasy – we know we’ll have the Lord beside us as we walk through it all. And for the journey we’ll have each other and the wonderful household of faith for encouragement. I’m so thankful for our church family! Tomorrow stands to be a wonderful day of worship and testimony. May the Lord, mighty God, bless and continue to keep us!
- Pastor Tate
