(Unity Ref. People, you'll see this in the Unity Update for Aug. so consider this an advance reading, haha)
Question 1
Do you promise
to instruct this child in the truth of God’s word,
in the way of salvation through Jesus Christ;
to pray for them, to teach them to pray;
and to train them in Christ’s way by your example,
through worship, and
in the nurture of the church?
Question 2
Do you promise to love, encourage, and support
these brothers and sisters
by teaching the gospel of God’s love,
by being an example of Christian faith and character, and
by giving the strong support of God’s family
in fellowship, prayer, and service?
Ever heard or read either one of these questions before? Do they sound familiar but you aren’t sure where to place it? The above questions are (a rough form of) the questions that get asked to both the parents and the congregation every time there is a baptism during a church service. Have you ever actually paid attention to the words? Did you remember what they were? Or did you just answer “We Will, with God’s Help” because everyone else did? Those two questions are a big deal, but especially that second one. One of the things that I love about the church universal is that it is a place where anyone can teach everyone, and everyone can teach anyone. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that everyone has to go to college to train to be some form of a Pastor to guide a church (that’s not for everyone, and like one of my professors once said in his class, “I don’t wish church leadership on anyone, but if you have that particular call from God, you have to follow it”) However, all of us have a call.
Wait, What?????
We do, now I’m not saying everyone has to go and get a degree in Youth Ministries, or their Masters of Divinity, but, we are all called to ministry, Ephesians 4:11(and following) says so. “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers….so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in knowledge of the Son of God and become mature….”
I’m sure all of you have probably read, or at least heard those verses, but have you ever noticed what isn’t said there? No? What it doesn’t say, is that some people are called to have no responsibilities at all. Have you ever thought about that?
The two questions that are answered every time there is a baptism feed right into that section of Scripture. Christianity isn’t just coming to church once (maybe even twice) a week. It is the role God has given us to fulfill with the talents he has gifted us with “…so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity…and become mature…”
How seriously have you taken that promise you made for every youth in your church? In society? (Lets not worry about if a child is baptized or not right now) but how well are we doing that as a church? How well are we at doing that as individuals? This isn’t meant to be something that points fingers at anyone, but instead is meant to be an inspiration to look at ourselves personally and say “How can I help the younger body of Christ develop in Unity and Maturity?” It is hard work; it is a job that takes more than just one person. It takes more than just the two parents. It takes more than a Youth Pastor. It takes a family to raise a family. Do you want to help in the raising of the family in which you are a part of, there are always openings, and all you need to do is find where God is calling you to plug in. What good are Pastors without Evangelists? What good are Apostles without Teachers? The Church body needs all of those, and all of us have one (if not more) of those gifts, sometimes we just have discovered them yet. But they are there, and they are needed. Both in this church family, and in the world
There is a saying I came across a few years back that has always stuck with me (though I’ve added a little bit to it for this occasion.) “Truth, Ideas, and Promises that are neglected by one generation, more often than not, are completely rejected by the next.” That is a big responsibility, bigger than just one or two people; it takes the church (with help from God). But the education year is coming up fast, let us all pray for clarity in what role we can fill to help one another.
