Beach Baptism/Why?

Sometimes this ministry thing is a real privilege...

Yesterday I had the opportunity to baptize eight of our students off Wrightsville Beach. These students come from different socio-economic backgrounds; they attend six different schools and run with five or six different crowds. For some this baptism was a long time coming, a life spent seeking God. For a couple it was decision made in the last few days and for one it was a decision made at the beach. Though God has undoubtedly been at work in their lives as well.  

I mentioned the privilege part as it concerns me...it is a privilege. I have been walking along side most of these students for the last four or five years, a few of them have only been a part of our group for a year or two, but our relationships are strong. I always say two things to people asking about being baptized.

1) You do go to heaven when we accept Christ into our hearts.

2) Following God is about more than that, much more.

For me baptism is about showing the world that it is your desire to walk through life with God. It is a public acknowledgement that we will seek out Christian community and look for ways to serve this world with our lives. In a nutshell the Great Commandments... We love God by loving others. 

The people I have baptized have no idea what they are getting themselves into. They don't fully comprehend the breadth or depth of following God. They have no idea the difficult times or the times where they will feel distant from God. They just know they want to follow God. Praise God, because that is enough! I have been do'n this God thing for some time now. I still don't know what I have gotten myself into. :)

I have little doubt these eight young people will struggle in their lives. Some of them might loose their way for a bit, some of them might forget for a time that they wanted only to follow God. My prayer for each of them will be that we as their friends, family and church will walk along side them and disciple them. Jesus showed us the game plan for this! 

Following God isn't about getting into heaven and stay'n out of hell. It is about joining the "Missio Dei" (The Mission of God) and living life in a community (Church/Christian Fellowship) and serving the world (with our lives).