I originally sought to put out these posts once per week until we had finished the series. Obviously, I would have finished them by this time but circumstances have prohibited me from doing so. In this time I have been able to reflect more on what it means to be the church of the baptized (as well as of the non-baptized) and how we are to live with one another in the world (read point four of the essay) As elections draw near, I have been thinking even more so than usual, "What place does the Christian have in politics?" I obviously believe that it is the responsibility of the citizen to vote. But to what extent do we, those baptized in a heavenly state, partake in the politics of this present state? Well, I am still thinking about it. But with that sort of background you can see what influences these posts a bit.

In this, the second post, I want to examine the baptizer and his/her role in sacrament of holy baptism. Who can baptize a person into communion with the church Catholic? Well, as we we began in the first post with a quote from the catechism, I think it only consistent to pick-up there:

The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In case of necessity, any person, even someone not baptized, can baptize, if he has the required intention. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes, and to apply the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation.

Any person may baptize. Now for those of us who are or have been in denominations who are extremely particular about baptism, perhaps even named after such beliefs, the concept of just anyone performing a baptism seems a bit... taboo. One thing I wish to point out is that the catechism says, "In the case of necessity." I believe that a clergy person (one who receives ordination from a spiritual communion) ought to be the baptizer, in most cases.

I would be not only hesitant to perform a baptism myself (as my informal ordination has no substance anymore) but even resistant! I would do all that I could to find a priest or a deacon who would willingly perform a "right" ceremony rather than do it myself in a swimming pool. It's hard to be serious when chlorine is burning your eyes. This goes beyond a matter of respect for some imagined hierarchal order but rather it is knowing and accepting one's role in the church of Christ and in turn the part to be played in the communal salvation of the baptized.

Then whose orders are valid? From the high-church end of the historic sects of the faith we may see some resistance to, say, +Alan baptizing rather than a local parish priest or deacon. I think that's just stupid. I myself am working out my own beliefs in regards to ordination. Right now I find myself influenced by my more baptistic history in that I think it ought to be the local visible body of believers who calls the priest into the community and gives him the right (the ordination) to proclaim the word and administer the sacraments. I may be wrong but that's my current position.

I was asked by John Meade, a student at my former seminary, to investigate the relationship of faith to baptism. What John means, I am assuming, is that he wants me to become a bit more of a Baptist. There's nothing wrong with that. I would like him to become a bit more of a catholic, I guess, so there's no problem with just saying it. I appreciate his interaction even though we disagree.

I believe coming to faith is a process. That was my belief as a child and it is my belief again, as a (very) young adult. Salvation isn't praying the sinner's prayer after reading a tract but it is a life-long journey of becoming like Christ. The first institutional rite of that process is the sacrament of holy baptism. It is essential to complete and full salvation. Without baptism there are no sacraments. Without sacraments there is no binding to the church catholic. Like I said before, it is the entrance to the church and the logical outworking of faith in Christ. In the waters of baptism our old nature is crucified with Christ and we are raised with him in to a new life. It is how we become Christians.

I want to avoid this whole justification by grace through faith argument. I am sure someone wants to leave a comment talking about it but I think it best to just email that type of thing to me. Jesus obviously didn't care much about it so I don't say much about it either.

Well, that's about it for post 2. Leave some thoughts, objections, criticisms, complements, or whatever else you want to. I want to see some good thoughtful comments, everybody! I'll be sure to interact more that last time...