Lesson one: WHY BAPTISM?

WHY BAPTISM?

By Rev. Kummithi Devanand Subuddy, CSIRD.

Baptism is a requisite prescribed by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself as His last words in Matthew.28:19, 20. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…”  Therefore, Baptism sounds like in an illustration, in which a principal tells the staff saying, “go and make students for my institution, making them pay an application fees in the name of the Director, the Manager and the Correspondent and observe all the things of the institution that I have had taught you.” In this the Baptism illustrates a payment for an application to be admitted as a student.

All those who wanted to become a student/disciple of the Reign (kingdom) of God need Baptism and still this baptism does not become a guarantee for a studentship/discipleship. It is because there is something more to receive the teaching from the staff of our Lord Jesus Christ, who trained them to observe. Here one can ask a question about baptism saying “is it so necessary that nobody can enter the Reign of God without it?” Answer to this question is not a “yes” or a “no” statement, because both has their own weight in the argument. Therefore the need and the understanding of the God, who rules this world as everybody’s Heavenly parent, make a value for the baptism to be observed.  

Any institution (home or a government) has its decree or citizenship for its belonging to follow and that makes the head of the home or a government to take charge of the belongings. The same way to be admitted into the God’s reign or home is baptism. Moreover, this baptism makes God to become the head or caretaker or owner of the one by themselves or by their parents wanted to be the students/disciples in learning the teachings of God through Jesus. Even though without baptism everybody are the children of God by Creation and also are those gone astray from God by this world. That is why this cannot become any chance to reject baptism when one is not innocent of it because right from the childhood the religion demands it as a sacrament in the church.

Thus, every Christian and Christian parents in the families are made to see baptism as a primary observation of life for them and their children, which was commanded or demanded by our lord Jesus to get an admission into the reign of God from the reign of the world. Therefore, the baptism understood from Matthew.28:19, 20; also defines a payment that cost a life, a decision to leave the world, an admission to God’s world, a clearance to enter God’s School/world/home, the procedure to follow, a sacrament to observe and a faith on the sacrament that it is FROM GOD and not by persons or parents. 

Finally if one tries to understand, why Jesus did prescribed this Baptism for the members to become the disciples? This baptism becomes the continuation of the old dispensation into the New Testament. The next lesson shall thoroughly deal with this subject: “How is Baptism a continuation of the old dispensation into the New Testament?”     

Questions: (answer these questions from the above reading and post them)

1.      How do you illustrate Baptism from the words of Jesus in Matthew.28:19, 20?

2.      Why should not the baptism be rejected?

3.      What is the relationship with god for those who are baptized?

4.      In how many ways you can define Baptism from Matthew.28:19, 20?

5.      Write your own understanding about the child baptism by parents? (use also 1 cor.7:14)

Youth Confirmation Movement

Youth Confirmation Movement

This movement is the fruit from the Awareness camp held at Arogyavaram, from May 16 to 19, 2011 with the theme, “…Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? _mark 10:38. In this camp Rev. Dr. T. Isaac Prasanna Kumar of Nandyal Diocese taught the Doctrines of Baptism and Confirmations. Rev. K. Devanand Subuddy of Rayalaseema Diocese taught on How to do a personal Bible meditation and How to lead a Group Bible Study. Rev. P. Isaac Varaprasad led the theme devotions. There were some practical talks led by Rev. A. Jayaraju , Rev. I. Prabhakar and Rev. Ch. Rajendra of Rayalaseema Diocese. In this camp 14 delegates stood in the alter calls to live as witnesses and 12 delegates committed to lead Bible Studies in their churches.

This Camp was also in respect to the Moderator’s Address in the Synod meeting on Mission Priorities that every church should have Bible Studies. This movement organizes and trains the youth for 3 kinds of Bible studies in their respective churches and the bible study leaders are trained with 4 kinds of Camps. They are:

1.      Awareness Camps

This Camp shall be for three full days at any place with good accommodation. Youth who had taken or not taken their confirmations shall attend these camps. They are made to know the importance and the power of the Baptism they received through their Parents and the confirmation in the church. The main training on Personal Bible Meditation and Purpose of Christian Life with the Church are concentrated. All these members go back to attend the regular Disciple’s Bible Studies in their respective churches.

2.      Discipleship Camps

This camp shall be for 5 full days with good food and accommodation. All those who attended the Awareness camps and those who had their confirmations are only permitted to the Discipleship Camps. The Doctrines of Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry and histories of Creeds and church are taught in these camps. Practical talks on Successful Christian Life and Time management are concentrated. Perfect teaching with practicals is given on Group Bible Study leading. All those who attended these camps shall go back to be leaders for Disciples’ Bible Studies in their churches and they all shall attend the Apostles’ Bible Studies.

3.      Apostleship Camps

This camp shall be for 7 full days with good food and accommodation. All those attended the Discipleship Camps are only permitted to the Apostleship Camps. The Doctrines of forgiveness, Apostolic Succession, theological authority, Church, and Christian marriage are taught.the histories of Church of south India and the ecumenical movements are also taught. Practical talks on personal management, money management, church administrations are taught. Training on Homolitics and Expository preaching shall be given. All those attended these camps shall go back and continue in the Apostles’ Bible Study and those who are married and those who are of the age 25 and above  shall attend the Deacons’ Bible Studies.

4.      Deaconship Camps

This camp shall be for 3 full days. Those who have had attended all the above camps and those with the age of 25 and above shall attend these camps. In these camps there shall be teachings on the doctrines of Christian family, deaconship, festivals of the lectionary, liturgy and worship with kinds of Theologies. Training on Christian counseling, mediation, dispute management is given. After attending these camps the delegates go back to attend the Apostles and Deacons Bible Studies and lead the Disciples Bible Studies. They also conduct seminars and symposiums with paper presentations.

Thus the goal of the Youth Confirmation Movement is to establish three kinds of bible studies in a week and one seminar or symposium in a month for every congregation. Four kinds of Camps in a year at the diocesan level or regional level. One day or half a day retreats as necessary. The YCM’s financial policy is to look to God and no donations. Registration fees are compulsory for all the camps and no travel allowances are encouraged. The delegates shall be taught to sacrifice in spending for the church.