#baptism — Public Fediverse posts

Today I hope it was the last day of heat. 38C still on the balcony. 34 on the car thermometer.

We had baptism and it was always nice.

Except that the new member has all a christian family.

#baptism #church #temperature

We baptize by triple immersion. This is what it looks like!

#baptism #christianity #orthodox

The start of a long, hot, sweaty, joyous day.

#baptism

A Cure for What Ails Us?

I have been reflecting lately on the peculiar sickness of modern life, and I have a theory which, stated somewhat like a math problem, is this: modern society (entailing economic, social, and labor practices) plus postmodern media (including communication technology, news consumption, and competing truth claims) leads to a kind of sickness. And the treatment for that sickness may be following Jesus through the historic practices of the Church.

My basic argument is this: for thousands of years, human beings lived in certain ways. Whether by divine design, adaptation, or some combination of the two, human bodies, minds, and spirits were set up for success while living a certain kind of life. People lived off to the land. They lived near extended family. Most people spent their lives in relatively small communities, surrounded by people they knew and who knew them. Work was physical and tangible. Information traveled slowly. The problems people encountered were usually nearby, visible, and connected to people who could actually help or be helped. This was by no means a perfect system, for pre-modern life contained many ills (physical and social). But this is the kind of the life that human bodies were prepared to live.

In the past 200-ish years, however, the technology of the Industrial Revolution and the development of (post) modern culture have placed enormous stress on that kind of life. Obviously, modernity brought with it a great many positive changes. It is easier to obtain food, clothing, medicine, and shelter now than at almost any other point in human history. Infant mortality has declined. Travel is easier. Communication is faster. Many forms of work are safer and less physically destructive. These are real goods, real ways in which human beings have flourished in ways never before seen, and such goods should not be dismissed.

But along with those good changes came new stressors. People became more mobile. Families became more scattered. Communities became less stable. Work became increasingly detached from the production of visible and tangible things. People became more reliant on systems and technologies that few of us understand and none of us can control. Almost no one practices subsistence living anymore, which means that nearly everything we need comes to us through a complicated network of strangers, corporations, machines, and institutions.

And for the past couple hundred years (less time in many places), as people adapted to modernism, human beings did their best to adjust. Many things worked reasonably well. We developed institutions, customs, and social practices that helped people endure the disruptions of modern life. But despite our best efforts, cracks began to form in the human experience. And as more and more research and lived experience attest, what seems to have shattered our humanity was the addition of postmodern media.

It was already difficult for human beings to carry the stresses of modernity. Then we placed in nearly every pocket a device that provides constant access to nearly every crisis, argument, tragedy, advertisement, opinion, and temptation in the world.

We are constantly connected, yet often deeply lonely. We possess unprecedented access to information but are less certain about what is true. We know what is happening across the globe almost instantly, while frequently knowing very little about the lives of the people who live next door. Our minds were not made to carry every tragedy. Our hearts were not made to process the suffering of the entire world before breakfast. Our identities were not made to be continually displayed, evaluated, marketed, and compared. Yet this is increasingly what we ask of ourselves every day.

So what is the cure?

Some might argue for a rejection of modernism. We might call this an Amish response: separate from the technologies and systems that deform human life. Others might argue for some form of the Benedict Option, in which Christians build durable communities and institutions while waiting for the present cultural disorder to pass. And I must admit that there are plenty of times when both of these seem like very appropriate responses to the ills of the current age.

My proposal, however, is a little different, and it goes something like this: the historic practices of the Church of Jesus Christ—specifically communion, baptism, and the penitential cycle—provide the way forward. (Not accidentally, these are essentially the three things Martin Luther—who is often credited, or blamed, for contributing to the rise of modernism—suggested were necessary for the life of the Church.)

Communion requires deep introspection and life in community. You cannot receive communion entirely alone. You need life with other people. You need to gather around a table. You need to confess your sins, reconcile with your neighbors, receive the gifts of God, and remember that you belong to a body larger than yourself.

Communion teaches us that we are not merely individuals consuming religious content. We are members of one another. We share one bread. We receive one Lord. We are brought into communion not only with God, but with the people standing beside us.

Baptism is historically a sign of entering into God’s family. It marks a person as belonging to Christ and to his people. But baptism has also historically been connected to deep formation in Scripture and theology. The early Church did not treat baptism as a passing religious moment. It was surrounded by teaching, preparation, examination, and a reordering of life. We desperately need that kind of depth today.

We must move beyond surface-level interactions shaped by postmodern media. We must dig deep and drink from wells that take longer than fifteen seconds to hear, understand, and digest. We need Scripture slowly read, theology carefully learned, prayers repeatedly prayed, and truths practiced long enough to reshape our instincts.

Then there is the penitential cycle: confession, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration.

The practice of confession is not simply something a priest holds over your head. Properly understood, it is a practice of introspection, conversation, truth-telling, and repentance. We deeply need these things today.

We need places where we can speak honestly about the ways we have failed. We need people who will tell us the truth without discarding us. We need the opportunity to repent, receive forgiveness, make amends, and begin again. Therapy, at its best, often offers a sanitized version of some of these practices: careful listening, honest self-examination, naming destructive patterns, and seeking a healthier way forward. These can be genuine gifts. But the Church’s penitential tradition goes further. It does not merely help us understand ourselves. It places us before God, names sin as sin, announces forgiveness, and calls us into new life.

*****

That is my diagnosis of this strange math problem. Modern society plus postmodern media has produced a sickness that cannot be solved merely by better technology, more information, increased efficiency, or improved self-care. The solution is actually practices which are much older. We lean back into the historic practices of the Church of Jesus Christ. We gather around the table. We remember our baptism. We confess our sins. We receive forgiveness. We read slowly, pray deeply, and share life with actual people in actual places. Will it be enough?

I hold this theory lightly. The problems of modern life are complicated, and the practices of the Church are not easy techniques or quick fixes. They are gifts, and they require patience, faithfulness, and time. Still, I wonder whether the ancient practices of the Church might be precisely the medicine our modern souls have forgotten how to receive. Shall we return?

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Paley-Fonts/pages/decorated-stoke-golding/

An engraving of a font from the English Decorated church architecture period (roughly 1250 to 1350).

#vintageEngravings #baptism #fonts #carving #christian #fobo

Did you know that Baptism is derived from the Greek word baptizo, meaning to dip, plunge, or immerse? This means that the whole body is immersed in water just as Christ was buried, and coming out of the water represents His resurrection, making you a new person with no sin. You can find this symbolism in Romans 6:4. However, some churches sprinkle water, which is not Baptism according to the Bible. Where did that theory come from? The Bible shows Jesus came up out of the water in Matthew 3:16, and John the Baptist sought places with much water because full immersion requires it, as mentioned in John 3:23.

#Faith #BibleStudy #Christianity #Baptism #Theology #SpiritualGrowth

This guy nails it I think.

"Many people imagine #antisemitism only in its crudest forms: #swastikas daubed on walls, abuse shouted in the street, threats and violence. Those forms are far too prevalent, and they are rightly and routinely condemned. But the #prejudice we face today as #Jews often presents itself in more subtle ways. It arrives wrapped in the language of #humanrights and #socialjustice. It insists that it has nothing against Jews as such. It simply posits that all Jews must be regarded as suspect until they have proven their purity.

This is very familiar to us.

In medieval #Europe, Jews were forced to prove their religious purity through #conversion, #baptism or public #renunciation of their faith. The #Nazis demanded a certain #racialpurity. Under oppressive regimes of various kinds, Jews had to demonstrate their political purity – that they were not either #capitalist #conspirators or #communist #subversives."

https://www.thejc.com/opinion/our-holiday-landlord-realised-we-were-jewish-what-happened-next-was-deeply-troubling-i9zjiz1p

Are you thinking about being baptised, or having your child baptised? Would you like to learn more about what baptism means? You’re invited to join our baptism classes. Sign up today by emailing: [email protected].

Registration closes on 30 June 2026. #Baptism #Bedfordview

Are you thinking about being baptised, or having your child baptised? Would you like to learn more about what baptism means?

You’re invited to join our baptism classes. Sign up today by emailing [email protected].

Registration closes on 30 June 2026. #baptism

Are you thinking about being baptised, or having your child baptised? Would you like to learn more about what baptism means? You’re invited to join our baptism classes. Sign up today by emailing: [email protected].

Registration closes on 30 June 2026. #baptism

Not a good look for your #font. Let's hope it's only temporary and will be cleared for the next #baptism

"For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."

1 Corinthians 12:13 #Bible #HolySpirit #baptism

"Thanks bro, Isa mad helpful in these trying times"

https://piefed.social/c/historymemes/p/2059898/thanks-bro-isa-mad-helpful-in-these-trying-times

Is there a catholic priest in the building? Or possibly a theologian?

I have a few very specific questions about the catholic view on ensoulment, original sin and baptism. I would love to get answers from an _actual expert_, if anyone here is willing? Thanks!

#Catholicism #theology #baptism #OriginalSin #ensoulment

How pissed would you be if you spent your whole life in total servitude to God, denying the flesh and all your earthly desires, sincerely repenting all your sins, and ended up killed as a martyr for your faith...

Just to wake up in hell to be tortured for all eternity just because the priest that baptised you when you where a baby used the wrong pronoun once?

#Catholicism #baptism #salvation #faith

SONG OF THE WEEK: “Dancin’ by the River (Tex-Mex Garage Mix)”

https://johnnyjblairsingeratlarge.bandcamp.com/track/dancin-by-the-river-tex-mex-garage-mix

#TexMex #garageband #Beatles #Chicanorocknroll #RoyOrbison #PrettyWoman #EverlyBrothers #Lucille #RichieValens #NeilDiamond #TheMonkees #DavyJones #PineCreek #Pennsylvania #GratefulDead #baptism #dreams #billmatlack #evinrude #KevinSpyker #rondavis

Was a privilege this Easter morning to baptise 4 new members, confirm 14 more, and receive by transfer 3 more (2 from Zimbabwe) new members into our small church membership, in the year before we build our brand new building (our church has been around for over 120 years now, and bits of the current building are only a year or two newer than that, and roof leaks in several parts of it are common). More about the people in alt text. #baptism #Easter2026 #EasterSunday #ChurchGrowth

A quotation from The Bible

All baptised in Christ, you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
 
[ὅσοι γὰρ εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε. οὐκ ἔνι Ἰουδαῖος οὐδὲ Ἕλλην, οὐκ ἔνι δοῦλος οὐδὲ ἐλεύθερος, οὐκ ἔνι ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ· πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς εἷς ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Galatians 3: 27–28 [JB (1966)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/bible-nt/81792/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #bible #galatians #newtestament #baptism #Christianity #equality #foreigners #gender #nationality #othering #religion #slavery #theother #unity

This, my friends, is a "Nottaufspritze", or "syringe for emergency baptism".

If the midwife strongly suspected that the child would be stillborn, and could not see the child's head, she could inject the syringe into the vagina, and thus sprinkle the child with holy water and provide an emergency baptism before the stillborn child was formally dead.

Because the souls of unbaptized children don't go into Heaven.

#TIL #history #Christianity #baptism
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nottaufspritze_MfK_Wgt.jpg

#Jericho, West Bank
Christian Orthodox worshippers participate in a ceremony re-enacting the baptism of Christ on the banks of the Jordan River.

Photograph: Shir Torem/Reuters

#photography
#WestBank
#Orthodox
#baptism

To see this mosaic of the #Baptism of Christ in person is breathtaking. Commissioned in the 5th c. it decorates the dome of the Orthodox Baptistery in #Ravenna. Around the central medallion is a procession of the 12 apostles (Paul being the 12th!) 📷🇮🇹 flic.kr/p/t7z3cP #photography 🏺AncientBlueSky

Dome, Neonian Baptistery (Rave...

The Baptism of Jesus shows His desire to be close to us. 🌿 He entered the water to share our experience and remind us we are never alone. This lesson helps youth see faith as a relationship and invites them to stand with others in kindness, just as Jesus did. 🌟

https://young-catholics.com/83102/baptism-of-jesus-lesson-plan-solidarity/

#youthministry #faith #baptism

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Paley-Fonts/pages/decorated-market-bosworth/

The font’s at least partly from the 13th century, not 14th as the book says; it was damaged in the 20th century when a bit fell off the tower and through the roof onto it. St. Peter’s Church, Market Bosworth, Leicestershire - the church is approx. 700 years old. The heraldic shields on the font were originally painted.

Someone needs to make a #typeface called Market Bosworth.

#vintageArt #churchArchitecture #fobo #engraving #baptism #font #notATypeface #GIMP #GIMP3

We're wrapping up our exploration of #Baptism during tonight's Sunday School Express -- live in a moment... https://youtube.com/live/ysQND_buttg

Please join us as we discuss baptism -- what is it? And how does "what it does" affect how we do it? Live @ 7 pm Central! https://youtube.com/live/5Mbsz2KsPBc

#Sacraments #Baptism #Christianity

This is a lovely reflection on #Baptism (and by extension the importance of our Baptismal vows). http://onewhoponders.blog/2025/08/05/pondering-for-tuesday-august-5-2025/

One phrase that sticks out to me is: “People move around from #Church to Church as they grow in the faith.” I’m not sure I agree with it. I’ve attended many churches in my life, mostly because my location has changed. Although I have sampled different denominations, I remain Episcopalian by choice. Neither moving nor sampling was motivated by a change in my #faith although both contributed to my spiritual growth. I find it interesting that the author attributes changing churches to changes in faith because I don’t see that in my experience. Perhaps I’m just blessed to have been born into the right denomination at the right time for my faith, which makes me curious: have you changed/moved churches because of a change in faith? What was your experience like?

One of the gifts one encounters in being a minister is the opportunity to administer the sacraments to your own children. Today I baptized my daughter Eden and spoke those precious words to her: “For you Jesus Christ came into the world; for you he died and for you he conquered death; All this he did for you, little one, though you know nothing of it as yet.
We love because God first loved us.”

#ministry #Baptism #sacraments #joy

I'm starting (🆕) a new church (⛪) journey (🆕)

I'm 🆕 to a baptist ⛪ for the sunday worship service. It's a newer building⛪ , that was built and I believe founded, somewhere around 2015.

Check out their specific beliefs here:

https://northfwbchurch.org/im-new/

This will be my first appearance to the ⛪, while not my first ever attended ⛪. Technically it may be my 3rd,

However the 1st one I was going to I vaguely remember since I was under 5 years old then. The 2nk one I had a lot of childhood memories going there use to be my primary however since, it's an hour away, and I'm learning to ride the bus I took my time picking a good quality one that was closer for bus travel for me

This 3rd one that I'm going to, at age 26 tomorrow on Sunday. It's been nearly 10 years for me since I actively went to a ⛪, so this is why this is 🆕 for me. I can't drive (because I have slower in quick real time reaction situation) so i'l be ridding the #publicbus to it. (luckily the ⛪ is a close ride under 45 minutes. (closer to a 30 minute ride)

This ⛪ believes in the trinity, and to my knowledge (although i'l have to ask to get direct confirmation.) they'l be following the kings james bible. in other words, it's a pretty decent ⛪ they follow the word closely. This is going by the website, not in person conversation plus there more specific question i'l have to ask them in person.

If you're interested, they directly tell you *what it is they believe in the link I provided above, I feel most Christians that try to follow the word closely, might also like this ⛪ 's standings. But I'm open to any interpretation or comment if anyone finds out anything interesting that proves otherwise specifically of this ⛪

#christian #christianity #bible #trinity #thetrinity #baptistchurch #baptism #bus #travel #god #jesus #kingjames #kinsjamesversion