Open Heart, Open Mind
Ben Roberts

Scripture: Acts 2:38-39
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

I grew up in another denomination. Same faith, but some of the traditions of the church were practiced at different times and interpreted through a different lens.

This week, Arcola is focusing on one of those distinctions in the life of the church: baptism.

In the tradition of my youth, baptism took place after reaching “the age of accountability.” In simple terms, you had to be old enough to understand the basics of faith and make a conscious choice for yourself. Baptism was a public declaration, a tangible expression of personal belief shared with the community. While infant baptism was not practiced, babies were dedicated in a special ceremony.

Following that tradition, I was dedicated as a baby and chose to be baptized when I was nine years old.

Years later, in my late twenties, I became Methodist. While the church embraced infant baptism, I remained unconvinced. I respected the practice, but it was not something I envisioned for my own family. In my mind, my future children would be baptized only when they were old enough to publicly profess their own faith, ideally during confirmation.

That perspective changed with the birth of my son.

He was born with serious and chronic medical challenges. My wife and I were living on the East Coast while the rest of our family remained on the West Coast. There was no practical way to “move home.” At the time, it felt like we were completely on our own.

We could not have been more mistaken.

From the moment our son arrived, our Methodist community surrounded us with love. They prayed both for us and with us. They brought meals, baby supplies, encouragement, and shoulders to cry on. In countless quiet ways, they carried us through a season when we did not have the strength to carry ourselves.

Our church became our family.

That family embraced us without condition. They asked for nothing in return. They simply showed up, over and over again, holding us up through fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty. Our son was cared for not because of anything he had done or anything we had done—but because he belonged.

Quietly, surrounded by that kind of love, my perspective on baptism began to shift. My understanding of faith began to shift as well.

Maybe faith was not simply about my decision to choose God. Maybe it also involved recognizing that God had been reaching for me long before I understood enough to reach back. Maybe baptism was not only about declaring belonging, but also about acknowledging a belonging that already existed.

I wanted a tangible way to acknowledge that grace. A symbol of a relationship that had already begun. A visible reminder that our son was surrounded not only by his parents’ love, but by the love of a community seeking to follow Christ together.

I honestly do not remember who first brought up baptism for our son. My wife had been raised in the same tradition I had, but when the conversation came, we found ourselves in complete agreement.

I remember very little about my own baptism. Mostly, I remember that Rocky Mountain tap water is very, very cold.

But I remember the people who surrounded us when my son was baptized. I remember the faces. The prayers. The promises. The community.

My son remembers none of it.

But I do.

And I remember the day a congregation embraced him as one of their own and promised to help us raise one of God’s children in the love of Christ. That is the ongoing promise that resonates with me. Regardless of when we receive the gift of baptism, we are joined to the community of faith, and together we journey toward Christ.

Prayer:
God, continue to remind us of the gift You give to all believers through baptism. Whether we are able to remember the moment or not, help us to lean into the mystery of what it conveys: death to sin and new birth into the family of God. Amen.

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