“Baptism doesn’t play – but it does promise”
†
“Daddy was an old-time preacher man.
He preached the word of God throughout the land.
He preached so plain a child could understand.
Yes, Daddy was an old-time preacher man.
He told the people of the need to pray.
He talked about God's wrath and Judgement Day.
He preached about the great eternity.
And he preached hell so hot that you could feel the heat.”
Rarely are Episcopal priests accused of being old-time preacher men (or women).
Yes, we do talk about the need to pray and our hope of heaven, but seldom do you hear spoken from the pulpit words of wrath and judgment, let alone “hell so hot that you could feel the heat.”
Dolly Parton came from different stock. She wrote this song about her grandfather and sang it, early in her career, with Porter Wagoner.
I’ll wager that Dolly’s grandfather – a Holy Spirit-filled Pentecostal – knew his Saint Paul and studied this passage from his Letter to the Ephesians.
About our need to beware of the wiles of the devil and the influence Satan has over the powers of this world.
About our need to suit up in the full armor of God: belt and breastplate, shoes and shield, helmet and sword.
About our need to pray and persevere in the Spirit, alertly and always, for our benefit and for all the saints.
An old-time preacher man.
I wish I could have met him.
With respect to Dolly, this being a baptismal Sunday and all, I’ll change the title of her song to “Danny is an old-time preacher man.”
Our baptismal rite names Satan among the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God.
It avows that evil powers exist in this world to corrupt and destroy us.
And it states the simple truth that our sinful desires turn us away from God.
And the baptismal rite does more than name and avow and state them.
The rite demands that we renounce them.
Renounce – that’s an old-time preacher man word that means to give up, to reject, to disown.
And baptism demands even more of us.
Baptism demands that we turn to and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Baptism demands that we trust fully in his grace and love.
And baptism demands that we promise to follow and obey Jesus, and nobody else – not power or position or politician – but only Jesus as our Lord.
We turn, we trust, and we promise, and we say two convicting words disguised by their simplicity:
I do.
Baptism – in the newer vernacular of the street – baptism doesn’t play.
Later this morning [-or-] In a few minutes two parents and a scrum of godparents will renounce the bad and affirm the good on behalf of the four-month-old girl named Mila and the two-year-old boy named Ricky that God blessed them with and gave into their care.
Soon enough, you and I will do the same when we renew our baptismal promises.
Like the Israelites of old, we will choose this day to serve the Lord, and we will swear not to forsake the Lord to serve the other gods that fill our heads and hearts with empty promises.
Like the twelve, standing alone with Jesus, we will answer with Peter, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Easy enough to promise on paper, but devilishly difficult to live into.
Like the Israelites of old, we will mess it up, again and again, and be marched into captivities and exiles of our own making.
Like Peter and the twelve, we will doubt and disbelieve, betray and deny, cut and run.
And when we do, if we hold as authoritative the Bible and creeds and traditions, we, without repentance, run the risk of wrath and judgment and hell.
Danny is an old-time preacher man.
Sisters and brothers, can you feel the heat?
Now … Daddy didn’t leave it there, and neither will Danny.
Baptism doesn’t play, but it does promise.
Baptism promises immediate entry and full inclusion in the Body of Christ.
Baptism promises a bond with God, formed and forged in water, that cannot be washed away.
Baptism promises, day by day, minute by minute, second by second, ready access to God’s help, in trial and temptation and test, through the free gift of God’s loving-grace.
Baptism promises a path to continual conversion of life and reconciliation with God and one another.
Baptism promises a seat at the table where Jesus gives us his flesh and blood as ever-living, ever-filling food, every time we come forward with open hands and hungry hearts.
And baptism promises the blessed hope of everlasting life, where there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.
“Yes, Daddy was an old-time preacher man, ”Dolly ended her song
“In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore.
I'm on my way.”
And so are we.
†
Fr. Daniel S.J. Scheid, SCP
14th after Pentecost, Proper 16 – August 25, 2024
All Saints’ Episcopal Church, San Francisco
“Baptism doesn’t play – but it does promise”
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