Keeping Faith In-Between Times
Last Sunday we began a new section of our Dust of the Rabbi series, called Keeping Faith In-Between Times. As we find ourselves in-between the major holiday seasons, we cannot help but ask the question, "How do we remain focused and faithful in the 'ordinary' times?" Following our Rabbi's example, we find that the answer comes in the concept of covenant - the sacred promises of God (and our response) which together put us in a unique relationship with our Lord. And yet it can be exceedingly difficult to remember God's promises in the midst of our hectic lives. Thankfully, God has provided us with several "Covenant Reminders" which regularly draw us back to Himself. The first of these "Covenant Reminders" is our adoption into God's family.
In the Old Testament (testament means covenant), adoption into God's covenant family was celebrated by circumcision (see Genesis 17:1-8). In the New Testament, adoption into God's covenant family is celebrated by baptism (see Matthew 3:13-17). Both are a "sign and seal" of God's claim on our lives and of our participation in His promises. For Jesus our Rabbi, as for us today, to be in covenant with God is to be in the family of the Father.
Dust of the Rabbi:
Covenant Reminder - Celebrate Your Adoption
God constantly provides physical reminders of spiritual realities so that we might remember His covenant with us. Circumcision and baptism are such reminders - what St. Augustine calls "visible signs of an invisible grace." Circumcision and baptism are also reoccurring remembrances - one is visible daily, while the other is reflected each time we use water to wash ourselves. These signs serve to bring us back to the agency of God in our lives.
It is highly significant that Jesus was both circumcised and baptized. Although Jesus is the only Son of God who is begotten, not adopted, He chose to experience both the Old and New Covenants' rites of adoption. Even our Rabbi needed the regular reminder of God's promises. We too need that sign and seal in our lives.
Have you been baptized? Do you remember your baptism? How often do you remember and celebrate that you are baptized during each day? Each time you take a shower, wash your face, or even wash your hands, remember that God is using that simple action to remind you of your adoption.
Extras
When we baptize adults or children, we confer upon them a new family name. Each person baptized (or their parent) is asked, "What is your Christian name?" Their response includes their first and middle names, but not their last name. In baptism, that last name is changed. The words we speak at every baptism are "[First Name] [Middle Name] Child-of-the-Covenant, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen." Our new family name is Child of the Covenant.
The first major debate in the early church concerned the issue of circumcision. One group of believers held that to be a Christian, one must first become a Jew (including circumcision for men). Another group of believers asserted that Gentiles (non-Jews) could become Christians without first becoming Jewish. Both positions had extremely strong arguments, and finally the early church was forced to call a special meeting of church leaders, called a "Council," in Jerusalem. All the most influential early Christian leaders were present at the Council of Jerusalem: James the half-brother of Jesus, Paul, Peter, and many of the other remaining apostles. The Council was ultimately swayed by Paul, Peter and James, and decided that neither becoming a Jew, nor circumcision, is necessary to become a true disciple of Jesus. To read this debate yourself, see Acts 15.