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GA Rain

Teresa Stricklen

"Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."   —Gal. 6:2

It had been a long, exhausting day in the General Assembly. It was sticky hot with high humidity. As the group walked from the convention center back to the hotel after an arduous plenary session, my body wanted nothing more than food, drink, a shower, and a bed. As we walked, though, a sudden downpour caught us all unprepared and began to soak us. Since nearly everyone I was meeting there on the sidewalk was Presbyterian, I laughingly shouted out from under my dripping hair, “Remember your baptism!”

The couple coming toward me, though, was not Presbyterian. They looked at me alarmed  . . . and crossed the street.

I felt sad for them, not knowing what the crazy lady was talking about. But I also felt sad that they didn’t know the joy of being part of the Presbyterian body of Christ. Even though things are messy and even, at times, downright contentious, it is good to be Presbyterian.

We are baptized into the church universal, made members of Christ’s body. But part of the gospel is that Christ’s body is incarnate. Risen, yes! but for us and our salvation here and now (at least in part). This is why we ask people when they are baptized:

Will you be a faithful member of this congregation,
share in its worship and ministry
through your prayers and gifts,
your study and service,
and so fulfill your calling to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

     (Book of Common Worship, 409).

At the same time that we become part of the communion of saints, we become members of a particular congregation and denomination as an incarnation of Christ’s body on earth yet today. God became incarnate and, in Holy Spirit, continues to use us as members of Christ’s body. This is part of what it means to be baptized into Christ.

Bodies are messy. They are fragile and need care—sufficient hydration, the right food, proper rest, constant hygiene. When ours break down or are new, others have to provide these things for us. But isn’t this part of what it means to be baptized in Christ? That in the midst of the mess our bodies keep making, God washes us clean and feeds us and gives us drink until such day as every day is Sabbath rest in the Day of the Lord.

I am writing this in the middle of General Assembly. Our church body is messy, but nonetheless good and worthy of our care. Besides, God continues to soak us with mercy, one of the meanings of the word baptismo—to soak, to marinate until that which is soaked takes on the flavor of the marinade. In baptism God calls us to soak in divine compassion and care for our church body and the bodies of others in the world God so loves.

This is why the church does the advocacy work and social witness policy statements that we do. It’s not because it’s part of some liberal (or conservative) political agenda. It’s because it’s part of our baptismal commission as members of the body of Christ. We are called to be with and bear one another’s burdens. This theological link needs to be made clearer to many in our pews so that they can see whatever is decided by OUR General Assembly through the watery eyes of our baptism’s call and care. 

Note:  This was originally written for the e-news Font and Table for sacramental renewal in the PCUSA.  If you'd like to subscribe to this, sign up for it here.

• Posted at 4:02 p.m.
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Tags: advocacy, baptism, body, care, general assembly, social witness