Water Power
Rutgers, January 10, 1999; Baptism of the Lord Sunday, Year A;
Renewal of Baptismal Vows, Holy Communion
Acts 10:34–43 (NT, pp. 134–135); Matthew 3:13–17 (NT, p. 3)
You see, we wanted to find out
how Presbyterian churches administer baptism.
How many, for example, practice immersion,
as in Jesus's own baptism by John,
where his whole body was submerged in the Jordan River?
And secondly, how many pour a stream of water onto the head
of the person being baptized,
thereby acting out the symbolism that's found
both in the prophet Joel's vision
of God's pouring out of the spirit upon all peoples (2:28–29),
and in the prophet Amos's vision of our responding to God
by letting justice and righteousness roll forth
from our lives as an everflowing stream (5:24)?
And thirdly, how many Presbyterian churches sprinkle
drops of water on the person,
thereby acting out the symbolism that's found
in the prophet Ezekiel's vision
of God's sprinkling clean water upon us,
removing all our uncleannesses
and filling us with a new spirit (36:25–27)?
Immersion, pouring, sprinkling—
the three traditional methods for administering baptism—
well, our denomination's national Task Force on Baptism,
of which I was a member back in 1982, '83, '84—
we wanted to learn what percentage of our churches
practiced each method of baptizing.
Now, the computer program that our survey was going to use
could accommodate up to five responses, so in addition
to the three traditional methods
and the obvious extra category "Other,"
we decided, playfully, to list as a fourth method "dabbing."
[Now, any of you who are, like me, old timers will remember that there was back then in
the early 80's
a popular men's hair cream commercial that went:
"Brylcream, a little dab'll do ya."
So as a way of testing
how much water Presbyterians were using for baptisms
we decided to see how many congregations thought
that "a little dab'd 'do' us"!]
Well, according to the members and elders surveyed
in our scientific sample,
congregational practices—at least in the 1980's—
were as follows:
[And I list them in order
from the most amount of water used to the least]
1. Immersion. Fewer than 1% of our congregations immersed—
for that method requires a baptismal tank,
and most of us simply aren't equipped for it.
2. Pouring. Only about 1% of our churches poured a stream of water,
even though no special equipment is needed for this
other than something to pour with, like a seashell,
and a good absorbent towel to dry the person's head.
3. Sprinkling. About 42% of our congregations sprinkled
small amounts of water on the person.
4. Dabbing. Well, here was the big surprise!
Fully 56% of our congregations were "dabbing"
just a little smidge of water!
Now let me take a little poll among ourselves
about our own practice here at Rutgers:
How many of you who've witnessed a baptism here recently
think that it's the pastor's intention:
a. to baptize by immersing in water?
b. to baptize by pouring a stream of water?
c. to baptize by sprinkling a few drops of water?
d. to baptize by dabbing a little smidge of water?
Well, praise be! You do accurately perceive the pastor's intention.
For I do intend to be baptizing persons by the pouring of water!
And I use that method for the express purpose of dramatizing
the imagery of Joel about God's pouring out the spirit upon us
and the imagery of Amos about our responding to God
by pouring forth from our lives deeds of love and justice.
And I believe a connection between these two images—
the one in Joel and the one in Amos,
the image of God's pouring out of the spirit upon us,
and the image of our pouring forth of justice from our lives—
I believe a connection between these two images
is provided by a third image: "water power."
We of the 20th century have learned
that falling water can generate electricity
and that electricity can drive machinery + computers + subways.
We have learned that water falling from on high
can empower lives below.
Well here's the analogy I want to make, the simile I want to establish:
God's Spirit coming down from above through the water of baptism
can empower our lives here on earth.
God's Spirit poured into us through the water of baptism
is like electric power coming into our homes.
In our baptisms, God connects us
to the power of love and justice that suffuses the universe.
Make no mistake about it;
that power is real.
Through baptism that power is poured into us,
+ God connects us to the power of love and justice in the universe.
So what we need to do now is to turn on our switches
so that that power of love and justice can flow through us
for the benefit and well-being of others.
God has plugged us in; now we need to turn it on.
Today as we renew our baptismal vows I invite you to think "pouring."
I invite you to think "Joel"; I invite you to think "Amos";
I invite you to think "Niagara Falls," "water power,"
"hydroelectric power."
I invite you to think of the falling of baptismal water upon your head
as the Spirit's gift to you of the power of love and justice,
and I invite you to understand
that by reaffirming your baptismal vows
you are acting to turn on that power of love and justice; I invite you to understand
that you are acting to release that power
from its potentiality to its actuality,
that you are acting to let that power flow thru you
for the benefit and well-being of others.
You have received the gift of God's water power,
the Spirit's gift of the power of love and justice
that suffuses the universe.
You are plugged in.
Now turn it on, and let it loose.
Let us pray:
O Holy Spirit, come to us afresh today.
Renew us through Your power of love and justice,
and enable us to release that power into the world. Amen.
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