Archie's Christening

From fbb's bus blog ...

Today at 1400 is the Christening of Archie Robin Fearnley (son of you-know-who) ...

... at St Mary's Church Goldsborough (near Harrogate). fbb and Mrs wish the little lad the very best of futures; and may he come to know his Lord Jesus as a personal Saviour in due course. fbb and Mrs fbb will attend to support the families and to pray for them and Archie. He's grown a bit since this was taken ...

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Sweet. I was christened.

I have no idea what it was all about. What's the point? Somebody once told me it was to stop you going to hell. How could sprinkling a baby with water do that? It doesn't make sense.

Different Churches do baptism in different ways. This one's in the sea and it's for adults.

Sometimes they use a tank, called a bapistry, in the Church.

And they have to wear a nightie?

The people in the sea seem to be having fun!

Probably "joy" would be a better word. They are joyful because their faith in Jesus has changed their lives.

Hang on, I've got an idea.

You are being washed clean by faith in Jesus. Tada!

Yes, but you have to be a bit careful. Being baptised doesn't change anything. You jut get wet! But baptism is a public display that you have been changed. Even Jesus was baptised.

But he didn't need to be washed clean; he wasn't dirty with his sins, surely.

In a way, that's the point. Of course he didn't, but he wanted to show others how important being baptised was. This is what it says in the Bible.

At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to make him change his mind. “I ought to be baptized by you,” John said, “and yet you have come to me!”

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires.” So John agreed.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and lighting on him. Then a voice said from heaven, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased.”

I would have been scared if I had been there and seen something like that. That's if it really happened like that.

I am sure something pretty spectacular really did happen. But we can debate that another day.

One last question. I can understand what baptism is for adults, but your pal little Archie doesn't know what's going on. How can he be baptised?

He can't, not completely. That's why you have Godparents.

They promise, with the baby's parents, to bring the child up to learn about God and Jesus and so prepare him (or her) for the time when he can make his own decisions.

My Uncle Eric was my Godfather; I haven't a clue who my Godmother was. But nobody ever talked to me about God. I though Godparents were to look after you if your real parents died.

That, sadly, is typical but wrong. They are bonus extra parents who help you to understand about God. There's a clue in the name.

O.K. But what about Mrs Cain. I haven't forgotten.

 Next Bible Blog : Tuesday 20th November