The holiday just past, Father’s Day, has always been a cherished time for me — for a lot of reasons.
First of all, I was extremely close to my own father, and that’s reason enough to treasure the day that reveres the exclusive bond between the male parent and a daughter/son.
Secondly, I have great regard for the role my husband has played in raising my three children and now those children’s children.
They’ve never considered him a stepfather, which, by the way, is a word I decided years ago to omit from my personal dictionary.
“Steps” get a bum rap much of the time, though most are unsung heroes. They get there after the fact and often have to deal with disgruntled kids who don’t understand why the first person they knew as dad or mom isn’t around anymore.
In our family, this isn’t the case. Truth be told, if my offspring had to choose between me or my spouse, he’d win out. He’s been there for them through thick and thin, and they love and respect him. (Conversely, they readily acknowledge my feet of clay.)
Last Sunday when most people were celebrating the dad’s day event, Ed received a unique honor and privilege: He baptized the firstborn child of my son, Allen, and his wife, Melissa.
It was an intimate ceremony conducted in their home, but the Lord’s presence couldn’t have been more real if we had been inside the grandest of cathedrals. It’s one of those moments that will be frozen in time to call up and draw comfort from in life’s lowest moments.
Hearing Allen answer “Lucas Scott” when Ed asked what name was to be given the child, I had goose bumps. And just knowing that Allen and Melissa wanted their baby to be baptized by the man who raised Allen most of his life elevated me to a high that couldn’t be measured.
Many denominations baptize babies, while others simply dedicate their babies. Presbyterians and many Reformed Christians see infant baptism as the New Testament form of circumcision in the Jewish covenant (Joshua 24:15). Circumcision did not create faith in the 8-day-old Jewish boy; it merely marked him as a member of God’s covenant people Israel.
Likewise, baptism doesn’t create faith; it’s a sign of membership in the covenant community.
Without a doubt, it’s one of the sweetest rites one could ever witness. And when it’s your grandson who’s being baptized by your husband and his grandfather, it’s special indeed.
As Presbyterians, we embrace this tradition, which is practiced by many Christian denominations. This grouping also include the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Anglican Communion, Lutherans, Methodists, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Church of the Nazarene,the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Canada, the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Continental Reformed.
Groups within the Protestant tradition that reject infant baptism include most Baptists, Apostolic Christians, Missionary Baptists, Disciples of Christ, most Pentecostals, Mennonites, Amish, Community of Christ, Plymouth Brethren, Seventh-day Adventists, most non-denominational churches, and other Arminian denominations. Infant baptism is also excluded by Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christadelphians and Latter-day Saints.
It’s an individual choice as well as a denominational one, but I’m so grateful that my faith allows me and my family to participate in this beautiful experience.
When Ed and I married 34 years ago, he took on the role of family chaplain. He’s performed marriage ceremonies for all of my children and for many other relatives. And he’s also conducted the final services for many of our loved ones who now walk with angels. But having him baptize the next generation is taking me to a new plateau.
It just doesn’t get much better than this.
Lynda Hollenbeck is associate editor of the Courier.
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