tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post1703996322809057471..comments2023-05-25T07:17:05.918-04:00Comments on Abide in My Word: October Newsletter ArticleRev. Thomas C. Messer, SSPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13740553600700598394noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-56128520636142435372011-10-19T15:58:40.083-04:002011-10-19T15:58:40.083-04:00Should we not be straining at the bit to bring to ...Should we not be straining at the bit to bring to this little one the greatest blessing of all ... the blessing of faith in Christ … saving faith that receives all other blessings that flow from the Father's hand ... the blessing of faith that God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit give through Holy Baptism?<br />I seek peace. I seek to be corrected and enlightened from God's Holy Word regarding stewardship of Holy Baptism in the Christian Church, regarding our practice and administration of Holy Baptism in our own LCMS and our congregations. <br /><br />I am torn <br />... on the one hand <br />... it seems so very simple and clear as to the joy and excitement, the awe and humility, the worship and praise that springs from within our hearts as Christian parents who are able to bring salvation to our newborns within moments of their birth ... they need not remain in darkness and death, unbelief and the dominion of Satan for another moment as with anxious and joyful anticipation of their birth, with water and His Word in hand, we stand ready as Christ's servants to do His bidding in relation to this child for whom He died and rose again ...<br /><br />but on the other hand <br />... I hear little of this matter and concern anywhere in the Church. Rather, it seems to be good and proper to wait a few days or weeks to baptize our newborn children. <br />Our preaching and practice seems to proclaim that it is God pleasing to baptize within a reasonable amount of time following the child's birth. I wonder who decided that ... and who decides what is reasonable ... and does God agree with our position and practice? Is His command not clear regarding His will in the matter of baptizing ... and does not He also make it very clear that “Now is the acceptable time” and “Today is the day of salvation.”<br />I fear that we do not stand in awe of God's presence and actions in Holy Baptism. <br />As you can see, I am a bit of a mess. I seek the counsel and wisdom from those so much more learned and wise in the matters of faith and God's Holy Word. Thus I turn to you.<br />Roger RekstadRARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15919850757500453586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-38272942825883871682011-10-19T15:57:33.934-04:002011-10-19T15:57:33.934-04:00"Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word." ..."Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word." <br />October 19, 2011 <br />This is my prayer ... for He alone is able to keep me in His Word and faith unto the end.<br />I am looking for help and assistance with something with which I have wrestled most of my adult life.<br />I have discussed this with fellow pastors throughout the years and thus far have not been able to come to any peace regarding our stewardship of the Sacrament of Baptism, ... the Sacrament entrusted to us by Christ Jesus Himself ... for us to administer in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit <br />My struggle is not with what we believe, teach and confess ... or, perhaps it is ...<br />if one includes practice and tradition as a public expression of what one believes, teaches and confesses.<br />I am not at peace because I am unable to understand why we "tarry" (my viewpoint) in the baptizing of newborn children of Christian parents. <br />In light of Jesus' command and promise it seems to me that it is crystal clear as to when Jesus would want to take these little ones into His arms and bless them through the water and His Word. <br />In addition, knowing from Holy Scripture the state of all humans at birth, including, therefore, the state of my child; I know of no greater need that my child has from the moment of birth than the life and salvation which only Jesus can give ... Life and salvation which Jesus promises to give in Holy Baptism. <br />Here in Baptism is the Real Presence of Jesus working though the Holy Spirit to do that which no human can do either for himself or for another ... <br />"I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, and sanctified and kept me in the true faith ... even as He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it united with Christ Jesus in the one true faith ..."<br />Almost always among parents and grandparents, family and friends there is great and eager anticipation of the sight and sounds of the newborn child. There is the anticipated thrill of holding the child in one's arms, of kissing the wondrous face of this amazing creation, of speaking to the child tender and gentle words of love. <br />If this is how sinful and weak Christian parents and family anticipate and then relate to the newborn ... how much more the heart of the One who died and rose for this little one whom He created and whom He now seeks to recreate in His image through Baptism. How much more do the arms of Christ yearn to hold this little one and the lips of Christ seek to speak Words that are Spirit and Life into the ears and heart of this little one.RARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15919850757500453586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-86641574450432463362011-10-07T09:49:27.456-04:002011-10-07T09:49:27.456-04:00I recall a prayer which said, "Lord, to whom ...I recall a prayer which said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." When we've found the pearl of great price, we can truly sell all that we have to retain this treasure which will not rust nor be consumed.<br />PS. Amen to this worthy sermon.<br />Pax,<br />DennisDennis Peskeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10453626099945639267noreply@blogger.com