More Not Less

Sacraments are an inescapable reality in this world. Every false gospel has its rites, symbols, initiations, and sacred ceremonies. But the sacraments of these false gospels are signs which symbolize vanity, emptiness, outer darkness. The religious traditions of pagans, or Muslims, or even secularists are empty motions. 

The Muslim’s sacrament of daily prayer is a bare exercise of muttering empty words to a deaf god. The sign is more than what is symbolized. The ritual gives a calloused forehead, but nothing more. Embracing one’s membership in an oppressed class is the sacrament of Modern Progressivism. But again––regardless of how many social media likes it gets––it’s a vain sign which symbolizes a speck of hollow covetousness.  All the signs of false gospels are powerless and ineffectual, because their gods are impotent.

Christian Baptism is the inverse of this. What’s symbolized is more––not lesser––than the sign itself. What is here is that this little child, though not deserving the least of God’s favor, will be united with Christ. And in being united with Him in baptism is assured that by evangelical faith, what is true of Christ is true of her. His death is hers. His life is hers. His righteousness is hers. He takes her sin, and gives the riches of His grace. For the believer, the sign of baptism points to something infinitely larger than itself. Indeed, we say with the Apostle John: “Of Christ’s fullness we receive, and grace upon grace.”

So welcome covenant child to Christ.