Feast of St. Clare, Abbess at Assisi
Chapter 58 pt. 1
The Rule of St. Benedict August 11
As foreign as this passage sounds to modern ears, I find great comfort in its description of the long, slow, deliberate process by which one comes into the community. It's the polar opposite of a tent meeting revival in which life-changing decisions are supposed to be made once and for all in an instant of skillfully generated religious sentiment. Such revival-inspired spirituality is psychologically naïve and creates problems of identity and belonging such as those I experienced during my childhood alongside my earnest evangelical peers. "Did I really mean it when I went forward to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior?" "I don't feel saved, maybe I didn't mean it." "If I were really saved, I wouldn't be struggling with these sinful thoughts; I better go forward and pray 'the prayer' again." These quotes are not exaggerated or a caricature of a stereotype. They are a window into the mind of a boy who is told to expect a wholesale change of life in an instant, but finds the same kid in the mirror the next morning.
Our Father Benedict holds no such illusions about the psychological realities we face as human beings. Real transformation occurs over the course of a lifetime, and even the decision to be formed cannot be entered into on impulse. We must know exactly what we are getting ourselves into before we are allowed to promise our always and forever.
Br. Chad 2012
ReplyDeleteChad Sundin
Cheryl Fox
Rawleigh
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Tuesday, August 14, 2012 1:27 PM
Brothers and Sisters:
Waiting until one fully understands the ramifications of one's actions is exactly why The Jehovah's Witnesses and The Foursquare Gospel Church think that Infant Baptism is not valid. The child has no Idea what is happening and so cannot understand why it is being baptized.
There is a mysterious term used called "Age of Accountability."
This comes sometime when after being brought up in the way they should go according to Scripture,
the child becomes aware that they are ready to take the next personal step of dedication to God by being completely immersed into the water of baptism as a symbol of dying to the old self. When one arises from the water they are arisen as Jesus was into the next step of their spiritual growth.
Journey or Path are not used in the conversation; but continued learning of the things of God and a deeper dedication to study the Bible are strongly emphasized as well as Prayer and to witnessing to the world around them.
These seem like similar ideas to me... Perhaps waiting for Baptism isn't such a bad thing.
Bro. Rawleigh
The similar idea is taking the time to know what one is really called by
DeleteGod to do in life. Even when Baptized as an infant, the person must choose to follow God or to reject the things of God. Similar discernment process are required for both.
Br. Rawleigh