September 7, 2007
59 years ago I was baptized by my grandfather, Dr. J. E. Underwood, a Methodist minister. In 1981 my son Joshua was baptized by my father and his grandfather, Dr. Walter L. Underwood, later to be elected a Bishop in the United Methodist Church. This past Sunday afternoon I baptized Josh’s son William “Liam” Alexander Underwood in our sanctuary.
Oddly enough I had not thought about this rather remarkable history until the time of the ceremony, and when I did it made the moment even more special. I’m sure that this is not the first or only instance of three generations of Methodists being baptized by their grandfathers, but I’m also sure that it is a fairly uncommon occurrence. And I can tell you for sure that I was highly honored not only to baptize my grandson, but also to stand in that lineage with my father and paternal grandfather.
In the United Methodist Church baptism is more than “christening” or a naming service. It is the rite in which the community of faith proclaims that a child belongs to God, and also claims that child as a part of the church. This is no small matter, even though an infant might not be able to fully understand what is going on. The representatives of the faith community (many of whom were gathered last Sunday for our special event) and the family members take solemn vows to raise and nurture the child in the life of faith, and to always share with the child the Good News of God’s love.
I must add one other note: even though he theoretically couldn’t understand what was going on, Liam demonstrated on Sunday what I have seen in hundreds of baptized children through the years. Somehow he knew that this was not only a special moment, but that it was HIS moment. More often than not children who are being baptized somehow intuitively recognize what you and I would call the spiritual nature of the moment. I don’t know how to explain that, but I have witnessed it many, many times. It was especially powerful for me to experience this phenomenon with yet another generation of Underwoods.
The next time you are privileged to be in our sanctuary (or any sanctuary) for a baptism, remember that you are more than just a witness or onlooker. You are participating in a very special event. It is through the church that God claims our children, and it is through you that the church lives out its commitment to love them and teach them.
