Christian Traditions Notes
Thursday, March 3, 2016
· The guest speaker Tuesday will focus on Christian
themed parks and pilgrimage sites in the United States
· Video on baptism in the Greek Orthodox Church
o
The priest asks the sponsor/godfather if he
repudiates the devil
o
Godfather recites the Nicene Creed to assert
belief in baptism and Christ
§
done on behalf of the child
§
occurs in a narthex (entrance to the church; not
in the sanctuary)
§
Enters the sanctuary after: going from one place
to another signifies the end of her old life and then entrance into a new life…entering
a new community
o
The child is disrobed
§
Nothing in between the baby and water
§
Ready to be born again: back to this state
§
Child is vulnerable and ready to accept Christ
§
Symbolic of shedding sin
o
The baptismal font and water are blessed
o
Blessing of the oil: chrismation (separate
sacrament in Greek Orthodox Church that is always done with baptism but has own
special significance)
§
Oiling of the body connects to the athlete: the
opponent cannot hold onto the athlete, just like the devil and sin cannot hold
onto the child…the oil is a protective force
o
Baptism occurs
o
Throughout the ceremony, there is crossing of
the child…sign of the cross is marked on her body and also on the water;
everything is being blessed and protected
o
Incense used constantly
§
Purifies the space
§
Evokes and preserves ancient Christian tradition
§
Makes the space ritually pure to create sense of
sacredness and specialness
§
Connects to the Book of Revelation
§
Bells are important to emphasize that it is a
different and sacred place (sounds different, smells different, etc.)
o
The sponsors take on the responsibility for the
child and play a more important role in the service than the actual parents
§
The parents still have the obligation to care
for the child, but the godparent has a larger role
§
Child born into spiritual family and not just
biological family, so sponsor represents this
o
Family present at the service
§
All witnesses to the sacrament
§
Ribbons express that they were present at the
baptism
§
Not paying attention: side conservation, taking
pictures, distracted, bored…rude and disrespectful during sacrament…not
directly involved in the sacrament; have a role to play but not about them
specifically
o
Importance: cleanses from sin, makes her member
of the church, vital for salvation, enables her to participate in other
sacraments also necessary for salvation
· Sacraments: sacred or holy acts
o
Catholic Church has 7 sacraments: Baptism,
Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation (receive Holy Spirit, learn about
traditions, seen as adult in the Church), Ordination (when someone becomes a
priest), Matrimony, and Extreme Unction (Anointing of the Sick)
o
Orthodox Church also recognizes these 7
sacraments but chrismation instead of confirmation
o
Lutheran Church: sacraments not necessarily
needed for salvation and also must be outward signs
o
United Methodist Church and Southern Baptists:
sacraments are symbols…two sacraments – Baptism and Lord’s Supper (more of a
personal decision; pledge to the community)
§
Southern Baptist: act of obedience; memorialize
life and death of Christ; signaling to self a change in time; can be baptized
more than once; baptism is symbolic of conversion or internal decision
(accepting Christ into life)
o
Important to be baptized as a child to be raised
in the Church, be members for entire life, eliminate Original Sin as soon as
possible (social and sacramental reasons)
· How these different baptisms align with ancient
traditions
o
Catholic: very similar with cleansing and
representing death and resurrection
o
Southern Baptist: only a symbol
· Becoming part of a tradition based on community
in many traditions; more of a social movement that shapes the decision
o
Decision made through confirmation but in a way
made for the individual
· Similarities in baptism in different religions
o
Renouncing sin
o
Rebirth and rejection of old and sinful life
o
Being brought into the church as a new member
o
All use water as sign of purification or a
purifying agent
o
Include biblical evidence to justify claims
o
Connection to Easter
o
Symbol of what is to come (looks forward to new
birth and back to Christ as a model)
o
Presence of the Holy Spirit
o
For the most part, anyone can be baptized
· Differences
o
Whether it is necessary for salvation or not
o
Presence of sponsor (not needed in Baptist
Church)
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