BASIC CHRISTIAN PRACTICES – BAPTISM

Baptism

Baptism is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely, traditionally three times, once for each person of the Trinity.

Baptism is a Christian initiation rite /ritual as Muslims has circumcision.

Baptism is one of the major sacraments in Christianity and it’s considered to be the first practice in the life of a normal Christian.

Characteristics/ features of Christian baptism

It is an outward physical and visible sign of one’s spirituality that confirms one’s belief in Christ.

In most churches, it is conducted when a person is still young. I.e. young babies are baptized especially among catholic and protestant churches.

The young baptized babies are represented by mature Christians commonly known as Godparents.

The young ones are mainly baptized in the churches of their biological parents and therefore they become members of such churches.

The Pentecostal and Adventist churches, baptism is done on old Christians after they have accepted to get baptized.

In the Anglican and catholic churches, baptism involves sprinkling of water on one’s fore head to show his or her acceptance to follow Christ

In the revival churches, baptism is done by physically dipping/ immersing the person in the stream of water to show his acceptance to die and resurrect with Christ. Roman 6

Instructions are given verbally to the one being baptized to accept God and believe in Jesus asa Messiah. The young ones are represented by their Godparents.

Christian baptism is presided over by religious leaders such as priests, Reverends, Bishops etc.

Baptism is a public ritual/ practice which is done in the presence of other Christians who act as witnesses.

During baptism, the baptized person acquires a Christian name identifying him/her with Christ and there fore, celebrations follow welcoming that person into the church.

It is practiced on both boys and girls using the same practice not like in Islam where boys are the only ones circumcised.

Baptism is not compulsory to everyone but anyone who wants to show his commitment to Christ is called upon to be baptized.

It is believed that those who get baptized would receive the Holy Spirit therefore they stand high chances of receiving spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues and performing miracles.

In traditional churches, the baptized Christians usually put on white clothes to symbolize their commitment to live holy lives.

In many churches today, baptism involves giving of baptism cards to those who have been baptized.

In the Catholic churches, there is burning of candles during baptism to symbolize receiving of spiritual light for those being baptized.

Relevance/ importance of baptism to Christians today

It gives an individual a sense of belongingness to the kingdom of God because a person accepts Jesus as the lord and messiah.

It also gives an individual a sense of belongingness to a given church where he is baptized from and he/she becomes a member of that church.

It identifies a person as a believer and follower of Christ thereby breaking one’s old life of paganism.

It helps a person to fulfill God’s command which Jesus gave to the disciples i.e. “go in the world and baptize people in the name of the father.”

It is a proof that a person believes and has faith in Christ and therefore or she has accepted to die and resurrect with Christ.

Baptism gives guidance and protection to the baptized Christians against all evils and satanic forces.

It makes a person to live an exemplary life i.e. a person lives like a Christ through being morally upright, obedient, humble, caring etc

It provides a chance to the baptized Christians to receive other sacraments the church such as Holy Communion and holy matrimony.

It provides a chance to the baptized Christians to receive the gift sprit and serve God better. I.e. the baptized Christian can speak in to perform miracles.

Baptism unites a person with Christ and fellow Christians hence unity within the church.

Christian baptism also strengthens one’s faith in Christ hence him/her to start serving God through preaching the gospel.

It enables a person to acquire a Christian name like saint Elizabeth etc hence becoming identified as Christians.

It helps the baptized person to be washed or cleansed of sin of Adam and Eva hence purifying his/her life.

It gives hope of resurrecting/ life after death to the baptized of being dipped and removes from the water.

It enables the baptized person to receive a decent burial prayed for by religious leaders and members of the church.

Christian marriage

It is also known as church marriage or ecclesial marriage or wedding.

It is a form of marriage where an adult male and female make vows declaring themselves as husbands and wife.

Characteristics of Christian marriage

It is done in the presence of the church minister who may be a priest, Bishop, Reverend etc who officiates the occasion

At least two witnesses must attend the function of the marriage. This can be the best man and matron.

It is a legally accepted form of marriage in courts of law that recognizes the couple as husband and wife who are free to enjoy all state privileges.

It is a social function that is generally saluted or recognized by the general public and those who are married are given a lot of respect.

It has a lot of publicity and it’s usually witnessed by many people.

It emphasizes monogamy so as to show true love companionship and mutual respect for one another.

It usually comes after customary marriage after the parents of the bride have agreed.

This marriage can continue with or without children. This is because Christians take children as a mere blessing from God.

It calls for equality between the husband and wife who undergo counseling in order to treat each other with love and respect.

This marriage is supposed to be permanent and the couple swears to stay together until death.

It can take place with or without paying bride price to the girl’s parents.

It is paid for in the church if it’s to be conducted by the church leader and the amount paid varies from church to church.

Christian marriage does not allow the divorced man and woman to remarry. This is adultery and Christians are called upon to reconcile with their partners.

This marriage also allows producing of children if God allows in order to subdual and fill the earth.

It is guided by mutual love and respect for one another i.e. husbands must love their wives and wives must respect their husbands

Christian marriage emphasizes forgiveness and reconciliation in case of misunderstanding.

It emphasizes companionship between the man and the woman and it’s seen as a gift from God i.e. man and woman are free to enjoy sex in marriage.

It involves celebrations that congratulate the newly married couple for achievement.

It calls for the proper upbringing of children by both parents i.e. children must be brought up in the Christian life.

It involves exchange of marriage rings which signify endless love for one another.

It also involves of making marriage vows to each other where the two promise to stay together forever.

Importance of Christian marriage/ wedding

It helps the man to express his inner passion for the woman i.e. it shows his love for the wife through wedding her.

Church marriage is also a fulfillment of the seven sacraments in Christianity

It shows respect of God and allows the couple to enjoy sex and produce children.

The couple is recognized as married since it’s accepted in the courts of law as the legal form of marriage.

It protects the couple against pagan cultural practices which are common in customary marriage e.g. having sex with the father in law as it used to be among the Bahima.

Once entered into, it ensures the couple of permanent marriage which is big security, especially to the woman.

It brings about public respect and recognition to the married family since marriage is a public affair.

It reduces inheritance conflicts in case the husband dies i.e. the wife authority takes over ownership of property of the dead husband.

It warns the general public not to interfere in the married life of the couple since they are husband and wife.

It brings the psychological and emotional satisfaction of the woman since she is not assured of any other woman by the man.

It builds up a family on principles of the equality between the man and the woman hence bringing mutual consideration and respect.

This marriage can exist with or without children because children are seen as a blessing from God.

It’s sometimes cheaper because bride price does not necessarily condition for the wedding.

Limitation of church marriage

It is generally expensive since it involves buying very many costly items like food staffs, Paying church fee, cars, gowns etc.

It insists on the permanence of the marriage relationship amidst very hard problems like barrenness and impotence in one of the members.

Many men don’t want it because it calls for equality between man and woman and yet them they feel that they are above the women.

Church weddings have turned out to be occasions of showing off one’s economic abilities which even scares off some people who want to wed.

Some people don’t want church marriage because it involves a lot of publicity yet for them they want privacy in their marriage.

This marriage is looked at as useless because it doesn’t consider the importance of children yet in Africa, children are very important.

Most men disperse church marriage because it calls for monogamy yet for them, they have extra desires for sex which can not be satisfied by only one woman.

Some people consider church marriage as a foreign form of marriage which should not be brought in Africa.

Some women after being wedded tend to be stubborn and disloyal to their husbands because they know that the husband can not get another woman.

Church marriage under minds African traditional cultural beliefs and practices especially those concerning marriage e.g. it doesn’t consider initiation rituals.

Why modern marriages are breaking (causes of divorce)

Limited sex education provided by church leaders, uncles and aunts to the married couples has made couples to misbehave while in marriage hence divorce.

The small period of courtship where people date for like one month and then get married has also led to divorce because the couples cannot know themselves in a short period of time.

Bad peer groups influence in marriage affairs has also brought about divorce i.e. some divorced women tend to misadvise their friends in marriage to also divorce.

Increasing drug abuse and alcoholism especially among men make them beat their wives hence divorce.

The high cost of living today combined with high levels of poverty has also led to divorce because men cannot meet their responsibilities.

Collapsing African cultures today have made people not to value marriage hence breaking up very fast.

The women liberation movement has also made women to demand for their right and try to be equal to men which has made men tired of their wives hence divorce them.

Political instability/insecurity today has also separated married people leading to the final end of their marriage.

Permissiveness, where people today are free to do whatever they want, has made married partners to do things that annoy their partners hence the divorce.

Growing unfaithfulness/ adultery in marriage where women move out side marriage and have sex with other men has made their husbands annoyed hence divorce.

Lack of sex satisfaction on both sides makes marriage meaningless and useless hence the divorce.

Decline in moral values in society to day has led to marriage breakages i.e. most woman lack discipline to the extent they cannot kneel for their husbands making marriage breaking up.

Unemployment which is so common to day has made wives tired of their husbands hence looking for other men who are loaded.

Too much individualism caused by too much work on both sides as many married people are tired of one another due to the limited time they give themselves hence divorce.

Barrenness and impotence on the side of men and other abnormalities have made married people divorce because of lack of children.

Diseases such as AIDS, cancer, Epilepsy have also made many married people to divorce fearing to be infected.

Christian worship

In Christian terms, worship is understood as attending church service. It also refers to giving reverence, respect and love to God.

 Characteristics of Christian worship

In most churches worship is made on Sunday (Sabbath) though a few church worship on Saturday.

Sabbath is considered a holy day and during worship, Christians are expected to repent their sins.

Christian worship also involves the celebration of sacraments especially baptism and Holy communion

Christian worship is led by special ordained religious leaders who may be a Priest, Reverend, and Bishop etc who directs the congregation.

It is taken as a social occasion where very many believers gather in worship centers to honor God.

It usually takes place in worship building called a church with a cross on top as a symbol of Christ’s death for our sins.

There is free mixing of men and women during worship which symbolize the equality of all in Christ Jesus.

It involves prayer to God which prayers involves issues like thanksgiving, asking for wisdom, protection etc.

During worship, there is giving of offertory in form of money to help in facilitating God’s work of spreading the gospel.

Worship involves serious music dance and drama as away of giving praise to God. This is done in different languages.

In some churches especially Pentecostal churches, worship involves performance of miracles like healing of the sick.

During worship, scriptures are read from both the old and New Testament and there is preaching or giving of sermonizes.

Worship today follows a uniform order like reading of scriptures, giving of sermonizes, giving of offertory etc.

Today’s worship is formal i.e. specific prayers and songs are written down and are read and sang during worship.

Importance of worship to Christians

It brings the worshipers close to their God.

It brings blessings to the worshipers from their God.

Christians are able to take part in sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion.

It strengthens the faith of worshiping Christians in Jesus Christ

Worship promotes moral uprightness among Christians who live as role models.

It promotes social interaction among Christians who go for worship hence bringing unity and love among themselves

Worship inspires the worshipers to repent, renew their lives and live holy lives.

Through worship, Christians express their gratitude to God in form of thanksgiving, in form of tithe and offertory.

Worship nurtures children in the Christian way making them God-fearing people.

It provides Christians with an opportunity to seek God’s mercy, providence, guidance and protection.

It creates equality of all worshipers in the image of God thus helping women to utilize their potential.

It provides for Christian marriage inform of weddings some things that brings happiness among Christians because of sex and childbearing involved.

Christians have received miracles e.g. some have been healed of the sicknesses by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Through worship, Christians have been entertained and their minds have been relaxed.

Revolutions/ changes in Christian worship today

Christian worship has experienced a number of changes and development as explained below.

There is now a shouting form of worship and people praise God loudly especially the Pentecostals.

There is strong emphasis on God during worship today than in the past

Worship today has got preachers who preach alongside an interpreter /translator for an easy understanding of the gospel.

These days, worship is conducted through the media like over the radio and television.

During worship today, women get actively involved in worship activities than ever before e.g. they preach, lead church choir etc.

The performance of miracles is also very common during worship, especially in Pentecostal churches.

Worship today involves very expensive and show off wedding functions.

There is a lot of baptism during worship today done by both immersions, sprinkling of water in all churches.

Worshiping takes place any day and any time like in the morning, lunch hour, night fellowships etc.

There is also public confession/ repenting of sin by worshipers during worship today than in the past.

Most people today go for worship smartly dressed and some especially women do it for showing off.

These days worship is emotional in that some worships even cry during worship.

Today’s worship involves giving big sums of money as offertory and tithe by the Christian than before.

Church leaders these days dress in the unique way during worship e.g. some pastors put on long coasts.

During worship today, there is use of loudspeakers and modern music instruments for entertainment e.g. keyboards, guitars etc.

Causes of the changes of worship today

Increased desire and search for God among Christians has made them worship God all the time.

The need to be forgiven their sins has also made Christians to cry during worship

The search for healing and cure of diseases has made Christians to emotional worship in order to attract the Holy Spirit.

Competition for converts among churches has made most churches have loudspeakers and modern music instruments to attract converts.

The search for wealth by Christians has made most church leaders to donate a lot of offertory from Christians in order to prosper.

The search for cheap popularity, respect and recognition by church leaders has also contributed to such changes in worship.

Too much hypocrisy in the church has increased false testimonies and prophecies during worship.

Permissiveness in the church where the church today doesn’t have control from the government has also led to such changes.

The need to appreciate and praise God for the good things he has done for the people also explains too much offertory given during worship today.

The need to spread the gospel to many people at age has made worship to be done over the radios and TVs.

The desire to entertain the worshippers and excite them partly explains the good music dance and drama in the church today.

Coming of literacy where there are many educated people in the church explains the formal kind of worship we have in the church today.