Initiation into what?

After some great biblical creation epiphanies, we explored baptism and initiation in the bible, the early church and today. The rites associated with baptism changed over time as did the meaning attached to baptism. Before the church was accepted and endorsed by the Roman Empire with Constantine, baptisms often involved natural bodies of water and generally involved some sort of immersion (either going totally into the water or having water poured over your entire body) and a blessing/invocation of the trinity.

Following the baptism, the newly baptized would join the community for his/her first experience of the Eucharist. In this first experience of Eucharist, in some places, there was an extra chalice with milk and honey to symbolize the initiates entrance into the promised land (here and now, not just after death). Meanings attached to baptism included rebirth into a new way of living, adoption into God’s family, and entrance into holy service.

But after the church was accepted by the state, the church and the baptismal rite became more institutionalized. There were baptismal fonts in each city in or near Christian meeting-houses and cathedrals. Since the community was no longer living in opposition to the empire, new meanings were attached to baptism, and there was a renewed focus on baptism as cleansing from Satan, evil, and immorality. However, because the church was endorsed by the state, droves of people wanted to be baptized to gain royal favor, social standing or eternal life. Notice the change in emphasis from entrance into a community, into the promised land, to some sort of individual gain. The rite itself changed with a focus on exorcism prior to the immersion. Individuals would renounce Satan in all his forms 3 times and at least in some places, the bishop or presbyter would actually blow in the initiates mouth to cleanse him/her of Satan’s presence and evil ways.

What is the emphasis on baptism now? Seeing the destruction of our planet and the injustice perpetuated by church institutions and individuals who are focused on life after death rather than God’s call to community and service now, maybe we are in need of a drastic refocus of what we are initiating people into with baptism.

For my breasfeeding/birth peeps, you will love this maternal imagery of the provision of God that also may have reflected baptism.

“Sprinkle on us your droplets,
And open your abundant springs
which let flow milk and honey for us.”

And

“A cup of milk was offered to me
And I drank it in the sweetness of the Lord’s kindness.
The son is the cup,
And he who milked was the Father,
And the one who milked him the Spirit of Holiness…
[who] opened [the Father’s] bosom
and mixed the milk of the two breasts of the Father.”