Words
Words matter. And like most things, that can be taken to an extreme to the point that words can cause more harm than help.
The example I’m thinking of is the priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese who said “we” instead of “I” in the rite of baptism. The Diocese has decided that all the baptisms he performed are invalid.
I read the reasoning for this and I can grasp it. And I would say that the decision is wrong. While it might “technically” be correct based on the arguments presented, is it the right decision? I have yet to find an example where “technically” right is the right answer. If you have to qualify being right on a technicality, then are you really right?
Baptism offers grace, yet this decision offers no grace.
The decision creates numerous problems with huge ripple effects for many people’s lives. All unnecessary over a technicality.
See, the church is really good at shooting itself in the foot over things that it doesn’t have to shoot itself over. It’s really good at pushing people away when they should be receiving grace. It’s really good at silencing actual problems like abuse in its many forms, but digging up things that cause problems for others.
The church is supposed to be the messenger of Jesus’ message. Yet I’m failing to see who how invalidating baptisms for multitudes aligns with Jesus’ message.
It sounds more like the institution being more concerned with the technicalities of membership rather than what is more important – discipleship. This isn’t to diminish the importance of baptism. After all, baptism isn’t about who is performing the baptism so much as it is about whose name someone is being baptized in. It’s not the person doing the baptism that is making the promises. It is God who is making promises to the person being baptized. This is why in an emergency, anyone, even someone who is not a Christian, can perform a baptism. Even in the Catechism it offers certain words for the Latin rite that are different from the Orthodox rite. If the technicality is so right, then one of those rites is wrong.
Words matter. And the most important words in the baptism are the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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Well of course I LIKE your thoughts on this better than on those that would invalidate a baptism over an innocent mistake – especially one so small it could go unnoticed for years on end.
The heart of the Jesus who is our Lord and Savior did not leave us hinging on such technicalities. He didn’t come, humble himself to the point of death on a Roman cross, forgive those who insulted and drove nails, pour out his life in love for his flock and then say OOPS!
You and me might make an OOPS, but he won’t leave you out to dry over that.
No.
If you really turned your heart to him, he was already chasing and catching you when you did it. You can’t invalidate THAT.
At least, that makes sense to little old me.
But when it comes to my inner Catholic, there is far more there I don’t know than what I do. I can imagine logical scenarios where the church can call that invalid. I am still suspicious of it, and perhaps completely wrong in that understanding.
Thanx for the encouraging word.
Hey, speaking about words that matter. Go look at a little show on Netflix called Magic for Humans. It’s rather comical, actually, with short episodes. But there is a magic trick done with a cup of water turned upside down, but the water doesn’t spill out.
Why?
Because of the positive, affirming words spoken to it (supposedly). And so when a volunteer is asked to insult it, the water splashes out!
Thanks for the comments X. Stories like this remind me that we don’t get to determine where God’s grace will flow. We can only stand in the way. I’ll have to check out the show. Thanks.