Centuries before Christianity appeared as a religious movement with a practice of baptism, Jewish people would ritually purify themselves with water. The Gospels record the work of John the Baptist, who baptized Christ Jesus at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
Several of my family members have been baptized, as adults, in Christian churches. Baptism has its rightful place and purpose as a Christian sacrament. Yet, instead of thinking of it as a one-time event, I’ve found it helpful to understand baptism as a daily, moment-by-moment awakening to the spiritual nature of identity – of our own and everyone’s. This awakening is initiated and impelled by God, divine Spirit.
King David wrote: “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. … Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. … Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Psalms 51:2, 10, 12). These verses affirm the cleansing and invigorating ways in which divine Spirit acts in and through our own lives.
In her major work, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of The Christian Science Monitor, defines “baptism” partly in this way: “Purification by Spirit; submergence in Spirit” (p. 581). As we gracefully submit to the process of spiritual baptism, we are being submerged, as it were, in the discovery of spiritual reality.
Not far from my home is a marine conservation area that is popular with scuba divers. Here, divers discover soft corals, sea anemones, and sponges; they encounter sea mammals such as dolphins and gray seals. A scuba diver discovers the richness and beauty of the aquatic world.
Likewise, our “submergence in Spirit” reveals qualities of Spirit – such as wholeness, spiritual strength, and soundness. To be submerged in Spirit is to discover our true identity – spiritual and complete, and governed by Spirit, God. This transforms and enriches our lives.
As an undergraduate at university, I was an active student of Christian Science and participated in a Christian Science organization – a church activity for members of the campus community. My study and practice of Christian Science enabled me to feel the cleansing, redemptive activity of Spirit. I felt connected to God, and I could feel the tangible effect of this in my life. This spiritual renewal provided focus and direction in my academic studies; it gave me confidence in contributing to classroom discussions and in embracing opportunities for public speaking; it provided wisdom and guidance in my relationships and non-academic activities.
Science and Health states, “Through repentance, spiritual baptism, and regeneration, mortals put off their material beliefs and false individuality” (p. 242). Practicing Christian Science enables us to honestly address – and overcome – character traits such as envy, pride, and selfishness. The contest with material beliefs may require patience and resilience, but evidence of moral and spiritual progress provides encouragement as we work from the standpoint of our completeness and wholeness as God’s offspring.
In the Bible, the book of Acts provides an account of an encounter between Philip the evangelist and an Ethiopian man who was returning home after a visit to Jerusalem (see 8:26-39). Philip expounds on the spiritual meaning of a passage from the Hebrew Scriptures and tells him about Jesus. Seeing water, the Ethiopian requests to be baptized. Philip agrees, and then, according to the Bible account, the Ethiopian “went on his way rejoicing.”
Spiritual baptism gives us joy and confidence in our journey forward. As we discover the reality of the universe created and sustained by God, this, in turn, opens the door to new opportunities to serve and glorify God, and to engage in activities that benefit our fellow man.
Spirit is actively liberating and purifying our lives, bringing joy and contentment. Spiritual baptism allows us to discover our boundless identity as sons and daughters of God. We can embrace this practice each day and allow it to transform us, moment by moment.
