Sometimes we talk about how we’d like to “be a fly on the wall” during a particular event or conversation. The circumstances surrounding the situation are so fascinating, we don’t even have to be seen, we just want to be there and see.
I felt a little of this last night as we celebrated baptisms at Emmaus Bible Church. It was the first baptism service in our new building and it provided a great occasion to rejoice together in God’s powerful grace in the lives of four people.
From my vantage point I was able to watch the congregation and the folks who were giving testimony of how God brought them the gospel. A common thread that I observed was uniformity through variety. In other words, we had people from different backgrounds and ages testifying to the goodness of God in saving them and the worthiness of Christ to follow. We heard of how God had met their greatest needs and longings with the sufficiency of Jesus. Then you add in a multiplier for the congregation and you have an even greater uniformity through variety. More people with different stories and the same experience: they find their greatest longings and burdens met in the all sufficient person and work of Christ.
There is something incredibly transcendent about a room full of people being hushed to hear a confession of faith. You see strong burley men weeping, children leaning forward to hear, and guests listening intently to the stories of wet gospel paint. It is emotionally and spiritually rivetting to reset the drama of redemption and show how it intersects with individuals today.
There is also something hard-wired into baptism that fuels more mission. It reminds us that God is truly alive, is active in the world, endeavoring to make a great name for himself, and using the gospel to do it. He reminds us through baptism of the need for all of us as Christians to be on mission with him in this priority to see nations and neighbors won to King Jesus.
As a fly on the wall I felt great joy as a member of this church. It was good for us. At the same time, I was also left wanting more. I want to see more baptisms springing from more conversions springing from more saturation of our city with the gospel.
It is good of God to stir our hearts for missions by showing himself to be the missionary God.