A Word from Pastor Lisa: Cultivating our Beloved Identity
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” – Luke 4:21-22 (NRSV)
Identity. It’s always God’s first move. Before we do anything wrong and before we do anything right, God has named and claimed us as God’s own. But almost immediately, other things try to tell us who we are and to whom we belong: capitalism, the weight-loss industrial complex, our parents, kids at school—they all have a go at telling us who we are. But only God can do that. Everything else is temptation. Maybe demons are defined as anything other than God that tries to tell us who we are.
—Nadia Bolz-Weber, Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint
In seminary we sprinkled water on baby dolls as we read the baptismal liturgy, as if that pretend set-up could prepare us for real life children who grab at your microphone and pull at your earrings. Before I baptized by immersion for the first time, I had a former Baptist clergy colleague coach me on the technique, even practicing the logistics of my dunk on his middle school son. Even the best rehearsal can’t prevent someone who’s being tipped backwards in the water from flailing and whacking you with their arms.
No matter how much we try to practice and prepare, real life is always messier. I can stand in the shower every day and reclaim my baptism as the water rushes over me: You are my child, my Beloved, with you I am well-pleased. While I’m still dripping wet, my child is asking 100 questions, the dogs are barking, and my phone is lighting up with messages and requests. Real life doesn’t stop telling us who we are and to whom we belong.
Lent is a season to be reminded that only God can do that. We are tempted, as Jesus was by the devil in the wilderness, to define who we are based on power, manipulation, and control. We have a tendency to let everyone and everything tell us who we are. May we have the grace to tune out all of those other voices so that we may amplify the voice of God, calling each one of us Beloved.
Baptism remains for me one of the most powerful parts of being a pastor. I have the sacred privilege of proclaiming to people, in the face of chaos, pain, sin, and suffering, that they are beloved children of God.
Beloved, the baby who died from cancer four years later.
Beloved, the young man who grew up in a communist country where Christianity was outlawed, but knew the Spirit was calling him to the waters.
Beloved, the college student who got to claim a new name and identity, despite his parent’s disapproval.
Beloved, the confirmand facing so much peer pressure, anxiety, and depression, but reminded of her value before God.
Beloved, the person with a felony conviction and substance abuse, trying to turn in a new direction.
Beloved, the truth of who you are with God.
If you want to talk about baptism or remembering yours, please reach out to one of the pastors. If you need a reminder on your journey, check out this beautiful song by Jason Gray – “Remind Me Who I Am.”