conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

It was great to get to hear the whole thing, and to pick up the overtones of the memory of baptism (for those of y'all who remember such a thing) as a touchstone for strengthening faith and pulling oneself into line when one needs it.

I would challenge you, though, about baptism as "the way to join the body of Christ." The way to join a *congregation,* sure, as you say next. But getting dunked or sprinkled doesn't mean diddly in terms of the body of Christ. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc. -- these acts make one part of the body of Christ.

In terms of imitation of Christ -- so is eating, drinking, and various other functions best not mentioned in polite company. Again, imitating Christ's *meaningful* acts -- tossing the moneylenders out of the Temple, being kind to his society's downtrodden, showing mercy, etc. -- seems much more valuable than imitating the occasional random bath.

A last note of wondering -- how was John's practice of baptism related to the Jewish ritual bath (mikvah)?

Hey there.

Re: John's Baptism - there's a lot of debate. In the first century there were a few traditions for baptism in Jewish tradition. There were your basic purity rites as well the convert's baptism of the time. Joining the Jewish faith required baptism. Some scholars say that John's baptism was an Essene baptism. Some say that it's an original event.

Traditionally, Baptism has always been the rite of initiation. I have a few dozen books at the church office that support this. Whether or not you agree with the notion is another question. But since the earliest Christian community, Baptism served as the rite of initiation. And to your point, it has also been common for catechumens (initiates) to be involved in charitable works etc before being invited into baptism. It's not that baptism is more important than charity etc. Certainly that stuff is a mark of the Christian. But Baptism is the rite that encompasses these things.