My granddaughter's favorite song is Tiny Tim. The beginning lyrics are these: I had a little turtle; his name was Tiny Tim. I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim. He drank up all the water and ate up all the soap. Now he's homesick in bed with bubbles in his throat. Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles…. Every time I hear these words and the tune that goes with them, it puts a smile on my face and leads us to our following Wonderfully Weird Command: "Baptize My Disciples."
Matthew 28:19 says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost" (KJV). Let's understand this command through bubbles for the sake of this devotion and love for my granddaughter. Let's look at the general meaning first, then at the three specific baptism bubbles experienced in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. First, the overall bubble. I believe most understand baptism means "to dip" in water. The water is a metaphor for the human soul soaked in the Triune God or the Living Water of God's reality — Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, the three specific bubbles of baptism.
The first baptism bubble is baptizing people in the name of the Father. This type of baptism comes when people confess their ultimate sin of turning their backs on God and giving life back to Him. Some call this "The Baptism unto Repentance" (Mark 1:4). This baptism means the soul has been drenched by the Father's Truth that gives birth to His perspective of "Goodness" (Genesis 1:31), where a person's worldview is divinely "Born Again" (John 3:3). The second bubble is baptizing people in the name of God's Son. This specific baptism happens when people die to themselves and drench themselves with Christ's teachings to redeem the character of Christ within them. Some call this baptism "The Baptism Into Christ's Death" (Galatians 2:20). The last bubble I'll mention is baptizing in the name of the Holy Ghost or Spirit. We understand this baptism through the day of Pentecost. Even though the Holy Spirit begins the Christian life, it's the day of maturity that baptizes people with the Holy Fire (Luke 3:16); this happens when the Fruit of the Spirit blossoms, serving and providing God's Goodness to the lost and hungry world (Galatians 5:22-24).
There it is, the general and specific bubbles of baptism. It's pretty simple and not too complicated. Now, the question will be about the practice of Baptism. Yes, it's a grand tradition in the Christian faith, and all Christians should practice it. Why? Because Jesus did! However, if you think for a second, being dipped or sprayed with actual water, or whatever your preferred method of baptism might be, and believe that's all to it, then like the little turtle in my granddaughter's favorite song, "Tiny Tim," you're spiritually sick with bubbles in your throat. Why do I say this? I say this because baptism in a bathtub or otherwise is only a representation of forgiveness and not forgiveness itself. After the baptism ceremony, the practice only comes through the mental discipline to grow and increase God's Truth in one's mind. Daily consideration is also needed to redeem good character in self through God's Son. Also, it takes patience with God's Spirit in step with wisdom's growth to rise above worldly problems to be a person of integrity that reflects God's Holiness, Righteousness, and Justice.
Today, make a choice and stop living like bubbles that blow with any wind that comes along and pops God's Truth within the mind. Choose to dispute ways that rupture God's permanent Bubble of Life's Goodness redeemed through the character or heart of Christ, and finally, decide, once and for all, to allow God's Breath, Spirit, to move your reality to the certainty of a meaningful and purposeful life— a life that only happens with the visualization and actualization of God's direction, alignment, and movement that benefits all of Life.
With care and consideration,