What makes someone a Christian?

1
What makes someone a Christian?
Aim To consider what the significance of the
Sacrament of Baptism and how people become part
of a Christian community

• Key Questions
• What happens at Baptism?
• Why? What do the words and actions symbolise?
• Does Baptism make someone a Christian?
• When should someone be baptised?

2
Baptism
Baptism is the sign that someone belongs to
Christ. That is why Baptism is sometimes known as
a christening.

• Among Christians, there are two very different
  opinions about when people should be baptised.
  Some believe that people should only be baptised
  when they are old enough to understand what they
  are doing and make the choice to follow Jesus for
  themselves. Others think that it is right to
  baptise children of Christian parents. They also
  believe that it is not right to exclude babies
  and very young children from being in the
  Christian family just because they can't yet
  understand what's going on. They say that Baptism
  welcomes children into the Church community
  however it is important to note that Baptism
  alone does not automatically make someone a full
  member of the Church.

3
Baptism in the Roman Catholic Church

• In the Catholic Church, babies, children and
  adults can be baptised. Although a baby cannot
  decide to follow Christ for themselves, in the
  Catholic Church a baptism shows that the child is
  included as a member of the church community.

4
Infant Baptism

• Parents who want to have their baby baptised may
  be asked to attend Baptism preparation sessions,
  so that they fully understand what they are
  undertaking. At an infant Baptism, the child will
  have Godparents. These are special adults chosen
  by the parents of the child. Godparents promise
  to take a special interest in the child as he or
  she grows up, providing essential support to the
  parents in encouraging the child to develop their
  relationship with God throughout their lives.

5
During the Sacrament of Baptism the Priest asks
the parents and Godparents questions, and they
make promises to raise the child in the faith.
Baptism, like all Sacraments, is a communal
celebration. Everyone present celebrates the
Sacrament and benefits from the presence of
Christ in the Sacrament. When a baby is
baptised, the Priest pours water on his or her
head, saying the following words I baptise you
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit. It is at this point that the
baby is officially named establishing their
identity as an individual and as a member of the
Christian faith.
6
Anointing with Oil

• Two oils are used in the ceremony, the babys
  chest is anointed with the Oil of Catechumens
  before the water ritual. Oil was traditionally
  used to anoint soldiers going into battle to give
  them strength and the Oil of Catechumens is used
  to give the baby strength in their life as a
  Christian. Following the water ritual, using the
  Oil of Chrism, the priest makes the sign of the
  Cross on the baby's forehead, as a sign of the
  child's new life with Christ.

7
Pope Francis baptised many babies on January 6th,
The Baptism of Our Lord
8
Baptism Candle

• A candle is lit from the Paschal Candle during
  the service, and the light from the candle shows
  that Baptism is a symbol of a person moving from
  darkness (sin) into new life as a child of light.
  The Godparents hold this candle.
• Jesus once said, I am the Light of the World.
  The light from the candle reminds us that
  followers of Jesus are called to carry the light
  of faith in the world. The parents and Godparents
  will help the child to do this.
• This candle is often used for the childs
  Ceremony of Light while they prepare for
  Confirmation the final Sacrament of Initiation.

9
Why does the baby wear white?

• The baby is clothed in a white garment after the
  water ritual, this is worn as a symbol of purity
  as the child is born to a new life in Christ and
  will share in the glory of his resurrection.

10
Believer's Baptism

• In other Christian Churches, Baptism is
  undertaken when the person is an adult and
  chooses the Sacrament for himself/herself. There
  are no godparents at a believer's baptism. This
  form of baptism involves the total immersion of
  the candidate, and they may have some close
  friends who will pray for them during the
  service.
• There is usually an opportunity during the
  ceremony for the candidate to talk about how and
  why they have chosen to become a Christian and
  why they are being baptised - this may be an
  interview, or the person may give a speech this
  is called a testimony.

11
Believer's Baptism

• The candidate and minister descend into the
  water together. The Minister will usually give
  the candidate a verse from Bible, which may be
  specially relevant to them. The Minister then
  lowers the candidate under the water, as a symbol
  of their dying to their old life, and living for
  their own selves, and raises them back up again,
  as a symbol of their desire to live a new life,
  with Jesus as Lord!

Believers baptism is the name given for the
baptism of adults. The Baptist Church (one of the
Christian denominations) perform believers
baptisms. Most Baptist churches have a baptistery
a covered pool for this purpose.
12
Symbols in Believers Baptism The water
symbolises purity and washing away sins. Going
under the water symbolising death to the life
of the person, prior to voicing their commitment
to live a Christian Life. Coming back up from the
water symbolises being born into a new life as a
Christian.
13
What is the point of Baptism?

• Throughout history washing with water has been a
  sign of being clean in Gods eyes and acceptable
  to God.
• Baptism is a sign that someone has repented of
  their sins (is sorry for the wrongdoings they
  have committed) and shows that they want a fresh
  start.
• Christians believe that being baptised is a way
  of publicly announcing that you are a follower of
  Jesus.
• Some churches see Baptism as a way of becoming an
  official member of the church.

14
Baptism in the Catholic Church
To become a full member of the Catholic Church,
people must receive the three Sacraments of
Initiation Baptism, Eucharist and
Confirmation. In Ireland this process usually
takes place in the following order Baptism as an
infant, Eucharist at eight years of age and
Confirmation at twelve years of age. This process
helps us to receive ongoing strength and support
from Christ, in living a Christian life.
15
Task

• Alan the Alien has come from his planet to Earth
  and he doesnt know anything about belonging to a
  community.
• Write an information page for him to explain
  everything about why humans welcome new members
  into their communities. Use the example of
  Christian Baptism to describe and explain in
  detail, one way that this is done. Make it clear
  to Alan that different Christians do this in very
  different ways.
• You could also inform Alan of other ways that
  humans might welcome new life you could use
  examples from other religious traditions (if you
  know of any) or from a humanist point of view.
  You can find lots of information on the internet
  to help you. For example, take a look at
  information about RCIA.

16

• Quick check
• What have you learnt so far?
• What happens at Baptism?
• Are all baptisms the same? Why?
• What do the words and actions of the baptism
  ceremony symbolise?
• Does a baptism make someone a Christian?

17
Is it right to baptise babies?

• Consider and discuss the views in support of
  infant Baptism, in the same way you should then
  examine the alternative Adult Baptism.
• Prepare a written response to the following
  question What is the best approach to Baptism in
  your view?
• There are different levels of response some
  answers will be better than others.
• Read through the next slide carefully it gives
  you advice about how to write a better answer.

18
Writing Frame

• Some people might think it is best to baptise
  infants because
• Others might think it is better to wait and
  baptise people when they are adults because
• Personally, I think because

19
Further resources

• Follow the link here to view an RE Quest resource
  on Baptism
• http//request.org.uk/life/believers-baptism-rites
  -of-passage-life-2/2013/06/17/infant-baptism/
• Pope Francis How many of you can remember the
  date of your Baptism?
• https//www.osv.com/TheChurch/Article/TabId/563/Ar
  tMID/13751/ArticleID/13423/Homework-from-Pope-Fran
  cis-LetE28099s-make-it-a-celebration.aspx