The Importance of Baptism

Baptism early on had this strong social impact. It was a change of life. And I think as we go on, like, I don't remember ever being a part of a baptism service where much attention was given to this today. This formula dropped off somewhere along the way in practice. Then it got replaced with words that focused on the sacramental reality of your new state of being one with Jesus. That used to be linked to the practice. It got separated. We stopped converting people away from that at baptism. But then we wonder why we have sexist and racist in our churches.