Equality
Originally scheduled for February 22
Today’s Christians can easily see the vigorous sniping at the
church concerning the matter of the equality between men and women.
There is, however, no such sniping concerning the two prominent
rituals of the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. This is quite
significant, for rituals thrive in the hearts of men and women. They
cross generations, and even illiteracy does not form a boundary to
their impact.
In the first instance, consider baptism.
Baptism as a process runs from complete immersion to sprinkling two
pouring and even to scattering rose petals. That’s quite a variety
for such a simple ceremony, but I know of no denomination or group
which has a different system for their female members than for their
male members. This is entirely fitting; baptism as a symbolic
process stems from ritual cleaning. For those who accept immersion
as baptism, it also recollects the idea that you are buried with
Christ and then raised to walk in a new life. None of this varies by
sex.
Similarly, the Lord’s Supper clearly portrays the
atonement sacrifice of Christ. By its emphasis on body and blood, it
shows us the suffering of our Lord. These are also taken as evidence
of his great love for us. But again, I know of no denomination or
group which has a different ritual for men than it does for women.
The Lord’s Supper is shared by all which shows its
inclusiveness. To take communion is to proclaim it being offered to
one and all, for salvation is offered to anyone who will believe in
the Lord Jesus Christ. It is given by grace, not by anything which
the Christian does. Even the diversity of tasks in the church starts
with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
And what does the simple
ritual show? The bread is taken to symbolize the body of Christ,
hung on the cross for our atonement. The cup is taken to represent
the blood of Christ, shed for the remission of our sins as exampled
in the Old Testament Law. This salvation is available to all and is
the same for all. It is fitting therefore that it should be
symbolized in the same way for each and every one of us. As you
partake, do so remembering his great love for us.
