What if baptism isn't just an ancient ritual but a transformative medicine for the wounded human soul? This conversation explores the profound mysteries hidden in Christ's Great Commission to "baptize all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

The traditional words of baptism have become formulaic for many modern ears. But when we penetrate beyond the formula to the living experience, we discover something revolutionary: an invitation to die to our isolated selfhood and open to the intelligence of the risen Christ. This baptismal death isn't a one-time event but an ongoing process where our thinking, creating, and feeling are gradually transformed through participation in divine life.

Through a fascinating exploration of the cross as gateway rather than mere symbol, we discover how making three crosses upon ourselves - at head, mouth and heart - can be understood as an active collaboration with the Trinity. The Father brings the ground of being to our anxious, isolated consciousness. The Son infuses our creative will with his purposes of love. The Spirit enlightens our heart-thinking with divine wisdom.

These insights address a fundamental crisis in modern consciousness. Many spiritual paths today either emphasize total self-empowerment ("manifest your reality") or complete self-abandonment ("just let go"). The baptismal understanding offers a third way - maintaining our individual agency while allowing it to be transformed through divine collaboration. The result isn't loss of self but discovery of our true purpose within the meaning of Earth itself.

Have you felt the existential insecurity that characterizes our age? Perhaps this isn't a flaw to overcome but an honest recognition of our incompleteness without connection to the gournd only the divine can provide. Perhaps the medicine we need isn't more self-optimization but immersion in the healing waters of baptism - dying to what we have been so we can live in what we are becoming.

This whole conversation uncovers one of the core missions of Christianity — baptism — as a living medicine for our humanity and how this understanding is regained in the movement for religious renewal.

Support the show

The Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offerings at our website. This podcast is supported by our growing Patreon community. To learn more, go to www.patreon.com/ccseminary.

Thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed our theme music, “Seeking Together,” and the legacy of our original show-notes and patreon producer, Camilla Lake.