Come on in...the water is fine...

Have you ever put something off for nearly a decade? Well, let me tell you. It is such a great feeling when you finally do it. And what a great year to make it happen. Because now it is in the official 20 of 2010.

My Next Step is... from fbctlh on Vimeo.

#2 of 20: Join the church AND get baptized.

Yes, you read and heard that correctly. You do not need to adjust your screen. I, Meghan Greene, was not a member at First Baptist Church. Cue jokes about commitment issues. Well, no more! It was time to make it official. So, on Sunday, I was baptized along with my sisters and my future brother-in-law.

Because inquiring minds want to know... here are the answers to the questions that you are asking:

Have you really NEVER been baptized?

Well, I actually have been baptized. In 1981. As an infant. With a lovely little sprinkle on my head. My family attended Methodist church at the time and that was the practice of the church. I certainly do not take that baptism lightly. I am very grateful that my parents made a public commitment to raise me in the church and place an intentional emphasis on my personal spiritual development.

So, if you have been baptized, was it necessary to do it again?

If by necessary, you mean "to get past the pearly gates", I would say no. Salvation is through grace alone. But here is why I believe it to be important. It was about me, as an adult, making a public profession of my faith. It was also important for me to recognize and honor the heritage and tradition of the baptist church. Thus, I wanted to be baptized by immersion.

So, why did you wait until you were 2_ years old?

Honestly, this is something that has been on my heart and mind for a while. And there are two reasons for the procrastination. 1) There were parts of me that just felt like it was a hoop to jump through. That it wasn't necessary. It wasn't a requirement. So, why do it? 2) I was afraid. I was afraid of what people would think. I feared the reaction would be ::gasp:: Meghan Greene has never been baptized! Did she just become a Christian?! Wait... she was on staff at our church!?

The reality is that reason #1 was just an excuse to validate reason #2.

So, how did people react?

Well, from what I hear, there was a bit of a stir in the pastoral staff meeting when they read my "next step" card. Then I had a flock of church staff members eager to book the date. (the very next Sunday, as it turns out.) And then a flowing of support and encouragement. Very clearly demonstrating that the above mentioned reason #2 was all in my head and not one bit in God's plan. Other reactions...well, I saw lots of cameras clicking away on Sunday morning, got lots of hugs, and my parents came. They were excited. (Well, once I convinced them that we weren't joining a cult. I kid.)

Did you do a cannon ball into the baptismal?

No. But I wanted to. And I wanted to wear floaties on my arms. Safety first.