"Doubt, Faith, and Ritual"

When we face someone dealing with doubt, our first response is often defend the rationality of Christianity. While there is a place for apologetics, too often we reach for these attempts at certainty because we are uncomfortable with mystery. But to believe is the ultimate humility. It refuses to allow us to stand over and above religion, but under and within it. Following Jesus is foolishness, but it is a beautiful foolishness, a mystery that we have received through the centuries and embrace now. The ritual of water baptism is a picture of this beautiful foolishness. In baptism we identify with Christ, show a visible sign of His invisible grace that has made us new, join the family of God, and make a public declaration of our personal faith.