Not Perfection, But Direction in Baptism with Grayson Preece

In this episode of Faith in Process, I sit down with producer Grayson Preece for a thoughtful and honest conversation about baptism, faith, and what it means to follow Jesus in the Church of the Brethren. What begins as a discussion about baptism opens into something much deeper. We talk about the language of sin, the wounds many people carry from rigid religious frameworks, and the need for communities of faith that make room for honesty, healing, and growth.One of the central ideas in this episode is that baptism is not about having everything figured out or reaching some kind of spiritual perfection. Instead, it is about direction. It is a way of saying that we want our lives to move in the way of Jesus. That shift in understanding opens up a much richer and more grace-filled conversation about faith, discipleship, and belonging.Grayson shares some of his own wrestling with baptism and why it has felt difficult for him at times. Together, we explore how the Brethren tradition has understood believer’s baptism, why it matters, and how it can become a powerful and meaningful act when it grows out of genuine desire rather than pressure or expectation. We also reflect on the kind of church many people are longing for today, not a community built on fear or certainty alone, but one rooted in love, kindness, welcome, and transformation.Later in the episode, Terry joins the conversation and adds another perspective on baptism, age, and personal choice. Altogether, this episode is an invitation to think more deeply about what it means to belong to the body of Christ and how the church can create space for people to grow into faith with freedom and sincerity.Whether you have long been part of the church, are reconsidering the meaning of baptism, or are simply longing for a more compassionate and honest faith, I think this conversation will resonate with you.Run of show00:00 Introduction and episode setup00:53 Baptism, confession, and discomfort with the language of sin02:53 Baptism as direction rather than perfection04:08 Chosenness, anxiety, and black and white religion07:07 Stages of faith and moving beyond certainty10:10 Contemplative faith, suffering, and deeper maturity12:26 Why the Brethren tradition feels different13:48 Kindness, peacemaking, and giving up our rights16:27 Reaching young adults without oversimplifying faith20:15 What kind of church young adults are looking for23:03 The access point to faith community24:53 Belong, believe, and behave27:47 Grayson reflects on reconsidering baptism29:42 Believer’s baptism in Anabaptist and Brethren tradition31:07 Stories of baptism and transformation35:37 God is less interested in perfection than direction38:29 Terry joins the conversation38:53 Baptism as personal choice rather than rite of passageFaith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe