In this picture I am about to be baptized at the age of 8 in the Pacific Ocean by my pastor Rudy Ulrich.
I'm sure some of you were baptized outdoors as well. I recall once reading about a church in Africa that baptizes new converts in the ocean. The candidate is literally thrown into a wave "in the name of the Father." At this point he or she is washed back to the shore. The church leaders quickly pick up the now drenched convert and throw him or her into another wave "in the name of the Son." This is repeated a third time "in the name of the Holy Spirit."
(Interestingly, as a lifelong surfer, I've noticed that waves often come in sets of three!)
The point of this church's baptismal practice apparently is not simply to emphasize the name of the triune God. In baptizing people this way, converts are given a tactile experience that indicates to them the struggle of the Christian faith. "Hey, follow Jesus if you want to, but man, it's going to cost you!" I'm reminded of Paul's famous "encouraging message" to the believers in Asia Minor (Acts 14:22). "Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through hard times."
Baptism means death. It means, "Hello!!! Ready for a fight? Ready to face temptations that blitz you daily? Ready to love people who tick you off? Ready to exercise the marks of a true Christian -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control?"
No one is ever ready to do all that. But you have to start somewhere. In the New Testament, you got saved, and you got wet. Baptism was THE public pledge of total allegiance to your Lord and Master and Savior and Redeemer and Best Friend.
I never want to back off from something because it looks too hard. Jesus is always there to help us in our Christian walk. He's even there to pick us up when we fall. You have to learn to push the doubts aside and keep on going. Life is just plain tough work. But the task is made easier when we consider that everything we have is a gift from God, freely bestowed. So I should give it back freely in return.