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Wade in the Water: Following the Sacred Stream of Baptism
Whether or not we are aware of it, everyone is being ""baptized."" While the church baptizes people in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the culture in which we live is baptizing us into the trinitarian values of consumption, production, and acquisition. The respective baptism we choose to immerse ourselves in is consequential for the type of people we are becoming. Wade In the Water alerts us to the presence of these formative forces, so that we can choose the sacred ways that form us in the Jesus Way. ""In this thoughtful and powerful book, Eric Peterson pulls on the thread of Christian baptism, and by the time he is done the whole fabric of the Christian life has been gathered up. Read this book alone for encouragement, read it with others for strength, proclaim it from the pulpit for courage and guidance."" --Thomas G. Long, Professor, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia ""More than merely a quaint church photo op for babies and their parents, Peterson shows how baptism is the pattern for a way of life in the midst of an increasingly toxic culture. We find here a compelling demonstration of practical theology as related to the meaning and practice of baptism that is biblically engaged, historically informed, theologically insightful, and always pastorally wise."" -- Gordon S. Mikoski, Associate Professor, Director, Editor, Theology Today, Princeton Theological Seminary Eric E. Peterson is the founding pastor of Colbert Presbyterian Church in Eastern Washington where he has served since 1997. Eric is married to Elizabeth; together they are the grateful parents of six children.
- GenresTheology
138 pages, Hardcover
Published May 2, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 14, 2021
If you’re looking for a scholarly treatise on baptism, this is your book! It’s hard to give it just three stars because Peterson’s passion for all things baptism comes through so strongly, and I admire that. In fact, I got this book after hearing Peterson on a podcast and, needing to put together a resource for those seeking to be baptized in our non-denominational church, his clear love for baptism was something I thought would produce great material about baptism. And it does.
But my issue is that Peterson stretches some things to be baptismal that, as he admits in the text, have no real connection to baptism.
It’s also a hard read for a layperson like me - I’m an educated, lifelong reader with a decent vocabulary, but the language of theology is somewhat unfamiliar and I was constantly using the dictionary. That’s not a bad thing because I learned a lot, but it does slow things down and make some sentences sound almost foreign. This won’t be a problem for those more educated in theology, or maybe even those who grew up more high church.
One disappointment about the book was that while the history of baptism in the church is thoroughly covered, it didn’t go back a bit further and bring in the history of the mikvah, the Jewish precursor to baptism (well, precursor, but still practiced today by some). Would have loved to hear Peterson’s take on that - maybe in the next edition? :-)
I’ll end on a positive note: I love how Peterson encourages us to find ways to remember our baptism and what it symbolizes as we encounter water in our everyday lives. I’m going to incorporate that going forward.
But my issue is that Peterson stretches some things to be baptismal that, as he admits in the text, have no real connection to baptism.
It’s also a hard read for a layperson like me - I’m an educated, lifelong reader with a decent vocabulary, but the language of theology is somewhat unfamiliar and I was constantly using the dictionary. That’s not a bad thing because I learned a lot, but it does slow things down and make some sentences sound almost foreign. This won’t be a problem for those more educated in theology, or maybe even those who grew up more high church.
One disappointment about the book was that while the history of baptism in the church is thoroughly covered, it didn’t go back a bit further and bring in the history of the mikvah, the Jewish precursor to baptism (well, precursor, but still practiced today by some). Would have loved to hear Peterson’s take on that - maybe in the next edition? :-)
I’ll end on a positive note: I love how Peterson encourages us to find ways to remember our baptism and what it symbolizes as we encounter water in our everyday lives. I’m going to incorporate that going forward.
January 5, 2021
I loved this book!
I am a catholic priest (37 years ordained) and I have not read a better book on baptism.
Full of scholarly wisdom but always dressed in pastoral living and applications of the ideas.
Full of faith and full of Jesus! I hope I can live this wisdom and share it with my parish.
I am a catholic priest (37 years ordained) and I have not read a better book on baptism.
Full of scholarly wisdom but always dressed in pastoral living and applications of the ideas.
Full of faith and full of Jesus! I hope I can live this wisdom and share it with my parish.
September 21, 2021
The most complete and inspiring exposition on baptism I have read by an evangelical
Eric Peterson is a Pastor who has anchored His ministry in His baptismal identity. We are the beneficiaries of all God has done to sign, seal, and deliver Pastor Eric as he throughly expounds on the vital role baptism plays in our Christian identity. He mixes scholarly analysis with vivid story telling to capture the imagination of the reader concerning the life giving waters of baptism. This work will be a fundamental resource to how I think about baptism in my life and in my ministry as a lawyer and pastor going forward. Although I have never met or spoken with Pastor Eric, I feel a kinship with him through His work and as a member of the family of saints who have been gathered together as one in and through the baptismal waters of the Kingdom of God established on earth. I highly recommend this book.
Eric Peterson is a Pastor who has anchored His ministry in His baptismal identity. We are the beneficiaries of all God has done to sign, seal, and deliver Pastor Eric as he throughly expounds on the vital role baptism plays in our Christian identity. He mixes scholarly analysis with vivid story telling to capture the imagination of the reader concerning the life giving waters of baptism. This work will be a fundamental resource to how I think about baptism in my life and in my ministry as a lawyer and pastor going forward. Although I have never met or spoken with Pastor Eric, I feel a kinship with him through His work and as a member of the family of saints who have been gathered together as one in and through the baptismal waters of the Kingdom of God established on earth. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews