To be a disciple is to live into our baptismal identity and a rule of life that United Methodists call the General Rules. In a previous post, I considered the implications of the first baptismal question. In this post, I turn to the next question.
The second question asked of those coming forward for baptism in the United Methodist Church is:
Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
In our service we do not only ask about what a Christian renounces. We do not only ask who they serve. But we also ask whether they will take up their role in God’s work as well.
We have a charge to keep.
As the baptized, we are given power to resist evil, injustice, and oppression. We are given the freedom to act. As the people of God, we are pledged to act to resist these forces in whatever form they take.
Social psychologists do a famous experiment in which they have actors pretend to beat up or torment another person on a crowded city street. Most people avoid the issue or stay out of it. Most people are too busy or too afraid to get involved.
That is not who we are called by God to be.
Where there is evil, where there is injustice, where there is oppression, we are called to resist.
I am a part-time local pastor serving 
This love we believe to be the medicine of life, the never-failing remedy for all the evils of a disordered world, for all the miseries and vices of men. Wherever this is, there are virtue and happiness going hand in hand. There is humbleness of mind, gentleness, long-suffering, the whole image of God; and at the same time a peace that passeth all understanding, and joy unspeakable and full of glory.
John when you wrote “As the baptized, we are given power to resist evil, injustice, and oppression. We are given the freedom to act. As the people of God, we are pledged to act to resist these forces in whatever form they take.” I would like you to consider whether “as human beings, we are given the power…” – and that what we are given as the baptized is the language, responsibility and power to point it out. I guess I think that baptism gives us voice and language for what we believe God has given to the world. And that is often a problem for the Church that we believe we are given power to resist these things and that the rest of the world isn’t. I think the light to the nations is a helpful metaphor from scripture – because light helps us see what we otherwise would not be able to see – but which is true and present even in the darkness. Just a thought.
Great point, Michael. Thank you. I do see the distinction you are making – although I did not have that contrast in mind when I wrote the post.
Grace has empowered us all, baptized or not.
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