What kind of boat are we in?

Readings

As you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you, Eternal Father, strong to save Amen.

I'm glad we sang the Navy Hymn this morning - because today we're going to talk about boats - and baptism

Our first reading recounts the story of Noah and the flood. And then our Epistle reading, from 1 Peter, gives an interpretation that Noah's rescue from the flood pre-figures baptism, which is a rescue from death through water.

In many churches, the baptismal font is right by the door into the nave, because it's through the waters of baptism that we enter the community of the church.
And "nave" - the area where everyone sits - comes from the same root as 'navy' and relates to boats. The idea being that the church is like Noah's ark, and in it we're being saved from chaos and destruction.
In ancient literature of the near east, a large body of water was a frightening thing - chaotic, unpredictable. 

It's an early part of Hebrew and later of Christian theology to show God having more power that the chaotic forces of the sea. In Genesis, the very first image we have is of the spirit of God moving over the face of the deep, and God speaking into the formless void and creating order and life out of that chaos. In the Gospels, Jesus also is shown exhibiting this kind of authority over chaos - he calms a storm and walks on the water.

Through God's transformative power, what was wild, unpredictable, and destructive becomes a path to salvation. This is the water of baptism - still - we are pulled out from the water like we're being saved from drowning.

Imagine you've fallen into the ocean, waves tumbling you around - you can't breath; you're freezing - you know you're going to die. Suddenly something is tugging on you; strong hands catch hold of your coat and haul you up out of the water. Dripping, choking and sputtering, you feel the deck underneath you.

That's one metaphor that the church has for itself - one way of thinking about what this community is: a boat - into which all kinds of people have been rescued.
Look around - what a scraggly bunch of castaways we are!
And this boat - is it going to hold us?

The Rev. Melanie Barbarito shared a great analogy once that I like, comparing people in churches to people aboard a cruise ship versus a battleship. On a cruise ship, there are crew and passengers; the crew do all the work, and the passengers buy a ticket to come aboard and enjoy themselves - the whole point of the endeavor is the passengers' enjoyment of the ride - that's what the crew are there to ensure, etc. 

On a working ship, though, everyone has a job to do, and all of it's necessary. Everyone shares the same mission - nobody is just along for the ride

Her point, of course, is what kind of ship do you think you're sailing on? And what's your role?

It's best not to push an analogy too far, but it could also be interesting to consider other types of ships - not just a battleship but other kinds of working ships or pleasure ships.

What kinds of churches have you sailed with?

• An aircraft carrier - a huge, tightly regulated, interconnected complex, sending out missions in all directions
• Maybe a research vessel - a small group with a specific question, studying it in great detail
• What about a ferry - a crowded bunch of strangers just trying to get from here to there - from earth to heaven
• A search and rescue ship, going out specifically to look for people in distress, with specially-designed tools for responding
• Possibly you've been on a submarine - a close community that goes to great lengths to insulate itself, poking its periscope up occasionally to look out at the world
• Maybe you've tried to be a church by yourself - sailing around in a kayak
• And there are tons of other possibilities: pirate ships, shrimp boats, hospital ships, glass-bottomed tour boats, canoes, tall ships, house boats...

Take a minute to think about it - what church did you first find yourself on the deck of when you were hauled out of the water of baptism? 
What other churches have you sailed with? 

And what about us? What kind of ship are we?

If this image is a helpful one for you, then try to think of what your role is on this ship's crew - or what it could be. What skills or gifts do you have that fit with the mission - or how can you help the others on board?

After our Ashes to Go experiment this past Wednesday, I think someone needs to go up on deck at least occasionally and just scan the water - you might see a hand sticking up - "not waving but drowning" - the world is still at times a wild, confusing tumult to be dropped into.

Let's keep in prayer our little boat - and all the boats at sea - both the literal and figurative ones. 

O hear us when we cry to thee, for those in peril on the sea.