Water guns in Church?

I have been known, while preaching, to argue that we need to have water guns next to our hymnals in the pews. On days there is a baptism we could pull out our water guns and drench one another as we play in the baptismal promise. Yes, that means the pews and the carpet will get wet, the hymnals might get a little soaked, and of course the outfit you so carefully picked out for worship – along with your beautiful hair are going to get messed up.

But it would be a strong reminder that we need to play in the life given to us in baptism and to live out our baptism daily. Living out our baptism is fun but it can get a little messy. Dyeing to sin and rising to Christ’s righteousness – which happens in baptism calls us to get a little messy – being active in our faith is not simply sitting the pews – oohhing and ahhhing – over the wonderful things that Christ has done for us. Living out our baptism means following the Spirit that God sent – that passion that ignites our hearts and live a life where we honestly love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.