A gracEmail subscriber asks, "How can you teach baptism by immersion for believers, yet enjoy Christian fellowship with those who were baptized as infants or by sprinkling or pouring?" * * * I always instruct new believers to express their repentance and faith by being baptized, in obedience to Jesus Christ himself (Matt. 28:18-20). And, based on my personal study of the Greek language, of early Christian history, and of New Testament teaching concerning baptism's meaning and significance, I always baptize by immersion. That said, I must also respect the individual … [Read more...]
Archives for February 2012
FELLOWSHIP, BAPTISM & CONSCIENCE
Two couples who were baptized as infants by sprinkling wish to join a congregation that baptizes only believers and always by immersion. The congregation's preacher, a gracEmail subscriber, regards these people as fully Christian and wonders if he can rightly refuse them fellowship although they have not been immersed. * * * Part 1 Let me respond to this in three gracEmails. I begin in this gracEmail with some undisputed observations, specifically about the various understandings of baptism that exist within the universal church. Those differences involve the action or form of baptism, … [Read more...]
CAN A NON-CHRISTIAN NURSE BAPTIZE A BABY?
A sister on the West Coast writes that 40 years ago, as a practicing nurse, she witnessed the spontaneous delivery of a baby, and the infant died within minutes. Sensing the situation, she reached for a cup of water and poured it over the baby's head to baptize it before it died. Was that baptism valid, she wonders, since it was not immersion and since she did not consider herself a Christian at the time? *** Since you then were not a Christian yourself, I am curious why you even thought to do what you did. Was the motive superstitious or mere cultural impulse? Or was it related in your mind … [Read more...]
TWO CONVERSION STORIES
A gracEmail subscriber writes: "You seem to say that people are initiated into the church in different ways, suggesting that Acts 2 is a pattern for Jewish conversions and Acts 10 is a pattern for Gentile conversions." *** I am sorry if I left that impression. I am not suggesting a sepaate "pattern" for Jews and Gentiles -- or any pattern at all in the sense of a formula stating "man's part" in some do-it-yourself salvation scheme. Acts 2 is the story of the first conversion of Jews to Jesus as resurrected and ascended Messiah. Acts 10 is the story of the first conversion of Gentiles … [Read more...]
CIRCUMCISION AND BAPTISM
A gracEmail subscriber writes, "You recall that male babies in Israel were circumcised as a sign of God's covenant with his chosen people. When Christ ushered in the new covenant, did he instruct us to exclude infants from receiving baptism as the new covenant sign?" *** Although circumcision and water baptism both serve as covenant signs, one for Jews and the other for Christians, baptism, unlike circumcision, is intended for all nations and for both males and females (Gen. 17:9-14; see Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 16:14-15). A person entered the "old covenant" community of Israel by natural birth. … [Read more...]
INFANT’S BAPTISM RAISES QUESTIONS (2)
A gracEmail subscriber writes that his infant grandson is soon to be baptized, although Grandpa raised the baby's mother in a church that baptizes only confessing believers. This grandfather requests more information on the subject. *** Whether babies ought to be baptized or not, their situation clearly differs from that of adult converts to Christianity. Christians on both sides of this issue agree that believing parents bear primary responsibility to nurture their children in such a way that with God's blessing the children will grow to personal faith and consciously commit their lives to … [Read more...]
BAPTIZING CHILDREN (1)
A scholarly minister writes, "I am leading a study this summer with five other families, all having children who have expressed an interest in baptism or a desire to be baptized. The children range from seven to 13 years of age. What are your thoughts on this subject?" *** On this question, gracEmail readers (like Christians for the past 16 centuries), do not all share the same understanding. I would like to call attention first to a few historical details. Although some believe they see infant baptism implied in the New Testament, it explicitly originated among early Roman Catholics who … [Read more...]
RELATIONSHIP, NOT RITUAL
A gracEmail subscriber writes that she was baptized as a pre-teen, later rebelled, and was re-baptized in her 30's. Although she always has "gone to church," she has never felt God's peace. Now in her 60's, she looks back over "years of misery, divorce, remarriage, divorce, misery and rebellion." She has confessed her sins and asked God's forgiveness repeatedly, but she questions now if she ever was saved. "I think it would do no good to get baptized again," she writes, "but sometimes I wonder if I should try to start over once more." *** Our relationship with God rests on the doing and … [Read more...]
ORIGIN OF A BAPTISMAL TRADITION (2)
"Why," various readers have inquired, "do Churches of Christ emphasize baptism 'for the remission of sins,' as if that were its only biblical meaning?" *** Alexander Campbell wisely saw the need for an objective touch-point, a spiritual milestone, at which the believer could grasp God's promises and claim assurance of heavenly pardon. This he found in the first gospel sermon reported in the Book of Acts. When the hearers on Pentecost were convicted in conscience and were panic-stricken for their sins, Peter told them to "repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ … [Read more...]
ORIGIN OF A BAPTISMAL TRADITION (1)
"Why," various readers have inquired, "do Churches of Christ emphasize baptism 'for the remission of sins,' as if that were its only biblical meaning?" * * * The New Testament does speak of baptism "for the remission (forgiveness) of sins," of course (Acts 2:38), and Christians of most denominations acknowledge the same each time they recite the Nicene Creed. But the Apostles, evangelists and earliest followers of Jesus spoke of baptism in many other ways as well. How this particular phrase, found in a single biblical passage, became a universal and almost-exclusive formula among Churches of … [Read more...]
