- Jan 2, 2015
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I'm a Presbyterian, but I could easily be a member of a Calvinistic Baptist church as well because I see both sides of the infant baptism thing. It truly doesn't bother me either way. I could argue both sides, pro and con; however. . . what does bother me (because I see no biblical evidence for it) is treating baptism as a "public profession of faith".
I will allow a Baptist his credo position with no argument, but what I have seen in practice in baptist churches is that the person being baptized thinks that he is doing something for God rather than as something that God is doing/has done for the baptized. Also, according to the Great Commission, baptism is something done to you by the church vs something you simply choose to do. Jesus tells the 12 to go into the world and baptize. As an adult convert, the church tells you that you are to be baptized. You present yourself to the church for baptism, not the other way around.
Yesterday, I heard a 15 minute long "testimony" at a Baptist church. First, I just don't see examples of that kind of thing in my Bible. Second, whenever I hear these "testimonies" they all sound a bit moralistic: "I used to drink smoke and swear, and now I don't drink smoke and swear." Well, if I followed you around for a day, I would see that you have other, less obvious, sins, so please don't tell me how good you are, but please do tell me how good Jesus is.
The practice of treating baptism as a public profession of faith (it's something I do rather than something that is done for me i.e. union with Christ and HIS work) is unbiblical and therefore unhelpful for the Christian and the church. There is a tacit legalism inherent in the practice.
Anyone care to discuss?
I will allow a Baptist his credo position with no argument, but what I have seen in practice in baptist churches is that the person being baptized thinks that he is doing something for God rather than as something that God is doing/has done for the baptized. Also, according to the Great Commission, baptism is something done to you by the church vs something you simply choose to do. Jesus tells the 12 to go into the world and baptize. As an adult convert, the church tells you that you are to be baptized. You present yourself to the church for baptism, not the other way around.
Yesterday, I heard a 15 minute long "testimony" at a Baptist church. First, I just don't see examples of that kind of thing in my Bible. Second, whenever I hear these "testimonies" they all sound a bit moralistic: "I used to drink smoke and swear, and now I don't drink smoke and swear." Well, if I followed you around for a day, I would see that you have other, less obvious, sins, so please don't tell me how good you are, but please do tell me how good Jesus is.
The practice of treating baptism as a public profession of faith (it's something I do rather than something that is done for me i.e. union with Christ and HIS work) is unbiblical and therefore unhelpful for the Christian and the church. There is a tacit legalism inherent in the practice.
Anyone care to discuss?