Carlo,
Steve's similar circumstance did allow for the greatest contribution  
as per your request.
As a credo who has only been a member of Baptist churches and  
pastored such. I agree with Steve and Chad.
Simply, there are some circumstances  where immersion may not be  
accomplished with certain folk who have particular disabilities or  
are bedridden. Sprinkling or pouring has been the only alternative.  
Been there done that.
Joe
On Apr 29, 2008, at 5:55 AM, Carlo Rose wrote:

> From: "Steve Fuchs" <SteveF_MS@...>
> Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:03:09 -0700
>
> Steve:I think not going to the bbq is a form of pooh-poohing his  
> baptism."
>
> Carlo: If I didn't believe that the mode a church used was the mode  
> dictated by Scripture then I would not "celebrate" his baptism.   
> That's the whole point.  I have to actually believe that it is  
> baptism in order to celebrate it.
>
> Steve:You have every reason under heaven to be excited that he  
> chose to be and was baptized in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   
> Nothing to be stone cold about there.
> Heaven is delighted, and so should you be.
>
> Carlo: He is already saved.  It's not about "excitement."  When a  
> person transfers his trust to Jesus and embraces Christ as his Lord  
> and his Savior and repents that is excitement.  The water baptism  
> is the ordinance that achieves its significance as the mark or  
> symbol of a step from darkness and death to light and life.
>
> The argument, again, for the immersion only comes from (a)  
> baptizein means to immerse therefore the command to baptize is a  
> command to immerse - so, if it is a command to immerse and the  
> candidate is not immersed why would I celebrate the baptism if it  
> is no baptism at all; (b)baptism signifies union with Jesus in his  
> burial and resurrection (Rom 6:4; Col 2:12), and immersion only  
> believes that only immersion adequately expresses that symbolism -  
> yes, I know that's fraught with problems and (c) Immersion only  
> folks lay claim to the testimony of the early church for which  
> immersion was the primary mode.
>
> So, both the immersion only and the not immersion only folks have  
> good arguments.
>
> Carlo