Jeff Scanlan wrote:
>> Jeff Scanlan wrote:
>>> Last Sunday at the door as we were leaving I told our pastor that I
>> really
>>> appreciated his sermon on Romans 9. He used the opportunity to explain
>> more
>>> on justification.
>>>
>>> Telling him that I appreciated the sermon is a far cry from paying him
>>> according to how the congregation rated his sermon. Paying him that way
>>> would be inappropriate.
>> How does this relate to the discussion about celebrating a man's new
>> life via a barbecue?  Thanking your pastor and celebrating new life are
>> not similar.
>>
> 
> There is a clear similarity at the point of whether we give glory, implied
> or otherwise, to the person rather than God.

Ah.  Gotcha.  However, celebrating one's baptism is hardly giving glory 
to the person, any more than hugging one's child who professes faith is 
giving glory to the child.  We can celebrate new life without glorifying 
the person who has received new life.  I am shocked that you cannot see 
the difference.

>>> Nobody likes a party more than me. However I cannot accept any notion of
>>> having cakes, barbecues, etc. after baptisms. It is too easy to
>>> misunderstand what is happening, particularly for those who are not even
>>> Christians and might be watching.
>> You are unable to accept *any* notion of having cakes, barbecues, etc.
>> after baptisms?  You cannot conceive of any time where it might be
>> appropriate to celebrate a baptism with a cake or a barbecue?  Do you
>> celebrate a loved one's birthday?  What did he/she do but live another
>> year (and that by God's grace)?  We celebrate physical life annually, so
>> why not celebrate eternal life?  Can we not have a barbecue for the
>> glory of God?  Did not Paul instruct us to do everything - including
>> barbecues - for the glory of God?
>>
> 
> NO I will never accept that. I have seen it almost always be something that
> misses the point of what the baptism is about. I have always come away from
> it considering that the whole process has been thoroughly debased and
> looking at those who have been the candidates on those occasions and their
> subsequent lives fully justifies how I see it. 

This is terribly sad.  Have you no joy in life?

>>> After all we are unworthy servants. When we do things for the Lord and
>>> because the Lord has commanded them we are only doing our duty.
>> "Only doing our duty."  Therein lies our disagreement.  I am most
>> unworthy.  When I ponder how God has called me to preach and to teach I
>> want to get up and dance...and have a barbecue.  That Holy God would
>> deign to use me for His work...wow.  That is cause for celebration.  I
>> am sorry it is mere duty to you.  Really, I am.  That we can serve a
>> holy God and not be struck down is an amazing privilege.  It is far from
>> mere duty.
>>
> 
> Well that is what the scripture says. We have only done our duty (Luke
> 17:10)

Yes, we only do what we must and, yet, God will one day say, "Well done, 
good and faithful servant."  This does not give us glory; it reveals His 
  glory in us.
--
john-thomas