Chris,
What do you see as the Biblical purpose of baptism?
Harry
Chris Arnzen <carnzen@...> wrote:
Just curious what your thoughts might be on the issue of the ugency of baptism. Raised a Roman Catholic, I was first introduced to a non-Roman concept of baptism as a young man investigating different denominations and religions by my brother Bob, at that time a member of a local church of Christ (Campbellite) congregation. While I later came to reject that sect's view of the necessity of the immersion of an adult believer in water *for salvation* after I embraced the Doctrines of Sovereign Grace, I have never rejected their belief--which seems to me to be very biblical--that the baptism of a believer should be performed *immediately* subsequent to his or her credible profession of repentance and faith whenever physically possible. The typical Reformed Baptist view of this being "dangerous" due to the fact that many false converts may be added to the fold by "rushing" their baptism doesn't hold water with me because many false converts will be (and are) incorrectly added to the fold
(the visible fold, that is) even after weeks, months or years after hearing the Word rightly preached & taught, and after countless hours of examination and counseling. One could say the same thing (and many heretics do) about teaching perseverance & preservation of the saints leading to cheap grace, or the teaching of the exclusivity of the Christian Faith leading to hatred of non-Christians.
I just see no justification to ignore what seems to me to be a clearly biblical practice, and have never been satisfied by Reformed Baptist answers. I think by rejecting this practice without biblical warrant we play into the hands of "baptismal regenerationists" who can and do claim it is us who are merely following the traditions of men on this issue. I do heartily reject so-called "altar calls" and much of what goes on in the "modern evangelical invitation system" (which offers little or no biblical example), but the immediate baptism of repentant believers seems to me to be purely biblical, in fact, the *sole* biblical formula we are given.
Most Baptists I know, including (and perhaps to an even greater degree) Reformed Baptists, wait days, weeks or months to baptize professing repentant believers, and often do so annually or semi-annually during some "special ceremony" which may be more humanly expedient but which seems to me to be born purely out of human tradition, or out of fear of appearing to be promoting baptismal regeneration.
I also know it's wonderful to have many family members and friends present during one's baptism (which typically would involve a delay in that baptism occurring in order to invite such persons to be present) and can be a powerful tool in evangelizing to the lost, but does this justify altering clear biblical example? What are your thoughts? Thanks.
Chris Arnzen
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