One In Jesus

Here’s another take on the baptism question. What do you think?

[poll id=”3″]

I realize some may agree with more than one question. Pick your favorite.

The previous poll asked,

A convert with genuine saving faith is shot and dies moments before entering the baptistry. He intended to be baptized for remission of his sins. He is —

Out of over 100 responses, not a single person picked: “Damned. Only the baptized are saved.” And yet that’s the traditionally stated view. We have uniformly agreed that either there is an exception for a death that prevents baptism or that we don’t know the answer. (One person answered that the circumstance could never happen, because God wouldn’t let it.)

No one is willing to assert that if someone is driving to the church to be baptized and is killed by a train, he is damned. And yet that was the teaching of countless revival sermons in my youth. (Does the desire to save someone justify emotional manipulation? Maybe that can be another poll down the road.)

Rex Butts made the excellent observation that our view of baptism reflects our view of God. I’m glad to see that no one is willing to teach that God damns such a person.

I also agree with Rex that the conversation, both in tone and content, has been very good.

Today’s poll is more challenging. Consider an individual without the intellect or commentaries or tracts necessary to conclude that baptism is “for” and not “because of” remission of sins. I’m not saying this is a stupid person, only that he isn’t able to do independent research at the M. Div. level. There are, after all, some very capable Greek scholars who argue “because of” in Acts 2:38. This is a debate that’s been going on for centuries. (I’m in the “into” camp, which is closer to “for” than “because of.”)

The new convert doesn’t have access to Greek grammars or Church of Christ preachers. He is correctly taught about Jesus but incorrectly taught about baptism. He obeys as well as he knows how but with an incorrect understanding. Does that damn him?

Eph 4:4-6 — “There is … one baptism”

(Eph 4:4-6 ESV) 4 There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

In Ephesians, Paul begins with God’s cosmic plan, he explains salvation in terms of —

(Eph 2:8-9 ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

— and he teaches the indwelling of the Spirit. He doesn’t get to baptism until chapter 4, and then baptism is part of the seven “ones.”

And so, in a general epistle written to many churches, some of which he never visited, Paul says next to nothing of baptism. But what he says matters a lot.

You see, baptism is one of the seven unities that Paul sees as uniting the church. We aren’t supposed to have multiple baptisms any more than we’re supposed to have multiple Gods. Rather, baptism is supposed to show our unity, not cause division! Continue reading →

People need rituals. God doesn’t so much, but people do.

Love

Consider a young couple. The young man embraces his girl friend and for the first time says, “I love you.” She hugs him, smiles, kisses him passionately, and the evening ends.

Later he discusses the evening with a friend over coffee. The friend says, “Wow, it’s great that you have a girlfriend who is so affectionate! Can’t you see in her eyes how much she loves you?”

“Yes, I know she loves me,” the young man says, “but I need her to say that she loves me. In fact, if she won’t say it, I don’t think I can continue in this relationship.” Continue reading →