A worked example: Water Baptism
Sometimes it is difficult to understand the many disagreements between people who claim to be true Christian believers.
Christians do indeed disagree on a wide range of issues. Christians disagree about the right way to baptize someone – adult versus infant; about the way we interpret the Bible and what we mean when we say it is divinely inspired. Christians disagree about whether women can be clergy, on human sexuality issues pertaining to the life of the Church, and who is allowed to receive communion in their church. We disagree on such issues as capital punishment, divorce, abortion, immigration, and racism.
We will now take a look at one of the major areas of disagreement to see if we can find a way to understand the different approaches to Christian baptism.
The sacrament of Baptism
A sacrament is a ceremony through which Christians believe they receive God’s grace or are brought closer to God. Therefore, a sacrament is something that people can engage in with their senses but realizing that the sacrament has a deeper meaning too.
For Protestants, baptism, and the Eucharist (or communion) are sacraments.
All four gospels mention Jesus conducting both of these acts.
Many Christians believe that baptism is important because Jesus himself was baptised, and after his resurrection he told his disciples that they should be baptised too.
John 3:5 No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
John the Baptist was the first Israelite to use baptism to symbolise the forgiveness of sins. John baptised Jesus. Many Christians believe that baptising cleanses people from original sin[1].
Baptism is practised by all Christian denominations as it is seen as a command from God and a way of following Jesus’ example. However, the various denominations practise baptism in different ways.
Infant baptism
Some Christians believe baptism makes a Christian a member of God’s family. In many denominations babies are baptised, and this is known as infant baptism.
For Orthodox Christians, infant baptism involves total immersion. However, other denominations make the sign of the cross on the baby’s head using oil or sprinkle holy water on the forehead.
Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 28:19 were to "baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit", so these words are often said during a baptism.
There are other elements to a baptism service in various denominations and might include promises made by godparents on behalf to the child to provide a Christian education and upbringing.
Believers’ baptism
Baptists and Pentecostals believe baptism should only occur once usually in adult life, as it is then that the individual can accept Christianity for themselves. This type of baptism is called believers’ baptism.
It is performed using total immersion, where the person being baptised walks down into a pool/body of water and is fully submerged three times (or just once) before walking out into their new life.
Some Christians prefer believers’ baptism because Jesus was baptised as an adult and because, as an adult, you are able to make decisions for yourself.
The person being baptized is brought up out of the water, which is a picture of their soul being raised from the dead to eternal life. Being brought up out of the water is also a forward-looking picture. It reminds us of God's promise to one day resurrect our physical bodies from the grave just like he did for Jesus.
Oneness Pentecostal and a few other churches baptize only in the name of Jesus Christ[2], citing Peter's preaching baptism in the name of Jesus as their authority.
Reasons for different approaches to water baptism [3]
In the last centuries of the Old Testament era, the Greek word “baptizo” did mean to “immerse.” By the time the New Testament was written that word described the application of water that included immersing, washing, and pouring. This illustrates how the etymology and initial usage of a word is one thing, but current usage is another matter. (Consider how the same thing is true regarding English words.)
It is clear from passages like Mark 7:3-4 and Luke 11:38 that the Greek word “baptizo” could mean the application of water in different ways. The context in which the word occurs will drive the meaning and interpretation.
In the Bible, God does not specify how to apply the water in Baptism. Baptism is the application of water in connection with God’s word (see Matthew 28:18-19 and Ephesians 5:25-26).
Where Christians disagree (in any area) we should remember one of John Wesley’s most famous quotes which gives us an approach to discussing the issue:
“In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things charity.” [4]
He is saying that in Christianity there is a core set of beliefs we can all agree on. These are the ‘pillars of the faith’ such as the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, and the physical resurrection of Jesus. These are the essentials and indeed usually produce unity between Christians. The mode of baptism, however, may be considered as non-essential.
Some things we will not agree on but let them be the nonessentials.
And in both, let us love one another.
Footnotes
[1] Original sin is an Augustinian Christian doctrine that says that everyone is born sinful. This means that they are born with a built-in urge to do bad things and to disobey God. See link below.
[2] Wikipedia reference; Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc". Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
[3] For reference see Greek word for “baptize” – WELS
[4] An aphorism variously attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430), John Wesley (1703 – 1791), and to a number of theologians in between them.
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