Dual-purpose baptism?

[Agent P]

I realize the article here addresses churches in Europe, but after reading it I have just two words...SAY WHAT?

New statement on dual - practice baptism

The authors of this statement are calling on Christians and churches to overcome the either–or mentality, and to embrace a view that promotes unity in diversity.

evangelicalfocus.com

 

[illinoisguy]

I'm not familiar with Michael Bird who helped draft this statement. The bottom of the statement mentions the World Council of Churches, a very liberal ecumenical group that would naturally advocate the abandonment of all doctrinal distinctives so that all the churches can get together (under their leadership, of course).

Bird, on his own web site, references John Bunyan and the Evangelical Free Church of America in support of his broad position on baptism, and I believe he is accurate about that - John Bunyan's church did not require adult baptism for membership, nor does the EFCA. (I don't agree with that policy myself). It has been alleged that John Bunyan had a child, Joseph, baptized as an infant in the Anglican Church in 1672, but Thomas Armitage, in his "History of the Baptists," disputes this - he believes that the infant in question was John Bunyan's grandchild, not his child. Nevertheless, it must be grudgingly admitted that Bunyan, the famous author of "Pilgrim's Progress," was not a thoroughgoing Baptist.

From the "Didache, or Teaching of the 12 Apostles," Second Century AD: "This is how to baptize. Give public instruction on all these points, and then baptize in running water. . . . Before the baptism, moreover, the one who baptizes and the one being baptized must fast, and any others who can. And you must tell the one being baptized to fast for one or two days beforehand." [Doesn't sound like infant baptism to me].

 

[Baptist Renegade]

Just take the Presbyterian position and be done with it! Realize though that good Presbyterians (PCA, OPC) are far more biblical acknowledging that there is one Lord, one faith, and ONE BAPTISM!

There is no such a thing as "Dual-Practice" baptism. As for Presbys, the only infants they baptize are parents of baptized believers who are "in the covenant." If someone comes in off the street wanting to be baptized, they will do so upon a credible profession of faith which is little different than the "Creedo-Baptist" position aside from "pouring" being an option to "dunking" (both are considered legitimate and the choice of the recipient).

Those who are baptized as an infant are not considered "saved" but "in the covenant" (according to their covenant theology position) and are to "make their calling and election sure" as they grow up in the Church. In other words, they will profess Christ and faith will (hopefully) "happen" some time but they will not be "re-baptized" based upon this profession. I don't know if there is any sort of "confirmation" ritual they would (similar to Catholics) where they would publically profess their faith and be received as an "adult" with full rights and privileges?

I would guess that there are likely a few other things that this group is likely a little "loopy" on! They are not trying to be biblical, just a little more "inclusive."

I am a Baptist and am therefore resolute in my postion that baptism should be exclusive to those who profess Christ. Over the years, I have become more hesitant about baptizing any child (pre-teen and below) and would rather see them grow up in the Church being firmly established and certain of their faith in Christ before they are baptized and received into the full membership of the Church. We baptize about two to three times a year and during the four years I have been a member, I do not think I have ever seen a child being baptized. I do not know if this is our actual position though but I am quite fine with this. What I do not like is seeing someone being "Dunked" immediately after making a "Profession" only to be "dunked again" after they "really" got saved!

Many of my "Bus Kids" would make a game of "Professing Christ" and "Getting Dunked" every Sunday morning and the leadership was perfectly fine with this and sometimes blamed it on us for whatever "methodology" we were using to "lead them" to Christ! They were not completely wrong as the entire Church was steeped in the horrible Jack Hyles "1-2-3, Repeat After Me!" soulwinning methodology.

But I digress...