Proclaimer Blog
Baptism and all that
Tim and I are doing a double-header this week on baptism, for the Cornhillers (note the judicious use of the comma; for the purposes of clarification, we’re not baptizing any Cornhillers). It’s been good to think through the issue again and work out not just what we think about it theologically but where the weaknesses in each other’s arguments are. Our plan is to do half the session on theology and then half on what that means practically in the life of the church. We’ve each of us fed one another what we think are our weak points and strengths. No surprises, really.
Much of the argument, of course, comes down to precisely the nature of the relationships between covenants and the precise amount of continuity/discontinuity (although I also have an issue with making circumcision and baptism analogous). In these theological arguments, I believe the burden of proof lies on the paedobaptist, as there is so little to support the case in the New Testament (as far as I can see, every one of the 3,500 odd people baptised in Acts are believers). Perhaps I would say that. Please don’t write in!
But – and this is the purpose of this post – I can also see (and have been helped to see) the weaknesses in my own argument, both those that are poorly expressed in terms of basic English, and those where I have simply not made the case from the text. Moreover, and this is a crucial point for credo-baptists like me, there are plenty of practical outworkings where you would think that those who practise believers’ baptism are in fact guilty of imposing a paedo-baptist (covenant children) practical theology upon something that cannot bear it.
All of which is to say, talking these things through in a measured, careful, thoughtful and humble way does us the power of good. You should perhaps try it.
Oh, and of course there are always nuggets to discover along the way. Like the fact that first/second century baptisms (ahem, of believers – smiley face) were conducted in the nude. I’m rather glad some things have changed. As, no doubt, are my congregation.
PS, there are some good books around on baptism, but here are three of the best I have read: Believers Baptism edited by Tom Schreiner; Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism edited by Gregg Strawbridge. These two are multi author contributions and whilst there are plenty of other books on the topic around, these I found the most comprehensive and helpful for understanding positions. They’re the two I lend to students who want to understand the two positions. In terms of single volume, there is a three way book including contributions from Bruce Ware and Sinclair Ferguson called Baptism: three views (the third is dual practice). All highly recommended.