Thursday, October 16, 2008
Always Right?
Most of my memories from the Bible Camp that we used to go to are good. There are some however that are not. One came to mind as I was re-reading Rob Bell’s book, “The Velvet Elvis.” There was an incident in which someone I baptized apparently didn’t go all the way under. Now, in my mind there was no “incident” especially in light of 1 Peter 3:18 – 22.
18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom[d] also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge[e] of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Although our intention is always to immerse in light of Romans 6, there are times when the “baptizer” is going to mess up the mechanics of the baptism such as getting one of those (sarcasm coming) pesky air bubbles in the baptismal robe. In light of 1 Peter 3, the power of baptism doesn’t come from how “perfect” the baptism is done but rather in what Christ did at the Cross.
As luck would have it, there were 2 people, an older teen and a preacher who question the very salvation of the person I baptized into Christ. The young man was emphatic that this person be re-baptized in light of how he had been taught. I made the above point and said I felt the teaching that brought him to the conclusion that if any part of a person's body/robe/hair/ect wasn't fully immersed, was wrong. I’ll never forget the look on his face when upon hearing that something he had taught could be wrong. He answered, “But how could that be wrong? Aren’t we the ones who have everything right?”
Rob Bell gleams some interesting thoughts about the possibility of being wrong from Acts 15:28 - 29
28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from=2 0sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
The word “seemed” communicates a couple of interesting points that I think speaks to church leaders and church members.
1. There is a need to make a decision regarding the Gentiles. These guys step up and make a decision which they believe is Holy Spirit inspired. How many elderships have you known that their Leadership Paradigm was, “If we ignore the problem / issue long enough it will go away. Churches will not grow / move if they allow the fear of getting it wrong from keeping them to make decisions that they feel are right for the church.
2. “Seemed” also communicates that they are not blind to the fact that they could be wrong. Church members and leaders should keep this reality close to our hearts. I think it is important that we continue to communicate this to the church that we try to be right but in some matters, only time will tell if the right call was made. Oh and here’s the “freedom aspect.” Its O.K. to be wrong! If the Apostle Paul who in Romans 7 basically states there are times when I’m wrong by what I’m doing or not doing, then we’re in good company.
I hope that inspires all of us today to pray, study, consult, and make decisions for if we’re wrong or right guess what? Jesus is Lord!
18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom[d] also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge[e] of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Although our intention is always to immerse in light of Romans 6, there are times when the “baptizer” is going to mess up the mechanics of the baptism such as getting one of those (sarcasm coming) pesky air bubbles in the baptismal robe. In light of 1 Peter 3, the power of baptism doesn’t come from how “perfect” the baptism is done but rather in what Christ did at the Cross.
As luck would have it, there were 2 people, an older teen and a preacher who question the very salvation of the person I baptized into Christ. The young man was emphatic that this person be re-baptized in light of how he had been taught. I made the above point and said I felt the teaching that brought him to the conclusion that if any part of a person's body/robe/hair/ect wasn't fully immersed, was wrong. I’ll never forget the look on his face when upon hearing that something he had taught could be wrong. He answered, “But how could that be wrong? Aren’t we the ones who have everything right?”
Rob Bell gleams some interesting thoughts about the possibility of being wrong from Acts 15:28 - 29
28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from=2 0sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
The word “seemed” communicates a couple of interesting points that I think speaks to church leaders and church members.
1. There is a need to make a decision regarding the Gentiles. These guys step up and make a decision which they believe is Holy Spirit inspired. How many elderships have you known that their Leadership Paradigm was, “If we ignore the problem / issue long enough it will go away. Churches will not grow / move if they allow the fear of getting it wrong from keeping them to make decisions that they feel are right for the church.
2. “Seemed” also communicates that they are not blind to the fact that they could be wrong. Church members and leaders should keep this reality close to our hearts. I think it is important that we continue to communicate this to the church that we try to be right but in some matters, only time will tell if the right call was made. Oh and here’s the “freedom aspect.” Its O.K. to be wrong! If the Apostle Paul who in Romans 7 basically states there are times when I’m wrong by what I’m doing or not doing, then we’re in good company.
I hope that inspires all of us today to pray, study, consult, and make decisions for if we’re wrong or right guess what? Jesus is Lord!
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I think it is interesting that the things they continue to bind on the Gentiles are all things the "alien and stranger among you" had to abide by under the Law. This is not some random list of strange things to bind on someone. These are the things a good Jew would recognize that Gentiles were already not supposed to do in their company.
matt - Welcome to the Show. Good point. A decision made within the framework of already established parameters.
Ten years ago I would not have concurred with you. Today I do. Enough said..........except this reminds me of the story about the preacher and convert attempting baptism in a pretty fast-paced river, I think it was, wherein when the head and upper torso was under, the feet were up out of the water.......and vice versa! :)
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