This Sunday morning we're celebrating three baptisms. We do not insist on believer's baptism for membership. I know that this is heresy of the rankest order amongst some of my baptistic brethren. But I see it this way; if John Calvin moved to Huddersfield, would I want to share life and labours with him in the same church? Or how about my Scottish Presbyterian friends? You bet I would. We believe that they should be able to identify with us, and to affirm what we profess as reformed and evangelical people, even if they don't share our convictions on baptism.
That said, we don't believe that baptism is unimportant. Far from it. I never wanted to become a Baptist, but I became convinced of believer's baptism. So here I stand. We won't allow anyone to come into membership who hasn't thought about the matter very hard, and who isn't able to give a reasoned defence of their position. Nor will we allow anyone to serve as an Elder or Deacon who hasn't been baptised as a believer. Sorry, John Calvin, that's you!
We're delighted, then, that three of our newest members have come into membership having stated their desire to be baptised. Between them they clock up about fifty years of Christian experience. They've not been preached to, badgered, or even arm-wrestled with. They've taken the opportunity of applying for membership as a context in which to think baptism through, and have come to their convictions.
So when this Sunday comes there will be great joy. But there won't be great smugness. We're thrilled to be baptising Rachel, Andy and Graham, but we're more thrilled at their ongoing, fullhearted Christian discipleship. Under God we seek to be a church brimful with the Spirit, the Spirit of truth, love and unity. May it be so.
You set me thinking!
ReplyDeletehow many of your 35 are baptized and what form did the covenant commitment take; is it similar to the Methodist Covenant service? I'm just interested that your membership appears to be based on a covenant commitment!