More on Baptism

Yesterday one of the attendees here at our fellowship was discussing with me the need, or no need, of water baptism as a requisite for Salvation. Apparently someone had taught him that it was necessary and because of that, he had agreed to be water baptized. A brother from a house church here in China, took him to the mountain and water baptized him in a small spring. I told him that was fine however unnecessary for Salvation. Eventually, if he would join a denomination they would consider that baptism invalid because it was performed by a non-ordained preacher...

When I said this he became very excited and said that it was exactly what happened in his case: The day after he was water baptized on the mountain he went to the local church and the first question the pastors asked him was: 'have you been baptized?" He excitedly confirmed: "yes, yesterday, I was baptized!". The two pastors that he was talking to looked at each other, sort of puzzled and said: " I do not recall that we have performed any baptism yesterday...!?".

The point, amusing if it was not such a serious, is that each church [denomination] will perform their own brand of water baptism. This is a sign of initiation in their particular brand of religion.

The problem is that every time some people read the word Baptism in the Bible they assume it means water baptism. It is obvious that when one reads Mark 16:15,16 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.", one can emphasize the need for Baptism, but does this baptism mean water-baptism? Not so.

Interesting enough, most baptist denominations put the emphasis on baptism, and most of them obliterate "go ye into all the world". Conveniently, church denominations are more interested in branding membership with water baptism. How many pastors go around water baptizing unless the people who want baptism agree to become a member of their denomination?

I believe that those who have repented of their sins, believed and accepted Christ are saved. They have been baptized in Christ. Baptism is a personal choice that involves two parties: the sinner and the Savior. Like the thief on the cross [Luke 23:43]. Water baptism involves a third party, the baptizer, and that baptizer, as in the above case, has to be ordained by a particular denomination. In Mark 16:15 Jesus was talking about the evangelization of the world, this is not possible with the key of heaven in the hand of a handful of baptizers. Why would Paul writes in I Cor. 1:17 - "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect"? The last part of this verse sounds so much like what Paul said about circumcision: "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." [Galatians 5:2]. How can Christ be of none effect or Christ shall profit you nothing? Water baptism, circumcision, or any other ritual considered accessory to our Salvation can become, and very possible is, a manifestation or a testimony of unbelief and doubt. If I have doubts that Christ alone, my faith in Christ alone, can save my soul, and go to the preacher and he says: "you need to be [water] baptized...". In this case, the cure for doubts in not water baptism, it is the Word of God. "Faith cometh by hearing the word of God" [[Romans 10:17]]. Immersion yes but into the waters of the Word of God - "my words they are Spirit and they are Life" [John 6:63]- "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given ; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" [John 7:39].