Saturday, November 21, 1998

Biblical debates all follow the same pattern

By Michael O'Connor / Abilene Reporter-News

First we had to argue about appropriate clothing in church. Then we fussed about women's role in the church. Now we're arguing about baptism.

I suppose if we must have an unresolvable discussion over an issue in the church, something as pivotal in the Christian faith as baptism makes a better debate than shorts on Sunday.

But we're calling a halt to the debate on this page. We've received a number of letters/columns for consideration, but you're really not saying anything that hasn't already been said -- even though some writers sincerely believe they are providing a different perspective.

These debates follow a predictable pattern. Someone writes in with a concern, to which we receive a reply. Then another writer decides he or she will provide us with the biblical perspective. That requires another writer to send a piece proclaiming the previous writer to be giving a denominational perspective, not a biblical one. The latest writer will, of course, tell us what the Bible really says. The pattern then repeats.

But what I've noticed is that the Bible becomes a weapon. Verses become theological hand grenades lobbed at the unbelieving opposition. Acts 2:32. Boom. That oughta show them. I Cor. 13:1. Boom. Blew away another argument with that one.

Some letter writers are more like machine gunners, stringing together multiple verses to prove their point, as though by sheer volume they would be able to overcome the infidel's argument.

Baptism has been a contentious issue from the founding of the church. Jesus' disciples asked him if they shouldn't stop some others from baptizing. Paul takes pride in how few people he baptized in Corinth because the believers are taking sides based on who baptized them.

Infant baptism would become prevalent when the church joined hands with the state. This alliance would declare those who believed in adult-only baptism to be heretics. Of course heretics had to be eliminated -- they could convert or die. Not one of the bright lights of Christian history.

But notice one thing: Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, Church of Christ, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Disciples of Christ -- oh, you get the point -- all believe baptism is an essential part of Christian belief. Yes, they disagree as to form and age. But if they didn't, trust me, they would find something else to disagree about. And one of those groups would insist their viewpoint was God's viewpoint and the only truth on the matter.

So, the end of the matter is this: Spend some time in the Bible yourself, gentle reader, and come to your own conclusion. And let me lob this Scripture grenade at you. "A new commandment I give to, that you love one another, as I have loved you. By this will all know that you are my disciples, that you love one another."

I don't see anything in there about baptism, do you?