Baptism

Perhaps some of you might think that I'm just being difficult, but now seems like a good time for me to post about baptism.

Many Protestants/Evangelicals like the story of Martin Luther and appreciate his key role in the Reformation. However, if they examine his teachings (in particular, the ones still carried on today in the Lutheran churches), they probably will hit a roadblock in terms of his views of baptism and the Lord's supper. Lutherans call these two institutions "sacraments" (see here and here), while many if not most other Protestants would call these "ordinances." While both of these terms are useful in their own ways, they tend to connote different things, and these connotations get at the heart of the disagreements over what baptism and the Lord's supper are and what they do. Other Protestants will say "we are justified by grace through faith alone, apart from works," and Lutherans will give a big hearty "Amen!" to that (this was basically the rallying cry of the Reformation). So, then the question is, "Why do you Lutherans then say that baptism and the Lord's supper are means of grace by which people are saved/forgiven/nurtured? Aren't you saying that a person is saved by faith plus doing these works? Plus, you have this weird practice of infant baptism!" The Lutheran response, in brief, is that baptism and the Lord's supper are not our works, but rather they are God's works, just as the Word of God being spoken and written is God's work. Furthermore, because the Word of God is "connected" to these visible elements, they create and sustain the faith by which alone we are justified, and this is done even for the tiniest of babies.

I will discuss this further later on when I have time. But, for now I will link to a number of Bible verses plus Luther's Small Catechism (one of the confessional documents that all Lutherans hold to) for people's consideration:

Update (3/29): I think that I will continue to add to this particular entry over time, since there is much that we could say about baptism. For right now, I wanted to mention an article I saw very recently that is connected with this matter. I quote:

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson appeared to throw cold water on a possible presidential bid by former Sen. Fred Thompson while praising former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is also weighing a presidential run, in a phone interview Tuesday.

"Everyone knows he's conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for," Dobson said of Thompson. "[But] I don't think he's a Christian; at least that's my impression," Dobson added, saying that such an impression would make it difficult for Thompson to connect with the Republican Party's conservative Christian base and win the GOP nomination.

Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Thompson, took issue with Dobson's characterization of the former Tennessee senator. "Thompson is indeed a Christian," he said. "He was baptized into the Church of Christ."

In a follow-up phone conversation, Focus on the Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger stood by Dobson's claim. He said that, while Dobson didn't believe Thompson to be a member of a non-Christian faith, Dobson nevertheless "has never known Thompson to be a committed Christian—someone who talks openly about his faith."

"We use that word—Christian—to refer to people who are evangelical Christians," Schneeberger added. "Dr. Dobson wasn't expressing a personal opinion about his reaction to a Thompson candidacy; he was trying to 'read the tea leaves' about such a possibility."

How do we judge who is a Christian or not? Paul's letter to the Romans was addressed to "all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints" (Romans 1:7), and he later says

6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 6:2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:1-4 RSV

Paul considers the Christians in Rome "Christian" because of their baptism into Christ, in agreement with the Great Commission:

28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20 RSV

So, I agree with Fred Thompson's spokeman's statement: Thompson is a Christian, because he was baptized in a Christian church (as much as I may or may not agree with the "Church of Christ" churches on various matters, as far as I can tell they count as "Christian"). It is not our job in this life to decide whether a person is a "true" Christian or not based upon whether he is sufficiently "committed" (i.e., does certain works such as talking as openly about his faith as we would like). Think of the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30,36-43).

Now, we may need to scripturally warn baptized people about their lives (e.g., warn them against theological error, warn them against persistent open sin, warn them against living "lukewarm" lives). But, such warnings are "brotherly" warnings (2 Thessalonians 3:13-15).

Update (3/29): Just tonight I saw that another Lutheran MyChurch user has put together some great posts about baptism here, here and here. Check them out!