Peace Or Persecution?

We have one more problematic question concerning what the Bible says about living in peace on earth. In 1 Timothy 2:1-3 we read:

I exhort (urge) therefore, that, first of all, supplications (requests), prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and aceptable in the sight of God our Savior.

The word ‘kings’ refers to the world’s rulers, whether they be called president, czar, chancellor, emperor, etc. The phrase “For all that are in authority” refers to those with positions in government that make laws and decisions that affect our daily lives.

We then understand that 1 Timothy 2:1-3 is commanding us to remember to pray for such people, for their salvation for two very important reasons. The first and most important is for their salvation because God wants all men to be saved and receive the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). Second, we pray for them and their salvation because our lives can be most miserable and even horrific under the rulership of wicked leaders in government who do not fear God.

Let’s now look at the following scriptures which when considered in conjunction with 1 Timothy 2:1-3, may cause us to lose hope for ever living in any peace under the rulership of the present world’s leaders. They may also leave us in confusion.

…Beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge (beat/whip) you in their synagogues, and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parent, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake… Matthew 10:17-18, 21-22

And we read:

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

Let’s consider the final scripture we’ll present:

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword Revelation 6:4

When the above scriptures which fortell of persecution of Christians are considered in conjunction with 1 Timothy 2:1-3 which speak of our living quiet and peaceable lives, we may be left very perplexed. Why pray for our government official so that we can lead a quiet and peaceable life when scripture has already predicted our persecution? How can we live a quiet and peaceable life and be persecuted at the same time?

The answer is a simple one. We’ll first give it and then we will see if it is biblical. We have heard people say that we must take the bitter with the sweet in this life. Life in this present world cannot and will not be all sweet all of the time. However, it is not God’s will for it to be all bitter all of the time either.

Likewise, let every Christian know that in this present world, he must take the persecution, the bitter, with the blessing of God, the sweet. God lets us know that if we will live godly, we will suffer persecution in one form or another. He also lets us know that, nevertheless, it is not his will for his servants to be persecuted without rest, without deliverance, all the days of their lives on this earth, regardless of what land they inhabit. Is this what the Bible says or is this an opinion? We will boldly say that this is what the Bible teaches as evidenced in the following scriptures.

In Mark 10:29-30, Jesus speaks of the things that one may have to give up in order to follow him. However, he immediately afterwards speaks of the blessings to be expected to follow, and then again reminds us that in the midst of the blessings will be persecutions. Is this not taking the bitter (persecutions) with the sweet (blessings)?

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, WITH PERSECUTIONS; and in the world to come eternal life Mark 10:29-30

The apostle Paul, who suffered much persecution, was not left undelivered from his sufferings, and he knew that he never would be until it came time for the persecution that was set to take his life at the time appointed by God (2 Timothy 4:6). But until that time, Paul said:

…I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom… 2 Timothy 4:17-18

The Bible gives us to know that God wants us to have good things, to have some joy in this present life, to enjoy good health, to be protected and to be prosperous. The scriptures say:

For the Lord God is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prosperth. 3 John 1:2

Jesus said:

…Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. St John 16:23-24

A desire to know God only in the blessings we enjoy in Jesus is an imbalanced mentality. Paul wrote:

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection (blessing), AND the fellowship of his sufferings… Philippians 3:10

Let’s take a look at the life of Joseph. He enjoyed a quiet and peaceable life, was loved by his father, Jacob, above the rest of his brothers. He had plenty of food to eat and we do not read of him having any health problems (Genesis chapter 37). He was then mistreated by his siblings and sold into Egypt, but again, he received good things from God who caused all that he put his hands to to prosper (Genesis 39:1-3). God exalted him to the position of overseer of the house of his master, the Egyptian (Genesis 39:4-5). Joseph enjoyed the blessing of God. Soon afterward, he would face persecution for his righteousness. He went to prison as an innocent man. Joseph refused to break God’s law in lying with his master’s wife. This obedience to God landed him persecution (Genesis 39:7-20). Nevertheless, God was with Joseph in prison, to ease his persecution that he had to face. We read:

But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison,; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. Genesis 39:21-23

Later we read that God blessed and exalted Joseph to a position of being ruler over the land of Egypt. His position was inferior only to the Pharaoh’s throne (Genesis 41:39-41).

Later, in the book of Psalms, we learn that Joseph’s persecution had been set by God to last a specific period of time, not all of his life. The Bible says:

He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him (tested his faith) The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance. Psalm 105:17-21

The phrase “Until the time that his word came” refers to the interpretations that God gave Joseph for the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief of the butlers and that of his bakers came to pass. This later lead to the Pharaoh consulting Joseph for the interpretation of his own dream for which God again gave interpretation (Genesis 40th chapter and verses 1-45 of chapter 41). It is the word of the Lord (God’s revelations of the dreams given to Joseph for him to tell) that delivered Joseph whose trial of faith was then complete. God’s word washed away the marred reputation and persecution that Joseph had suffered. The pharaoh would not believe that God would give so great a wisdom and power to foretell dreams to a sinful, wicked man, but rather to one who was righteous in his eyes (Genesis 41:38-39).

Again, it was not God’s will for Joseph to be persecuted relentlessly, with no rest, throughout all of his life because of his righteousness.

Are we to consider the life of Joseph since he lived during Old Testament times? Of course we are. We have presented ample New Testament scripture which is in perfect agreement with what we see and learn in the life of Joseph.

But we have even further confirmation that our persecution is set by God to occurr only for a predetermined period of time. Understand that the period of time may be short or long, stretching into some years. Our persecution times may be scattered throughout our lives, or may only occur at the beginning, middle or end of life. It may involve the maring of our reputation (Matthew 5:11, 1 Peter 4:13-14), beatings and imprisonment (Acts 16:16-24), torture (Hebrews 11:35), death/martyrdom (Revelation 6:9-11) or any combination of these. But none of these will exceed the time established by God for the trial of faith. Our Lord said:

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried (tested); and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10

‘Ten days’ does not refer to a literal ten days, but rather symbolizes that the persecution, the trying of your faith, will not occur beyond the ten days set by God.

Finally, as you study this lesson, please note that it centers on the persecution of the saints of God because of their righteousness, their obedience to the Lord. This suffering is not to be confused with suffering under God’s chastisement nor with suffering in reaping what we have sown.

Although we can’t avert the foretold great persecution that the Antichrist will usher in with his government, we must continue to fight until God has allowed him to take his position of power.

Emphasis is on God’s allowance because it is a powerful reminder of who is actually in control at all times no matter what the situation looks like. The unholy trinity will one day display such power that many will say: “Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4). We pray that these words will never come from you as they are a form of worship of the beast (Revelation 13:4) for which God will pour out his wrath on those who do this (Revelation 16:1-2). Nevertheless, the Antichrist (son of perdition), cannot enter the world scene (manifest himself) before the time the Lord has set (2 Thessalonians 2:3-6).

Satan searches the earth for any and everyone he may destroy (1 Peter 5:8). There is no logical reason to believe that he, knowing his time is short (Revelation 12:12), would not have manifested himself and set up his kingdom many years ago, had he not been restricted. Someone who will not break free does not need to be detained.

Therefore, I believe that Satan, knowing his time is short, works to put into practice as many aspects of his coming government, his manifestation, ahead of God’s schedule. One need only look at the many governments that allow and even encourage persecution of Christians. We must continue to pray fervently according to the instructions of 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and to reproove (speak and act against) the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11) that we not be found guilty before God concerning the salvation of men’s souls or suffer persecution that God would have averted through our prayers and supplications before him according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3.

Coming soon, we will study historical and modern-day testimonies of God’s intervention into government when his people follow his instructions for prayer and supplications before his throne.

In conclusion, note that God commands us to pray for our political leaders, first, because he wants them to be saved, second, its not his will for his servants to be relentlessly persecuted without deliverance or rest, under their rulership. You might wonder how God can intervene in government when he does not force salvation on anyone. Remember that God controls both the saved and the unsaved for his pursposes. Proverbs 16:4 says:

The Lord hath made all things (including people) for himself (his own purposes)…

Does the Bible say that the Pharaoh that exalted Joseph to ruler over Egypt was saved? No, it does not. Nevertheless, the poeple enjoyed a quiet and peaceable life because of this intervention of God. Does the Bible say that the keeper of the prison where Joseph was, accepted salvation? No, it doesn’t. Nevertheless, God used him, giving Joseph favor in his eyes which made life so much better for him. When we pray for our political leaders and those in authority, we can look to see some come to salvation, others to be removed from their positions and others powerfully influenced by God to carry out an action that is for the good of the lives of Christians.

In the book of Esther we read how God caused king Ahasuerus to not be able to sleep one night and in his restlessness, to have his servants bring the records of the chronicles to be read to him. It was found written that a man named Mordecai had told of two of the kings keepers of the door who sought to kill him. The king then asked what honor and dignity had Mordecai received for his deed. They responded that he had not been honored at all. At this time, a man named Haman, one of the king’s high officials, sought to have Mordecai killed by hanging; and not only this, but also the destruction of the entire Jewish people (Esther 3:1-10). Haman was then mandated to carry out the king’s order for Mordecai to be greatly honored. Queen Esther who became queen through God’s intervention into government (Esther 2:17), attended a banquet with him and Haman. During the banquet, Esther appeals to the king for his intervention into a plot to destroy her people. The king, attentive to her plea, asks her to reveal the one who was behind such a deed. She exposes Haman’s wicked plot to him (Esther 7:2-6). The scriptures then tell us:

And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman, stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified. Esther 7:7-10

God’s servants, an entire nation, was spared a great persecution because of the Lord’s intervention into the heathen government under which they lived. We do not read of the king’s conversion in the book of Esther but we do see the Lord’s control over his throne for the good of his people.

But don t let even a hint of greed exist among you, as is proper for saints? (Ephesians 5:3)

Recently, I searched the AOL Black Voices website and came across an article by Angela Bronner titled The Gospel of Prosperity: Does Wealth Mean You re Blessed? It explored the debate raging in the Christian community over whether God wants Christians to be materially wealthy, or at least financially well off.

Bonner quoted a Blender magazine statement by wealthy hip-hop soul singer Mary J. Blige: My God is a God who wants me to have things. He wants me to bling. He wants me to be the hottest thing on the block. Bonner says Blige is a born-again Christian. Bonner also quotes black televangelist Creflo Dollar, whose famous sound bite is To be broke means you lack. She lists a few of Dollar s exorbitantly rich credentials:

His World Changers megachurch, founded in Atlanta in 1986, now has over 25,000 members with an annual operating budget of over $80 million, she writes. Dollar, who has a multi-million dollar mansion in Atlanta and two Rolls Royces, flies on his private jet every Saturday to New York City, where in October 2004, he started a congregation. He owns a $2.5 million Manhattan apartment in the exclusive Time Warner Center, and collects over $345,000 a month for the New York church.

Dollar is a proponent of prosperity theology. (I m not sure about Blige, but I do get the feeling she s a fan of some kind of prosperity gospel.) Prosperity theology advocates believe that God wants his people to financially and materially prosper and that a Christian who is not prosperous lacks the favor of God.

Other promoters of prosperity theology include popular black televangelist Frederick K. C. Price, pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles, and Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, which according to some surveys is the largest church in the United States.

Some critics denounce prosperity theology as an unbiblical, mean-spirited, diabolical menace, a costume worn by the greedy to camouflage their greed. But to be fair, some prosperity theology proponents insist that their belief includes moral and spiritual prosperity as well, which is in line with Psalm 1:3 where prospers seems to encompass the material and immaterial.

But there is a facet of the system which makes that claim seem menial at best. Prosperity theology emphasizes that if you are rich you re blessed; but that if you are poor you re cursed or you re not as blessed as fully as one who s rich. In other words, for Christians, God s blessing on the rich sings the melody of favoritism, while the curse on the poor scripts a melodrama of sadness. From prosperity theology s perspective, moving a Christian from poverty to wealth is one of the reasons for the corporation of heaven s existence. Through tithing, obedience and other means, God ensures the poor of eventual financial and material wealth at least that s what prosperity theology advocates assure us.

A balanced view of scripture writes a memorandum with a different outlook. Scripture teaches that if Christians are rich they might be blessed by God, but if they are poor they may also be blessed by God. That s why a few days or weeks after Christ s resurrection There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, and turn it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed according to the needs of the people. (Acts 4:34-35)

What a rich instance of rich Christians loving poor Christians! What an indictment against prosperity theology!

Prosperity theology, however, ignores such noble deeds, claiming they are no longer charitable or economic models, because they are socialistic or apply only to biblical times.

Prosperity theology has, in essence, turned scripture against scripture. Verses now fight each other ruthlessly. They wrestle for influence over innocent minds. But the fighters are not evenly matched. Prosperity theology verses are superheavyweights, while non-prosperity theology verses are lightweights. That is, prosperity theology is fat and overweight with verses that emphasize prosperity, while the slimmer, more agile non-prosperity theology verses must move delicately to avoid being pinned.

Moreover, prosperity theology hires greed and materialism to manage and train his fighters. He changes greed s name to Blessing and materialism s to No Shame. He gives his fighters the nickname God s Wealth.

But balance is the key. To adore and abhor the same truths, to grin and frown at the same facts, to both love and hate material wealth is the heart of true Christianity. Hence, though Proverbs says Be generous and you will be prosperous. (Proverbs 11:25), we re also warned not to love the world or the things in the world. (I John 2:15). And though we re told King Solomon was richer than any other king. (I Kings 10:23), Christ warns us not to store up riches for [ourselves] here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19).

Prosperity is deadly when it is ungodly. Happy are those who carry it in their hip pocket. Thus, if you yearn for wealth, you stand between an earthquake and a volcano. To keep the earthquake from hitting and the volcano from erupting, rise to the atmosphere of humility. If God gives you wealth, give as much as is reasonable away. If you don t have wealth, be thankful for the wealth you already have.

The gospel of wealth is not the Gospel of Christ; the gospel of prosperity theology is not the Gospel of true Christianity. Scripture is no more the dog of prosperity theology than prosperity theology is the daughter of scripture.

In the days of Jesus it was the Jewish custom to discuss religious teachings within the context of community. There would be those who would teach from a position of authority but with the coming of the Holy Spirit it was also expected that ALL the brothers and sisters could be taught of and led by God.

Acts said that they met in the temple and from house to house. It appears that those who already attended ‘church’ (the Jews) continued to go to church but that they engaged non-believers in their homes.

This forum of discussing spiritual things with one another was one factor in the great multiplication of Christians and thousands being saved and added to the Early Church.

Our lives are testimonies to who God is and how he has changed our hearts and lives. These testimonies, while good to hear on Sunday, are not to be limited to a church service but are to be literally shouted from the roof tops. Good things are happening to us all the time yet we rarely give God the credit. When bad things happen we immediately ask God why.

Most people have no desire to engage in a religious discussion but almost everyone is eager to partake of a discussion of a spiritual nature. When we discuss God in the context of how he moves within a church service then we are discussing him with religious jargon set in a religious ceremony which is only off-putting and confusing to the non-churched.

Our discussion of God must become more normalized in order to be effective. We must learn, as Jesus modeled, to answer the right questions, discern the deeper questions of the heart, and not be easily offended by arrogance and ignorance.

One great way to learn a new way to describe God is to read the scriptures in a user-friendly text such as The Message. It strips away all the phrases we are so familiar with and almost shocks us with its bluntness and simplicity.

Another excellent way to gain new and fresher words to describe who God is to us is to learn to pray in a way that reflects how we really talk in life. Our prayer life can be one of the most negatively religious practices we hold as we seek to position ourselves in a place of righteousness through the use of the right words that won’t be offensive to God; never realizing that this cover up with our words is exactly what offends God!

One last trick in overcoming our restrictive religious language is to really listen to how we come across in our spiritual conversations with those around us. There is an old saying in education that “it was never really taught if it was not caught” which simply means that just because you said it does not mean anyone learned it. Check out how people are responding to how you describe God. You may be surprised that no one is responding to what you know because they do not understand the language you are speaking.

Let’s keep our language real and our discussions open. Let’s refuse to defend religious positions that do not reflect the Father’s heart of love and grace. Let’s make a decision right now that we will learn the language of the people that do not yet know the goodness of our Father.

As a guy with a license to marry and bury, weddings, baptisms and baby dedications are among my favorite ministerial things to do.

I was once talking to a woman in the workplace who was excitedly telling me about a girl whom she had been discipling. Her enthusiasm disappeared when she added that she only wished she could be the one to baptize the girl. Of course, the woman was feeling bound by the belief that, because she wasn’t a minister in her denomination - or worse - because she was “merely” a woman, the odds of that taking place were slim to none.

Au contraire, amigo! There’s nothing more that I love as a licensed minister than to step back and allow all the non-licensed “priests and kings” to enjoy these opportunities to minister. I STRONGLY encouraged that woman to talk with the girl and see how she would feel about being baptized by her. I reminded her that, when Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples, baptizing them as they went, he was talking to US, too, and wasn’t excluding anybody. After all, Galatians 3;28 reminds us, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

I’ve baptized people in rivers, swimming pools, bathtubs and Jacuzzi’s and in church baptismals. You can baptize, too. Jesus commissioned ALL of us to do that very thing. Before I was ever ordained, I baptized my own kids in the tub.

Guess what?

It counted!

WHAT DOES “BAPTISM” MEAN??

The word comes from the Greek “baptizo” which means to dip, to dye, to wet, to immerse. I see no biblical example of Jesus being baptized as an infant, nor do I see any examples of His disciples or apostles being baptized as babies either. Since Jesus said, “I came as an example,” I’m going to take that to mean that, if He waited until adulthood and until He was 100% ready, we should do the same.

CAN WE BAPTIZE BABIES?

Considering there is not a single Biblical illustration or reference to a baby being baptized, I have decided against the practice. However, all things are permissible, as Paul said, even though they’re not all beneficial (1 Cor 6:12). I have to ask…why would anyone do that to a child, especially if it’s not benefiting them at all? Baptism does not save anybody (the blood of Jesus washes away our sins, according to 1 John 1:7, not chlorinated water). So, with that option eliminated, consider why on earth anyone would immerse an infant in water over its head for the sake of ritual. Who would DO such a thing? That’s called attempted murder. Therefore, if baptism doesn’t save, and it makes no sense to immerse a baby in water over its head, what’s the point? If your denomination traditionally sprinkles water on a baby’s head, and water doesn’t save and sprinkling doesn’t qualify as a biblically-defined baptism, why would anyone submit to or take part in a ritualistic “forehead washing” either? Has baptism been reduced to initiation into a religious sect? It’s GOT to be more than some weird form of Christian hazing.

Let’s not check our brains at the door, shall we?

DOES BAPTISM SAVE US?

No, I don’t believe so. Neither does a Profession of Faith or a Sinner’s Prayer, while were on the subject. Better theologians than I have been arguing the matter for years while thousands of perfectly dry people are going to Hell. Acts 16:30-31 and Romans 10:9-10 are pretty clear to me. I think all Christians will agree that we were all saved by the blood of Christ shed at the cross. Not by water. Not by good deeds. Not by religion. Not by church affiliation. It is interesting to note that Jesus - the One who said He came as an example, never baptized a soul. “The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples” (John 4:1-2). If water baptism were necessary for salvation, wouldn’t Jesus have been busily about baptizing people rather than feeding them loaves and fishes or preaching sermons? Jesus presented Himself to the Jews as their Messiah with signs and wonders, but He did not baptize them.

The Apostle Paul, himself, only baptized a few. “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel — not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Corinthians 1:13-17).

Those who teach that baptism is necessary for salvation overlook this statement of Paul’s. If water baptism were necessary for salvation, would not Paul have made water baptism a central theme of his ministry, too? Instead, he taught the “baptism of the Holy Spirit,” which occurs when one is born again and it is a spiritual identification as the believer is placed IN Christ. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free” (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Holy Spirit baptizes us, or identifies us, as a child of God and then seals us and sets us apart to the “day of redemption” or the day when our redemption will be completed and we see Him “face to face.” “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

So, is baptism necessary for salvation? If the question is concerning water baptism, the answer is no. We are not saved by ritual or works but by “grace through faith.” “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, I don’t believe water baptism ever saved anyone, despite the standard verses used by many to support that position. I baptized 16 kids from a gang called The Crypts one day, some of them glassy-eyed and smelling like marijuana. Saved by water baptism or merely publicly bathed while wearing white gowns? While discipling those kids, only a few ever bore any fruit and repented from that lifestyle.

On the other hand, the baptism of the Spirit is necessary for salvation and that has nothing whatever to do with water and it is not something we do for ourselves. His indwelling presence is God’s free gift to us at the moment we put our faith in Jesus and are born again. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” (Rom 8;16).

Great damage has been done throughout the Christian world by the traditions of various denominations in regard to this subject (Matthew 16:6), making the Word of God of no effect. Christians have so many convictions regarding what it means to “be saved” that it has led us to focus too much on HOW to be saved and has us trying to spread a divided, unbiblical “Gospel of Salvation” rather than the Gospel of the Kingdom, as Jesus and His disciples did. Our variois salvation techniques have done little more than to sow confusion in many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, over the generations.

SO, WHY BAPTIZE AT ALL?

For starters, King Jesus decreed that we should. He commissioned us to do so (Matthew 28:19).

Secondly, He was baptized and we are to follow His example (John 13:15).

That’s good enough for me. There are over 30 references in the New Testament to some form of “following me” or “following Him” and, as followers of Christ, I contend that this actually means we are to follow Him.

Quite simple.

No matter how excited grandma was the day Uncle Joe got dunked, fact is, he probably did it just to shut her up. His devious plan probably worked, too. She immediately set her sights on cousin Billy Bob at that point. As the Scripture says, “Man looks at the outside, God looks at the heart,” (1 Sam 16:7). Regardless of the religious hoops we jump through, God’s not interested in our performance or adherence to manmade religious rituals.

He wants our hearts.

In baptism, the washing away of sin is implied, not merely as a clean of our slates but as a removal of the obstacle to peace and reconciliation with God. As a reenactment of both the Exodus of Israel and Resurrection of Jesus, it bears witness to the God who has rescued us and raises us to new life. It is nothing anyone can earn or merit, but is solely the rescuing work of God, motivated by His love. It is an act of obedience and serves as a public witness to anyone watching. Though they will eventually observe the transformation of a life submitted to Jesus, some will see baptism as an outward sign of something going on deep within the one being baptized and may experience the planting of the seed of conviction.

I have some basic “Baptism How-To’s” pertaining to the baptismal procedure I’ve used for years. They’re available to anyone who asks and come with a short teaching that can be shared with any baptismal candidate. Simply send me an eMail at team1min@our-town.com with the word “DUNK” in your Subject Bar.

Every blessing,