The question.

Have you ever woken up with a very real, very clear question on your mind? I mean besides "what time is it?", "Where am I?", or "Was that paper due today?".

No, I'm talking about a bigger, more important question. At least I think it's important....but maybe it isn't...and THAT may be another question in and of itself.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's back up. I woke up Thursday morning, without any recollection of having dreamed this, with this question burned into my mind. I'd like to ask it of you. Don't pass this off as an absurd question, or one comparable to many we in the church have been asked like, "Can God make a rock that He Himself can't lift?". This is a what would you do question. And it requires a straightforward answer without finding a loop hole.

So here it is:

You are in college. You are in your dorm. It is past curfew. The doors are locked. The alarms are on. You aren't leaving this building tonight. You are studying the Bible with your non-christian friend. You have been studying for awhile now. He looks at you and says, "I want to be baptized."
You are elated. You love this man like a brother, and it lifts your soul at the thought of his impending salvation. But then comes the question. How? There are no bathtubs in the men's dorm of course. You think and think but only come up with a few possibilities. You could pour water of his head perhaps? Or somehow use the shower? Either way it wouldn't be the "full immersion" that has been pounded into some of our heads by the Church of Christ.
So what is your answer? Your brother is looking to your maturity for guidance. Will you use a cup or the shower for a makeshift baptism? Or will you take the chance of waiting until the next day where you can perform it "properly"?


DO NO PROCEED WITHOUT ANSWERING.





So what did you decide? Was it easy? Did you even make a choice? Could you? Because I'm going to tell you I didn't. And I haven't. And it's bothering me. Let me just tell you my thoughts if you care to listen.
At first it doesn't seem that difficult. Especially for those of us with a certain view of God. I don't think the Bible portrays God as an avid rule keeper who grades you on your life and either passes or fails you. God wants obedience. God wants the heart. There is nothing "magical" about the waters of baptism. It's just tap. So why would the way in which you baptized make any difference? It's here I want to make something clear. This IS NOT a question of salvation for me. This question is not, "Does a non-immersion baptism save someone?" I am personally sick of humans trying to decide the fate of other humans. God is righteous judge. He will make the correct decision. Thank God for that.

No, this is simply a question of my response based on what I believe. If I choose to pour water over his head, and deem him baptized how does that effect my other beliefs? Does that mean I don't believe in a "proper" way of doing it? Is it only about the heart? If it is, how does that translate to everything? God had explicit instructions for how everything was done in the Old Testament. Read Numbers and Deuteronomy if you don't believe me. Has this changed? Can we worship, pray, baptize, fellowship any way we choose as long as we love God? I've known many people who have the view of God that would say Yes! And I know many more "Conservative" (I hate that term) brother and sisters who would say absolutely not!


So what is the answer? Opinions are great but they are what they are. Just opinions on something I believe is greater than all of us. I want to know the answer. God's answer.


I'd love feedback on this. Give me your thoughts, give me why you feel like that, or just simply tell me I'm getting bogged down in something that doesn't even matter. I'm open to all. If you kept up with me through that you have my thanks.

Peace be with us all.

Here it goes again

This is my 8th blog to start. I've never gotten past the first entry. For some reason I can't keep up with them. Yet, I think blogs can be very healthy. So 9th time here I come!