What about Baptism?

We’ve talked about baptism before. Up to now, I’ve avoided trying to nail down the particulars. Over the years I’ve been influenced by several different traditions, and I played along with whatever was the practice of the church I attended. But, having no occasion to perform any such rituals, there was no need to settle on any particular answers to common questions. I never felt it mattered how or when one performed it, only that it be done.

I’ve never encountered a better balanced examination than the one Heiser offered way back some years ago when he first began his “Naked Bible Podcast” program. In ten short audio recordings, he covers the various questions and angles without telling you where you must land. Rather, he lays out his thesis that you must start with Colossians 2:11-12 where Paul says that circumcision and baptism are roughly equivalent. Recognize that whatever we say about baptism in the New Covenant must connect to what we can say about circumcision in the Old Covenant.

I’ll link directly to his archive of audio recordings:

1. Baptism: What You Know May Not Be So
2. Baptism: Contradictions in Creeds Part 1
3. Baptism: Contradictions in Creeds Part 2
4. Baptism: Contradictions in Creeds Part 3
5. Baptism, Circumcision, and Biblical Theology
6. Applying the Baptism – Circumcision Theology to Adult or Believer’s Baptism
7. The Mode of Baptism and the Biblical Text
8. Baptism & Problem Passages: 1 Peter 3:14-22
9. Baptism & Problem Passages: Acts 22:16
10. Baptism & Problem Passages: Acts 2:38

You can also find them on YouTube, if you prefer, by going to this page and laboriously scrolling down until you get to the bottom showing the first ten episodes.

The bottom line is that baptism marks the entrance into the covenant community where the Word of God resides. It doesn’t solve anything except your membership; it’s just a ritual of allegiance to Christ as Lord. It still depends on your heart-led choice to follow the teaching of that community and stand in God’s favor.

So, let the elder of the community decide the particulars. I see no particular point in re-baptizing except when someone feels the need personally. For people with no church background, I prefer believer’s baptism by full immersion, if possible, but I’m flexible. I would baptize your children if you commit to teaching them the Word (i.e., homeschooling, etc.). My personal preferences are not applicable outside of my covering.