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Featured Baptism: Credo- vs Paedo-

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by PreachTony, Feb 13, 2015.

  1. PreachTony

    PreachTony Active Member

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    I've been reading a thread from last August which was recently replied to, drawing my attention to it. In the thread, pertaining to evangelical theologian Wayne Grudem, fellow BB member 12strings posted the following conerning Mr. Grudem:

    I'm going to reveal some of my lack of knowledge here, but how does the Reformed position view baptism? According to 12strings, a Credo-Baptist is not "FULLY reformed." As I understand it, the option beyond being a Credo-Baptist is to be a Paedo-Baptist.

    I've always been a proponent of Believer's Baptism, as to me that is the most clearly defined baptism in the New Testament. I have no problem with a child being baptized, so long as the child has a profession of faith, and I believe Baptism should, as often as possible, be done by immersion and not sprinkling. Seeing as babies/infants/toddlers are incapable of a profession of faith, and I believe are protected by the Father (evidenced in Ezekiel 16:21 and Jeremiah 19:4).

    That said, I do not believe there is any saving grace found in Baptism. It is an order given by Christ, as serves as a symbol of the truth of our standing in Christ, having been buried to sin and risen with Christ, an analogy, if you will, of the resurrection.

    I welcome explanation on this, and thank everyone in advance for civil discussion and debate.

    **MODS - If this thread is in the wrong forum, please move it to the appropriate one.**
     
  2. JamesL

    JamesL Well-Known Member
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    Any time you think "Reformed", think Reformed Roman Catholic.

    They were never trying to start a new religion, new sect, etc, they were trying to change the church they loved - ROME.

    They got mad at their daddy, the pope, and went prodigal. Vatican II even called them "separated brethren"

    So....how do the children view baptism? Just like daddy who taught them


    If you don't baptize babies, you certainly aren't Reformed

    "fully" Reformed means 85% Roman Catholic
     
  3. Reformed

    Reformed Well-Known Member
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    Tony, there is big "R" Reformed and then there is small "r" Reformed. The Big "R" would those denominations/churches that embrace full Reformed theology, which includes infant baptism and Presbyterian church polity (among other things too detailed to mention here). Reformed Baptists (like me) would be considered small "r" Reformed. We are not paedobaptists, but credobaptists. We may believe in elder rule but not Presbyterian church polity. As credobaptists we believe in regenerate church membership. Both groups are Monergists but they have real and substantial differences.
     
  4. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    James----let me start by saying I like ya & I think you feel you have a firm grasp of the truth, so therefore that entitles you to set the world straight. Note, It doesn't.

    When I married my lovely wife (who was raised strict Dutch Reformed) in a liberal New Jersey Presbyterian church, I had been a lapsed catholic (but I had an Italian Mother) so I was a born & raised RC & I was that for 35 years but I went to her Presby church because my son needed some religious structure that was provided by the Presbys......All right. Later on I gravitated to orthodoxy & was pretty close to cementing myself to a severe Orthodox Presby Church. That was till I saw some real, and I mean real issues with their balance between Justice & Mercy. My younger brother, a graduate from a Dispy Bible School in Pennsylvania took this as a sign from god to deliver me from those nasty Reformed types to the Fundamentalist Pre Trib Churches which I felt had some issues with mercy as well.

    I tell you all this dross cause I want you to know that Ive gone through the ringer with these churches and I don't see any big difference between a Serious Reformed Pastor & Church and a Serious Fundamentalist church & Pastor. They will both weigh in on the judgmental side. Catholics are mostly machines programmed by years of Popery nonsense. That's what I feel anyway... & you know what opinions are like. :laugh:
     
    #4 Earth Wind and Fire, Feb 13, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 13, 2015
  5. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    Technically speaking "Reformed" refers to the original Protestant groups that attempted to reform the Church of Rome. That would be Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Anglican churches. All were paedo-baptist. A true "Reformed" church today would include paedo-baptism, particular redemption, amillennialism, and covenant theology.

    When used only in a soteriological sense it means anyone who holds to particular redemption as opposed to general atonement. This can include many of the secondary "protestant" groups that came out of the first three. And then the tertiary groups, and on and on, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

    It is another of those words that has been used out of proper context so much that it has lost much of its meaning. Like "fundamentalism."

    Reformed's explanation, above, is a good as any in that it recognizes the dichotomy the word represents and uses the inclusion of an initial capital to help clarify the difference. But good luck getting people to use the initial capital. :)
     
  6. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Both groups would agree on the TULIP and salvation, but tend to disagree on issues such as baptism, church government, and even eschatology...
     
  7. padredurand

    padredurand Well-Known Member
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    Take a look at Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion

    Book 4, Chapter 16. Paedobaptism. Its accordance with the institution of Christ, and the nature of the sign.
    Divisions of this chapter,
    I. Confirmation of the orthodox doctrine of paedobaptism, sec. 1-9.
    II. Refutation of the arguments which the Anabaptists urge against paedobaptism, sec. 10-30.
    III. Special objections of Servetus refuted, sec. 31, 32.

    You can find it online here.
     
  8. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    Is there really any difference between sprinkling an infant and a 4 year old? I realize I am stepping on toes but most people on this BB should know to wear steel toed shoes by now!

    I recall when Criswell announced he would not baptize anyone under 9 years???? of age.
     
    #8 OldRegular, Feb 15, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 15, 2015
  9. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    No, there isn't.
     
  10. convicted1

    convicted1 Guest

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    :thumbsup::thumbs::thumbsup::thumbsup:
     
  11. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Then Wally and I would get along just great
     
  12. PreachTony

    PreachTony Active Member

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    Which is why I say that there should be no baptism unless there is a profession of faith first. That's just how I believe it.
     
  13. The American Dream

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    I totally agree. Baptism is a symbol of our newness of life in Jesus Christ and His death, burial and Resurrection. It comes after salvation by immersion. This is the Scriptural model. There is nothing in the Bible that supports sprinkling infants. An infant knows about as much of the Gospel as my parrot does. If there is a covenant relationship between a parent an child, it does not save a child until he or she knows right from wrong. Only Jesus Christ saves.
     
  14. padredurand

    padredurand Well-Known Member
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    Give Mr. Calvin a read. I posted a link in a reply to PastorTony about six posts back. Calvin contends baptism is an extension of circumcision in that they are symbols of the covenant. An 8 day old infant doesn't have any say about being circumcised either.
     
  15. PreachTony

    PreachTony Active Member

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    And I'm still reading through that...
    By the by, padre, it's just PreachTony. I'm not qualified to Pastor a church, per Paul's instruction to Timothy. I'm more of just an evangelist than anything. But thank you for the link.
     
  16. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    The problem though with that viewpoint is that the NT NEVER equates that water baptism functions same way as circumcision did under the Old Covenant, as we now have it as a symbol of the redeemed in actual truth, as believers receive that ordinance, and not as a "promised' one as circumcision did under old one...
     
  17. padredurand

    padredurand Well-Known Member
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    Who am I to argue against Mr. Calvin.
     
  18. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Why you are Mr. WESLEY of course!:smilewinkgrin:
     
  19. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    I am still interested in what a 4 year old knows about sin against God!
     
  20. padredurand

    padredurand Well-Known Member
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    If you read Mr. Calvin's piece you'll see that it doesn't matter. A newborn doesn't know anything about the Abrahamic covenant either but that's no reason not to circumcise.

    I'm not saying he's right. Just passing on the information as I read it. :thumbsup:
     
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