Matt 28:19

I see no fear teaching only a command from Christ for each of us to show Christ in our lives daily no matter where we are.

I may not understand your point. Are you saying we do not need to let Christ show in our daily lives?

 

Crabby, I was referring to a 'fear tactic' used by preachers to get a response or action from the flock.

In no way does Mt 28:19, Mk 16:15, Lu 24:47, or Acts 1:8 have even the remotest thing to do with us as Christians “showing Christ in our lives daily no matter where we are.”

Yea, I know. It takes a 'Preterist modifier' to correctly understand these 'Great Commission' passages. The intent of the OP is not concerned with eschatology, and I don't wish to derail the thread.

No Crabby, this is the one most effective way that the gospel of Jesus Christ is spread, by our living and interacting with those around us. It should be such that others inquire concerning the peace that is within us.

 

I agree that the tactic has been misused, but I'm not trying to misuse it. That IS my reaction when I consider God's reaction to our failure to follow His commandment plainly given as a commission to His followers in the NT.

I recommend "Radical" by David Platt. He voices this issue in a much stronger way than I do.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1601422210/?tag=baptis04-20

You can "read inside" and the dialog about Matt 28 starts on page 73.

 

In my understanding, the version in Matthew was given to "the eleven," the leadership of the church, so they are the ones who should baptize.

 

That's a good point, and every baptism I've ever witnessed as been done by a pastor. But under the authority and on behalf of the church.

But because baptism is a local church ordinance, I think the church may designate anyone it chooses to perform baptism. My own preference is that the person be ordained.

 

There is a sense in which your statement is correct. The Great Commission in Matthew is clearly the church planting version. It is exactly what I try to do as a church planter: win folk to Christ, baptize them and teach them all Christ taught. This may not be so clear to Christians who have never been in a church planting situation. In an established American church, most people are well up on the teachings of Christ.

As for excluding the church members, that's not so at all when thinking of the Great Commission as a whole. In Luke, it is to the 11 and those gathered with them (24:33), so everyone in the church is to be a witness of the Gospel to all nations. Again, in John it was given to the disciples in general (20:20), so everyone who is a disciple of Christ, a believe in Christ in this usage, is sent just as Jesus was sent: to proclaim salvation to the world.:type:

 

I agree. And I think the Matthew passage is important in that respect.

That's definitely my preference too. I had a situation a couple of years ago when a man coming to my English service (but not the morning service and not a member) baptized a family in their bathtub without my knowledge or the church's recognition. We lost the family, of course, and had to then deal with the guilty party. Deeply painful for a pastor! Baptism is an ordinance of the church, as you say, designed for church membership.

 

Agreed! It is in our articles of faith that ordained ministers are who is to perform baptisms.

 

I would think that most Baptist churches and pastors would have this stand, amen?

 

I would hope. amen

 

Does your articles of faith outrank the Bible. Show me from the Bible where ONLY ordained ministers can perform baptism.. This is a leftover tradition from the Roman Catholic church...

We as Baptist Believe in the Priesthood of the believer.... ANY Believer the church designates can baptize.
Just like any believer the church designates can officiate communion...
The idea that ONLY clergy can officiate communion is also a leftover of RC theology, where the priest can only turn the bread into the body of Christ.



The commission was given to the church... thus every believer has a responsibility to carry it out.

 

The NT did not have ordained ministers. That is a modern invention. What is special about my hands that they alone should administer the lord's supper or apply baptism?

Cheers,

Jim

 

". . . any believer the church designates . . ."

Sounds like ordination to me.

 

amen.................

 

It has been years since I studied this, but here is the condensed version of what I can easily remember without looking for, and digging out a lot of old notes.

The "GO" part of this is not a command, but rather a continuous action. I have written in one of my bibles, "While you are going, make disciples of all nations..."

So yes, this most definitely applies to all of us. It doesn't matter where we go in life we are to be a witness. This verse instructs us that as we go through our lives to continuously be a witness.

I believe this is asking of us much more than giving to missions (which should also be done), and concluding we have done our part. Or asking more of us than only handing out an occasional tract.

I think Acts has a good example of just this very thing.

Act 11:19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.


Act 11:20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.


Act 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.


One last thing. Before anyone thinks that I am saying this means we don't have a mandate for missions, that is not what I am saying or implying at all. There is much in the bible that supports missions.