1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Rite of baptism trickles away

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Ben W, Apr 13, 2006.

  1. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2002
    Messages:
    8,883
    Likes Received:
    6
    I am curious if this is the trend in all of the denominations, or just those listed?

    - By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY
    Every month there's a cheering, weeping, air-horn-tooting celebration at First Assembly of God in North Little Rock, when the Rev. Rod Loy immerses new believers in the baptismal tank.

    "This is a sign that someone understands the ideas of sin and Christ's sacrifice and willfully chooses to be a lifelong follower of Jesus," says the pastor. "So we celebrate it big."

    For believers, baptism is modeled on their savior, who the Bible says waded into the water to consecrate himself to God.

    They may be sprinkled, washed from a flowing pitcher or immersed, as faith rituals vary. But all forms point to beliefs: rebirth in faith, salvation from sin, acceptance of God's promises and charges.

    For parents who bring a baby before their church, baptism is a pledge of their faith, a shield against evil, a wrapping of communal arms around a defenseless soul.

    For Christians of all denominations, "even if they never darkened the door of a church any other time in their life ... there's a tendency to hold onto this life-cycle marker," says the Rev. Paul Sullins, a sociologist at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

    The Southern Baptist Convention has seen a half-century decline in baptisms and stalled growth in membership.

    In response, the Rev. Bobby Welch, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, is leading a national campaign to reverse the trend.

    Continued -


    http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2006-04-12-baptism-trend_x.htm
     
  2. Bro. James

    Bro. James Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2004
    Messages:
    3,130
    Likes Received:
    59
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Try preaching the gospel without compromise and stop worrying about numbers. The Lord is still calling out His sheep--there may not be many left, we do not know. Why do we want to count them? Preach The Word.

    Selah,

    Bro. James
     
  3. BruceB

    BruceB New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2004
    Messages:
    199
    Likes Received:
    0
    Brother James,
    That is as brilliant a statement as I have read in quite a while!
    Thanks,
    Bruce
     
  4. GLC

    GLC New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2006
    Messages:
    50
    Likes Received:
    0
    Bro. James: AMEN!
     
  5. Salamander

    Salamander New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2005
    Messages:
    3,965
    Likes Received:
    0
    There's as many sheep left that will hear and be converted. Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world and those who desire to know God will act upon that desire by God convicting them of their sin and cause them to see the need of repentence unto salvation.

    But Baptism is not a "rite" and I don't really care what other false teachings try to declare about it baptism except that the teruth according baptism is taught and not the false doctrines.

    Baptism is one of two Ordinanaces performed by the local church, and YES! baptism is to be celebrated in a holy manner, but not to be congratulated in a sports mentality manner.
     
Loading...