Scott Bushey
Puritanboard Commissioner
Originally posted by Scott
I want to make clear that I think Baptists can be great and godly people. I don't have anything against baptists (and nobody here has suggested that they do either). My point is that spouses should be of one mind on essential issues like baptism. That is why I suggested that Jeremy find a nice baptist. There are plenty around.
As Hebrews states, doctrines related to baptism are part of "core" Christianity. You should not be divided with your spouse on core issues. Heb 6:1-2 reads: "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment."
Whatever a couple's views on elementary issues like baptism are, they should be the same.
[Edited on 6-27-2005 by Scott]
Is baptism elementary? Scott, I know you did not mean to degrade the sacrament. From a covenantal perspective, it is at the forefront, i.e. Gods command, and points to the covenant that all Presbyterians hold dear proven in their obedience in placing the sign on their infant children. Baptism is the sign of the covenant. The WCF calls it a great sin to withold it from our children. If the wife to be has no conviction to this doctrine, problem solved. Most Presbyterians that I know do not have the correct understanding of this doctrine either; no conviction, even though they subscribe to the WCF.
If it was my daughter, and she lived in my house, obviously I have failed to a degree as she has no idea of her own baptism and what it means. If she does understand, she will NOT settle for anything less than what God has commanded.
~A suggestion to all the single people out there: Your wife should come from like-minded churches. You should preferably find your wife while in service to the Lord; you all serving elbow to elbow. You should know her walk. You should know how she interacts with her family; how she treats the brethren. If she comes from a theologically different understanding, how well do you really know her; I mean, obviously, you attend different churches!
Whetever the case, again, if there is no conviction there, htere is no conviction there.
[Edited on 6-30-2005 by Scott Bushey]