For those who believe RC baptism to be valid: I originally planned to put this in 'Paedo-baptism Answers' but I realize that there may a few credobaptists here who are not entirely dismissive of non-immersion baptism. Machen in Christianity and Liberalism put forth that the Roman Catholicism is in some sense, or in time past, a Christian church, but that liberal churches are part of another religion. If we take RC baptisms as valid due to their Trinitarian nature, what are we to think of baptisms from liberal churches? If a man came to you from a highly liberal UMC, would you accept his baptism if it was Trinitarian?
I had a friend once tell me that not only would he not consider RC baptism valid, but any church that is apostate in any way, such as liberal Methodists. That seems arbitrary and senseless to me though. A liberal UMC was at some point not liberal. Does that mean we only accept baptisms from churches who currently have correct doctrine? Obviously this is not the position of everyone who does not view RC baptism as valid, but perhaps it is consistent. If one denies RC baptism, should they not deny baptisms from all apostate or not fully faithful churches, Protestant or otherwise? [the questions in this second paragraph are rhetorical, but if one desires to engage them I will not refuse to reply]
I had a friend once tell me that not only would he not consider RC baptism valid, but any church that is apostate in any way, such as liberal Methodists. That seems arbitrary and senseless to me though. A liberal UMC was at some point not liberal. Does that mean we only accept baptisms from churches who currently have correct doctrine? Obviously this is not the position of everyone who does not view RC baptism as valid, but perhaps it is consistent. If one denies RC baptism, should they not deny baptisms from all apostate or not fully faithful churches, Protestant or otherwise? [the questions in this second paragraph are rhetorical, but if one desires to engage them I will not refuse to reply]