Subject: Why should I talk to my local congrega? |
Bible Note: Dear Newstock, This has been a debate since the time of the Reformation. Various churches fall on various sides of the issue. That is, of course, in their purview to do so. Shifting now from the general to the specific, the clear order of business in your particular case is for you and your wife to obtain specific counseling from the elders of your church. They ought to be able to articulate their particular stance, and demonstrate their position from Scripture. A rule seeks to be applied universally in order to insure that a doctrine is applied as even handedly as possible. Your wife is right not to join if she is resistant to the direction that this church has chosen to go. If she participates she should do so without making an issue of this matter. If it is something that rankles, I'd venture that there is some other spiritual problem at its roots than a simple disagreement over their doctrinal position on baptism. In Him, Doc |