averagefellar said: Oh no, I understand you. Yet I still await the scriptural answer. I don't really care what you think is a better ideal but what scripture assigns as proper.
God bless,
william
William,
Did I ever say that it is a better ideal to take measures to try to ensure a converted baptized community? No, I have said nothing of the sort. My point, which for some reason you have not responded to, is that it is erroneous for you to argue against the Baptist position on the grounds that it is virtually impossible for them to reach their ideal of a converted baptized visible church. That’s my point.
Indeed, the Baptist position is not taught in Scripture, so the ideal that they aim for, which they know is unattainable, is wrong. But that’s never been a bone of contention between us, which I believe you know! Accordingly, I'm inclined to take your last several posts as simply red-herrings to avoid my response to your faulty argument against the Baptist position.
Once again, you never dealt with my post. Again:
1. Do you believe that communion is only for the converted yet the unconverted will no doubt receive what is not intended for them? Yes, you do. Accordingly, the "ideal" of only having the converted partake of the supper will most likely not be met, yet we maintain the practice of examination for communion in an effort to try to ensure an ideal that we know we cannot ensure in practice, which you would agree is proper.
2. Therefore, you must agree that in principle a practice may not be counted wrong simply because the "ideal" is not met. Accordingly, the Baptist position is not found wrong because they cannot meet the intention of what they would like to pursue as an ideal, a pure baptized church.
3. Accordingly, you must agree that the argument against their position must be found elsehwere, which is no problem for the paedobaptist.
The more you argue against what I am saying the more you show that either you don't yet grasp the point or that you're being -- (should I say it?) -- a bit stubborn. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bash.gif" alt="" /> My guess is that since you are a bright guy that it must be the latter! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
