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Pilgrim said:
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Either scripture teaches it, or it does not, neither being a mere "opinion".
The problem is that there is no agreement as to what the Scripture actually teaches concerning baptism. And since it is not a matter of salvation, unless of course, one holds that salvation is dependent upon baptism to any degree, one would be hard pressed to present an infallible, inerrant argument for what Scripture teaches absolutely. Let each be convinced in his/her own mind. Personally, I do believe that Credobaptism is erroneous. I have made a defense for paedobaptism for over 30 years. But I will NOT summarily exclude Baptists from the household of faith. Unfortunately many on both sides of the divide have and continue to do this because, IMHO, they put far too much importance on this sacrament/ordinance.

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However, I would posit that those who created the division are guilty of so much more than over-defending. Simply stated, the baptist schism is exactly that.
Be that as it may, if Baptists want to maintain this schism, let them do so. For we all must stand before the judgment seat and give an account for those things which we held to be true, taught others the same and what things we lived out while on this earth. I cannot bind a man's conscience. Doubtless, there will be shown on that day that I have held errors in doctrine, no less than any other individual. The answer to the problem of how to deal with error/heresy in the Church is one which every age, denomination, church and individual has had to deal with from the beginning. I certainly don't have the definitive answer as to how to deal with each and every item of doctrine perfectly as the Lord would have me to do so. Nor do I believe anyone else does either. Thus, there have been and always will be different degrees of latitude, tolerance and discipline among men. For confessional churches, this task is far easier than for those which are non-confessional.

What I do know is that no man is given the ability nor responsibility to sort out the tares from the wheat. All that is given is a temporal judgment. I leave it therefore to your own conscience as to how these things should be practiced. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,

Thankyou Pilgrim

As you know I am a credo-Baptist, yet I believe as you stated: "Unfortunately many on both sides of the divide have and continue to do this because, IMHO, they put far too much importance on this sacrament/ordinance."

I am a credo-Baptist because I genuinely believe it is biblical, however should I ever see the matter differently, I will change my belief on the matter.

I believe there is a Latin saying that among other things means "always reforming". Forgive me if I am wrong on that, but I think you know what I mean.

Tom

Last edited by Tom; Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:21 PM.