William has consistently addressed and contended that some (most?) Baptists argue that only BELIEVERS are legitimate subjects for baptism. The LBCF states that only PROFESSORS are legitimate subjects. {Bold emphasis Ron’s}
Pilgrim,
Let me try to distill this as best I can.
1) When Baptists say that only genuine believers are legitimate subjects for baptism, they simply mean that if one is baptized who is not a genuine believer, he, the one being baptized, submits to baptism illegitimately, i.e. unlawfully and hypocritically.
2) When Baptists, (consistent with their Confession), say that only professing believers are legitimate subjects for baptism, they simply mean that the church in good conscience are to Baptize those who profess salvation in Christ alone.
Now let's put these two distinct points together.
Baptists believe that it is legitimate for the church to baptize professing believers but it is illegitimate for unbelievers to submit themselves to baptism. In this context, many or most Baptists might say that baptism is for genuine believers only, which is their way of saying that unbelievers should not submit to baptism; for baptism they say is for believers – which is why they call it “believer’s baptism" (in the same way we might call the table a "believer's table"). To say that some or most Baptists have an inconsistency on their hands is to lift their statements and terminology out of context. I have never heard or read any Baptist argue that it is only legitimate for the church to baptize genuine believers. They merely say that it is only legitimate for true believers to submit themselves to baptism. If anyone wishes to charge "most" or "many" Baptists with inconsistency, then I think he should document such claims against our Baptist brethren.
