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We of the church of Christ are aware of the erroneous ideas held by many concerning what we
believe and teach. We know also that there are scores of people who have never attended a
service of the church of Christ, thus and impressions they might have received were received
indirectly.
We further understand that when things are passed from one to the other they hardly ever remain as originally told. Therefore, we will make an effort in this article to set forth the Bible position on the subject of baptism — which is what we believe — and thus to expose a false claim. It is often said of us, "One reason I never go to their worship is because the only thing they preach is baptism." We could hardly be misrepresented to a greater degree. In fact, in view of some of the things said about us, one could easily conclude that baptism is the only thing churches of Christ requires of alien sinners. I feel safe in stating that no honest person ever left one of our services saying, "The only thing they preach is baptism." Our neighbors may not believe as we do, but if their information was received directly instead of by the "grapevine telephone," they would know that we teach sinners that in order to be a proper subject of baptism they must hear the gospel of Christ. It must, by them, be believed, and from all their sins they must turn by genuine repentance. Our neighbors who have attended our services know also that we emphasize, with all the power of our being, that unless these necessary prerequisites are met, one's soul is not a whit safer and no benefit has been received, even if one is baptized. But, mark you, once a person obeys the gospel, having been led by faith to repent of his sins, he has the promise of the Almighty that remission of sins will be granted. In light of the above, note the following scriptures: "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 28:19). "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16.) "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). These scriptures declare that, without doubt, teaching, faith, and repentance precede acceptable baptism. Just as certain, then, as teaching, faith, and repentance precede acceptable baptism, salvation follows it. To doubt this is to disbelieve the word of God. This is also one reason why churches of Christ do not practice so-called "infant baptism." An infant simply cannot qualify for baptism. Little babies are not capable of being taught the gospel. They do not have the power to believe the gospel, and they are in no sense sinners that they should repent. Baptism is for the penitent believer only. The charge against the church of Christ that, "All they preach is baptism," insinuates that we do not emphasize the necessity of godly living and of the Lord's Day worship. But all honest hearts who attended our worship assemblies know full well that we believe and teach the Bible injunction that there should be a noticeable difference between the life of a Christian and the life of a sinner. Visitors will, time after time, hear us preach Paul's words to Titus: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12). Live how? "Soberly, righteously, and godly." Who are to live "soberly, righteously, and godly"? All Christians! And those who fail to do so are living in open rebellion to God, in spite of the fact that the Bible is replete with warnings concerning the disposition that God will make of His rebellious children. That the churches of Christ stress the importance of a Christian not forsaking the Lord's Day worship, honest persons who have attended our worship assemblies will readily acknowledge. But, we frankly admit that some of our brethren seem to think they can live ungodly lives throughout the week, just so they come around on the Lord's Day and partake of the Lord's Supper. All such are labouring under a delusion. Their lives are not in harmony with the will of Christ, and as long as they remain in that condition their worship is vain. How can honest people, who really know what we teach, say, "The only thing they preach is baptism"? Honest folks won't say that. |