[Aquinasfan]

but the statement You quoted of me was refering to those who never really assented to faith in their heart of hearts, who never let Christ baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire(Luke 3:16) The ritual becomes the saving instrument to these people, not the confession and consenting to the personal indwelling of Christ's spirit.

Sorry, I missed that. But I'm confused as to what you are referring here. Are you referring to people who go through with the ritual without the proper intention?

[mdmathis6]

"ritual without the proper intention?"


Yes, it happens...that's why Chewbacca got "chewed" when he asked if Judge Bork had actually "asked Christ into his heart". It's a problem for both Catholics and Protestants. Many do the ritual for a variety of reasons, family pressure, political, social, but the significance of what they are doing never really penetrates their heart. It a kind of social Christianity that is faithless and denies the power of the resurrection.