Replies

I'm not suggesting I would join his church.

And Baptists today do believe in baptism by immersion, as they always have.

In a local Baptist church, a man was baptized this week, someone who almost never attended, but for the sole apparent reason of voting to discipline members he hated. It's difficult to conclude that he has neglected baptism for years and then suddenly become concerned about baptism.

It was a baptism of hatred.

This doesn't excuse Piper and I'd never join his church. But we should keep in mind how desperate is the fight for any sort of sound historic doctrine, among Baptists or Protestants or even with Rome's followers.

Of course, you know what scripture teaches about the time coming when Christians "will not endure sound doctrine".

Piper is not a pope. He may be trying to salvage his Baptist church from a liberalizing membership. You know these megachurches attract all sorts of unsound Christians and those who aren't actually Christian. And Piper's fight for doctrinal soundness may not yet be ended.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

I think two issues are being confused.

One Baptism by immersion and two, local church membership.

If Piper is saying that a child baptism is a legimate substitute for adult Baptism that is compromising the Baptist view on the meaning of water Baptism (identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of of Christ)

If someone doesn't understand why they need to be 'rebaptized' then it is Piper's responsiblity to explain what the Bible teaches on it.

Charles Stanley had a good lesson on it last Sunday on his T.V. station.

Don't think I am commending Stanley.

I have critcized him to my Wed. night prayer meeting/bible class as compromising on the Bible issue and walking around the platform with a Bible in his hand that he never references (a NKJ at that!)