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 This
month's question, p.7, is one that stirs feelings among
brethren, and challenges the best in us. It is easy to state
one's opinion on the subject, but giving a consistently
scriptural reason for that opinion is another matter. If
we are not careful we will end up by measuring others by
ourselves, and asking others to answer to our conscience.
In
the early days of what is now Oaks-West church, Burnet, a young
man answered the gospel invitation by declaring his faith in
Christ, and his desire to be baptized into Christ. We asked the
preacher of another church in Burnet (they had no elders at that
time) if we might use their baptistry, but we were refused. He
said, "You will baptize him into a sect; bring him to me,
and I'll baptize him into Christ." I replied, "You
mean the one baptizing him makes the difference?" There was
no reply to that. We took the boy to a lake and baptized him
"into Christ" — not because we did the baptizing,
but because the boy was obeying Jesus
Christ.
The
boy's views on institutionalism, if he had any, had nothing to
do with validating or invalidating his baptism. He had learned
that he was a sinner, that Christ had died for him, and wanted
him to trust Him, repent and be baptized. In doing that, the
young man came
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into an acceptable relationship with Christ, his sins being forgiven.
When questions concerning worship arise, those "in
Christ" are anxious to learn the Master's desire and
instructions. They study the inspired records carefully, doing
only that for which there is authority.
The
young convert had that obligation and his continued
faithfulness to the Lord depended,
upon his response. The same can be said for
his obligation to "follow Christ" with respect to
church organization, his personal life, and his "joint
participation" with others in worship, work, etc. There are
many ways in which he could deny the Lord later in life, but if
his initial coming to Christ was genuine, the later errors would
not invalidate his baptism.
It
is certainly true that today's world is filled with people who
have "joined a church" with no real commitment to
Christ. Thousands are on the rolls of Churches of Christ, who
will not objectively consider His will in questionable matters.
Saying, "the 'true church' is not like that" does not
prove identity. We can best do that by recognizing the individual
and direct relation of saints to God, avoiding
"judgments" only God can make, and teaching everyone
to live in all good conscience toward God.
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