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Bro. Turner:
 Is
Christian Church baptism valid? Could it put one in the true
church?
Reply:
Let's
begin by asking, "Is Church of Christ baptism valid? Could
it put one in the true church?" And then we may add,
"Is baptism a "church" ordinance; or does any
church, including the "true church," validate baptism?
The
Lord's church is not measured by our directory, or by those who
meet in our building. It consists of all who genuinely and
sincerely give themselves to Christ in humble, submissive
obedience to His commands. As sincerity, humility, and trusting
faith are things we can but imperfectly judge, we may
think one has come into Christ who is, in reality, yet a child
of Satan. And we may also judge one
unworthy, whom Christ receives.
Our
fellowship (joint participation) must be established on the
basis of our judgment of external fruit (Matt. 7:15-20) and we
are urged to make "righteous" (just) judgment, and not
be fooled by superficial matters (Jn. 7:19-24). And let's be
very careful not to make sectarian judgments — accepting one
because "our" preacher baptized him, and rejecting
another because the preacher who baptized him "followeth
not with us" (Lu. 9:49-50). The validity of baptism is not
determined by who did the baptizing, or where it
was done.
One's
baptism depends upon the genuineness of one's faith in Jesus
Christ.
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It is not "for remission of sins"
because someone said this at the time of the immersion,
but because divinity gave it this purpose (Acts 2:38, 22:16). It
does not bring into the "right" church because it is
an initiation ritual of any church, but because the
Lord's church consists of all who come to Christ, and baptism is
the final move, the symbolic burial before the resurrection to
walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-11).
I
question people who come from churches I believe to be in error
because I am concerned for their souls. I want to know if their
allegiance was to Christ, or to some "church." You
might say I am questioning their faith rather than their baptism.
So many of my own brethren have proven their allegiance to be to
"church" instead of to Christ, that I assume this
could certainly be prevalent among those who have been in error
on so many other things. The fact that they are leaving some
sect encourages me, but I don't want them to be simply
"changing sects." And if they had no genuine
conversion to Christ, I do not want to give them a false sense
of security. They should learn truth and fully commit
themselves.
But
if they tell me they were baptized because they understood this
was the Lord's command; that they were, and still are striving
to do all He commands; I can question their heart only to the
extent their life is inconsistent. If they need to know more and
better understand (and who doesn't?) a sympathetic, helpful
atmosphere is more conducive to this than sectarian abuse. The
Lord judges Christian church members on the same individual
basis He uses to judge us.
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