<![CDATA[Westmount Park Church > RSS > Articles]]> en 60 <![CDATA[Bringing Missions Home]]> Many of us, (myself included) were raised to think that in order to fulfill the Great Commission, we had to send missionaries to foreign lands to learn new languages, proclaim the gospel and plant churches. And that's what we did. Decades later, the evidence is in. Thousands of churches have been started. In many of these far-flung fields the percentage of Christians now exceed the percentage of Christians in our own country. And the degree of commitment that believers exhibit in many of these same countries would put us to shame.

The point of this article is to alert us to the fact (if you haven't already discerned this for yourself) that while the light of the gospel is ever shining brighter in many parts of the world, it seems to be losing its radiance here at home.


Currently Lifeway is reporting a decline with the largest evangelical denomination in North America. You can read about it here . This is a trend representative of North American evangelicalism.


In our own denomination, the Associated Gospel Churches , although we are seeing a growing number of individual churches that have been planted, we are not seeing an overall increase in conversion growth. People are not coming to faith in Christ like they once did in the post war years. Much of the growth that does occur in in our churches is what is called ...transfer growtho. Christians moving from one church to another for various reasons. Many of our own Christians have come from other churches.


Among the youth, George Barna is reporting that following the teen years, most 'twenty somethings' who were active in churches while under the influence of their families are leaving the church and are opting for a vague and ill-defined set of values that rejects doctrinal substance and embraces a feelings based spirituality.


At the same time, we have the claims of some segments of the emergent church claiming that either there is no hell, or that almost everyone will be saved in the end (universalism) because after all, a loving God would not tolerate the ongoing torture of lost souls throughout eternity. Evangelicalism is headed for some serious turbulence ahead as a younger generation determines what it wants to believe. It seems the same battles that were fought during the liberalization of the church in the last century are being revisited, but now it is not on the fringes. This is now happening in the heartland.


All of that to say that we are in trouble if we ignore the trends, and if we fail to see what is happening in our own fellowship.


There is an adage that holds true generally. The light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home. The church that will be effective in proclaiming (by proxy) the gospel in distant lands should, theoretically, be even more effective in proclaiming the gospel at home.


We must turn our focus on what it means to ...do Missionso right here where we live. I am not talking about missionaries whom we support who work here in Toronto (God bless them)! I am talking about the concept that each of us, as Christians are called to be missionaries where we live. Let us apply as much fervor, investment and prayer into reaching the lost in our own back yard as we do towards missions in foreign places and other cultures. Let's bring Missions home! Let's engage with our world!

]]> 1541236689 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400 1866539317 1541236689 0 2011-06-15 Many of us, (myself included) were raised to think that in order to fulfill the Great Commission, we had to send missionaries to foreign lands to learn new languages, proclaim the gospel and plant churches. And that's what we did. Decades later, the evidence is in. Thousands of churches have been started. In many of these far-flung fields the percentage of Christians now exceed the percentage of Christians in our own country. And the degree of commitment that believers exhibit in many of these same countries would put us to shame.

The point of this article is to alert us to the fact (if you haven't already discerned this for yourself) that while the light of the gospel is ever shining brighter in many parts of the world, it seems to be losing its radiance here at home.


Currently Lifeway is reporting a decline with the largest evangelical denomination in North America. You can read about it here . This is a trend representative of North American evangelicalism.


In our own denomination, the Associated Gospel Churches , although we are seeing a growing number of individual churches that have been planted, we are not seeing an overall increase in conversion growth. People are not coming to faith in Christ like they once did in the post war years. Much of the growth that does occur in in our churches is what is called ...transfer growtho. Christians moving from one church to another for various reasons. Many of our own Christians have come from other churches.


Among the youth, George Barna is reporting that following the teen years, most 'twenty somethings' who were active in churches while under the influence of their families are leaving the church and are opting for a vague and ill-defined set of values that rejects doctrinal substance and embraces a feelings based spirituality.


At the same time, we have the claims of some segments of the emergent church claiming that either there is no hell, or that almost everyone will be saved in the end (universalism) because after all, a loving God would not tolerate the ongoing torture of lost souls throughout eternity. Evangelicalism is headed for some serious turbulence ahead as a younger generation determines what it wants to believe. It seems the same battles that were fought during the liberalization of the church in the last century are being revisited, but now it is not on the fringes. This is now happening in the heartland.


All of that to say that we are in trouble if we ignore the trends, and if we fail to see what is happening in our own fellowship.


There is an adage that holds true generally. The light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home. The church that will be effective in proclaiming (by proxy) the gospel in distant lands should, theoretically, be even more effective in proclaiming the gospel at home.


We must turn our focus on what it means to ...do Missionso right here where we live. I am not talking about missionaries whom we support who work here in Toronto (God bless them)! I am talking about the concept that each of us, as Christians are called to be missionaries where we live. Let us apply as much fervor, investment and prayer into reaching the lost in our own back yard as we do towards missions in foreign places and other cultures. Let's bring Missions home! Let's engage with our world!

]]> <![CDATA[Truth is Stranger than Fiction]]> With regularity, I find that sceptics and others who are eager to debunk Christianity will find something that from a human point of view is highly improbable and use it to support their ongoing unbelief and in some cases outright hostility against Jesus Christ and His teachings.


The objection that has been getting a lot of mileage ever since Tom Harpur's book, The Pagan Christ hit the bookstores has to do with the alleged similarities between a lot of the older mythical gods of the Greeks and Egyptians and Jesus Christ. ...Because some of the events are similar, and because there isn't a whole lot of evidence of Christ's existence,o they say, ...the existence of Christ must be placed in the same category of myth.o


Aside from the obvious fallacy of distraction in this thinking, it needs to be pointed out that improbability does not make a very good case. Let me show you an example out of our more recent history.


Let us say that in 1000 years from today, someone finds records of a George Bush, President of the USA in the late 20th century. Someone else on the other side of the country finds records indicating that there was a George Bush, President of the USA in the early part of the 21st century. It seems someone is getting their wires crossed.


Further to that, one discovers that George Bush fought a war with Iraq, but stopped at the Kuwait border, and that Saddam Hussein survived the war and continue to persecute his own people. The other archaeologist disputes those findings, saying that George Bush did indeed invade Iraq, and that Saddam's atrocities were stopped, and that he was unceremoniously hung on the gallows and died like the dog he was.


Whom to believe?


The fact is that both claims were correct. Father and son were both presidents. And of course, we know the rest of the story because we were there. We were all eyewitnesses of the events that transpired thanks to CNN.


But had we seen this kind of story out of Biblical history, the critics would all shake their heads. ...Copycat history.. highly improbable thast there were 2 George Bushes, and even more unbelievable that they both waged wars on the same person and country, with different outcomes... can't happen!o And books would be written, seminars would be held, debates would ensue.


Improbability does not a proof make. We know that now. (We always did).

]]> 1481774803 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400 1866539317 1481774803 0 2011-06-11 With regularity, I find that sceptics and others who are eager to debunk Christianity will find something that from a human point of view is highly improbable and use it to support their ongoing unbelief and in some cases outright hostility against Jesus Christ and His teachings.


The objection that has been getting a lot of mileage ever since Tom Harpur's book, The Pagan Christ hit the bookstores has to do with the alleged similarities between a lot of the older mythical gods of the Greeks and Egyptians and Jesus Christ. ...Because some of the events are similar, and because there isn't a whole lot of evidence of Christ's existence,o they say, ...the existence of Christ must be placed in the same category of myth.o


Aside from the obvious fallacy of distraction in this thinking, it needs to be pointed out that improbability does not make a very good case. Let me show you an example out of our more recent history.


Let us say that in 1000 years from today, someone finds records of a George Bush, President of the USA in the late 20th century. Someone else on the other side of the country finds records indicating that there was a George Bush, President of the USA in the early part of the 21st century. It seems someone is getting their wires crossed.


Further to that, one discovers that George Bush fought a war with Iraq, but stopped at the Kuwait border, and that Saddam Hussein survived the war and continue to persecute his own people. The other archaeologist disputes those findings, saying that George Bush did indeed invade Iraq, and that Saddam's atrocities were stopped, and that he was unceremoniously hung on the gallows and died like the dog he was.


Whom to believe?


The fact is that both claims were correct. Father and son were both presidents. And of course, we know the rest of the story because we were there. We were all eyewitnesses of the events that transpired thanks to CNN.


But had we seen this kind of story out of Biblical history, the critics would all shake their heads. ...Copycat history.. highly improbable thast there were 2 George Bushes, and even more unbelievable that they both waged wars on the same person and country, with different outcomes... can't happen!o And books would be written, seminars would be held, debates would ensue.


Improbability does not a proof make. We know that now. (We always did).

]]> <![CDATA[Compassion Ministry]]> Our ministry of Compassion allows those who attend Westmount Park Church to minister and be of service to one another in times of need.


Under the leadership of the Pastor, the congregation is kept informed of those asking for prayer. This information is sent to those ...on-lineo by computer or by our telephone prayer chain. Our present co-coordinators are Fred and June Visser who can be reached through the church office. Volunteers bring encouragement and love when visiting the sick and the shut-ins and, if needed, meals would also be provided during difficult times. A member of the Compassion Committee sends cards of encouragement on a regular basis.



Our ministry of Compassion is rooted in prayer:


2 Corinthians 1:2-4 (NIV) - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.



-written by June VIsser and edited by Pat Parington

]]> 1025563496 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400 1866539317 1025563496 0 2011-06-10 Our ministry of Compassion allows those who attend Westmount Park Church to minister and be of service to one another in times of need.


Under the leadership of the Pastor, the congregation is kept informed of those asking for prayer. This information is sent to those ...on-lineo by computer or by our telephone prayer chain. Our present co-coordinators are Fred and June Visser who can be reached through the church office. Volunteers bring encouragement and love when visiting the sick and the shut-ins and, if needed, meals would also be provided during difficult times. A member of the Compassion Committee sends cards of encouragement on a regular basis.



Our ministry of Compassion is rooted in prayer:


2 Corinthians 1:2-4 (NIV) - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.



-written by June VIsser and edited by Pat Parington

]]> <![CDATA[Spiritual but not Religious]]>
Here are some attempts at a definition from real people in a chat room.

"I am spiritual because I try to retain the best from the founders of every religion i.e. Jesus, Buddha, etc ."


"I feel I am most spiritual when I do my yoga and meditate."


"Being spiritual means to be kind and caring for ourselves, the living beings we know and also for the living beings we do not know. "


"Through our thoughts and actions we can each make the world a little better, or a little worse. We can each help or hinder human evolution. Being spiritual is simply adopting this awareness and choosing to consciously act accordingly."


So what is it? Is it cosmic awareness? Is it being aware of some evolutionary design that I am a part of? Is it simply being kind to all of creation? Or is it becoming more self aware and de-stressing myself by learning biofeedback techniques?

There are a multitude of different voices and definitions, each one with more authority than the last. Yet there is one voice that stands out uniquely. Jesus Christ made some very interesting statements about spirituality.

A woman from Samaria was doing her chores. Life had been hard on her. She had already had five husbands, and was now living with a guy who was not her husband.

Her chores included drawing water from the community well. There she met Jesus who happened to be traveling through that area. Jesus, being fatigued from travel, asked her for a drink of water. A fascinating conversation ensued. Samaritans had a different worship tradition from the Jews, and she insisted that proper religion should be practiced by the Samaritan traditions and practices. She was defining spirituality her way.

Rather than argue about whose temple represented the most genuine spirituality, Jesus said to her that temple worship would soon fade from the scene. He said, ...God is spirit, and worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.o In addition, Jesus said, ...God is seeking such worshipers.o

First of all, Jesus teaches that spirituality has everything to do with a connection, or a relationship to God. And because God is spirit, we must connect with Him on that same level; i.e. the spiritual level. The implication is clear. God has given us the capacity to connect with Him, and according to Jesus, that is what being spiritual is all about.

There is some bad news though. On our own, we cannot do that. Man has always tended towards self sufficiency and self reliance and because of this ego of ours, we find it very difficult to come to God on his terms. We want to define the terms of the relationship and we stubbornly resist being told by God how to approach Him.

Yet, we were created to know and serve God; Augustine famously said our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God. This disconnection from God is what lies behind all those various attempts at spirituality. Everyone is trying to find their own way. And these attempts feel very spiritual. Yet people are so lost, lonely and disconnected.

It certainly doesn't feel very spiritual to admit to God that we are selfish sinners who resist God at every turn. But that is the starting point that every human needs to arrive at if we are going to be truly spiritual. Jesus said that the gate through which we must enter would be a narrow and difficult one. We desperately need to reconcile with our Creator, and this happens as we trust in Jesus Christ with our very lives and see Him as our Redeemer.


Jesus said, ...Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.o]]> 509661414 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 1866539317 509661414 0 2011-03-05
Here are some attempts at a definition from real people in a chat room.

"I am spiritual because I try to retain the best from the founders of every religion i.e. Jesus, Buddha, etc ."


"I feel I am most spiritual when I do my yoga and meditate."


"Being spiritual means to be kind and caring for ourselves, the living beings we know and also for the living beings we do not know. "


"Through our thoughts and actions we can each make the world a little better, or a little worse. We can each help or hinder human evolution. Being spiritual is simply adopting this awareness and choosing to consciously act accordingly."


So what is it? Is it cosmic awareness? Is it being aware of some evolutionary design that I am a part of? Is it simply being kind to all of creation? Or is it becoming more self aware and de-stressing myself by learning biofeedback techniques?

There are a multitude of different voices and definitions, each one with more authority than the last. Yet there is one voice that stands out uniquely. Jesus Christ made some very interesting statements about spirituality.

A woman from Samaria was doing her chores. Life had been hard on her. She had already had five husbands, and was now living with a guy who was not her husband.

Her chores included drawing water from the community well. There she met Jesus who happened to be traveling through that area. Jesus, being fatigued from travel, asked her for a drink of water. A fascinating conversation ensued. Samaritans had a different worship tradition from the Jews, and she insisted that proper religion should be practiced by the Samaritan traditions and practices. She was defining spirituality her way.

Rather than argue about whose temple represented the most genuine spirituality, Jesus said to her that temple worship would soon fade from the scene. He said, ...God is spirit, and worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.o In addition, Jesus said, ...God is seeking such worshipers.o

First of all, Jesus teaches that spirituality has everything to do with a connection, or a relationship to God. And because God is spirit, we must connect with Him on that same level; i.e. the spiritual level. The implication is clear. God has given us the capacity to connect with Him, and according to Jesus, that is what being spiritual is all about.

There is some bad news though. On our own, we cannot do that. Man has always tended towards self sufficiency and self reliance and because of this ego of ours, we find it very difficult to come to God on his terms. We want to define the terms of the relationship and we stubbornly resist being told by God how to approach Him.

Yet, we were created to know and serve God; Augustine famously said our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God. This disconnection from God is what lies behind all those various attempts at spirituality. Everyone is trying to find their own way. And these attempts feel very spiritual. Yet people are so lost, lonely and disconnected.

It certainly doesn't feel very spiritual to admit to God that we are selfish sinners who resist God at every turn. But that is the starting point that every human needs to arrive at if we are going to be truly spiritual. Jesus said that the gate through which we must enter would be a narrow and difficult one. We desperately need to reconcile with our Creator, and this happens as we trust in Jesus Christ with our very lives and see Him as our Redeemer.


Jesus said, ...Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.o]]> <![CDATA[John 14:27]]> Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

]]> 230141090 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500 1866539317 230141090 0 2011-02-03 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

]]> <![CDATA[The Top Prize for Piety]]>
There are a good number of otherwise great Christians out there who are all claiming to be the chiefest of sinners. I get that there can be a plurality of chiefs. But there can only be one ...chiefest of sinnerso, and seeing as St Paul coined that phrase a couple of millennia ago and applied that title to himself, all other 'chiefest of sinners' are frauds a sin they can add to their long list.

Seriously, I understand that a thorough reading of the epistle to the Romans and the Institutes of John Calvin will teach us to know ourselves and to understand just how lost and depraved we are, apart from the merits of Christ. I have no qualms with anyone experiencing levels of humility that rival the height of a snake's belly in a deep pit, or experiencing the significance of an earthworm or gnat. But there is always a sneaking suspicion niggling in the back of my somewhat cynical mind that someone describing himself in this self-deprecating way is really competing for the top prize for piety. I think it's quite okay to be honest and to tell people.. ...I'm a total mess. That's why I need Jesus.o But it all begins to sound silly when we start competing over the question, ...I'm a bigger mess than you are.o What's the point in that?

Yes, let's strive to be humble, but lets not self-consciously talk about the levels of humility we have attained. Like any other communicable attribute of our Lord, when we take our eyes off of the object of our faith and focus on the fruits of our faith, we've missed the point.And at that point, at least, we have created an idol.]]> 986679495 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 1866539317 986679495 0 2010-03-02
There are a good number of otherwise great Christians out there who are all claiming to be the chiefest of sinners. I get that there can be a plurality of chiefs. But there can only be one ...chiefest of sinnerso, and seeing as St Paul coined that phrase a couple of millennia ago and applied that title to himself, all other 'chiefest of sinners' are frauds a sin they can add to their long list.

Seriously, I understand that a thorough reading of the epistle to the Romans and the Institutes of John Calvin will teach us to know ourselves and to understand just how lost and depraved we are, apart from the merits of Christ. I have no qualms with anyone experiencing levels of humility that rival the height of a snake's belly in a deep pit, or experiencing the significance of an earthworm or gnat. But there is always a sneaking suspicion niggling in the back of my somewhat cynical mind that someone describing himself in this self-deprecating way is really competing for the top prize for piety. I think it's quite okay to be honest and to tell people.. ...I'm a total mess. That's why I need Jesus.o But it all begins to sound silly when we start competing over the question, ...I'm a bigger mess than you are.o What's the point in that?

Yes, let's strive to be humble, but lets not self-consciously talk about the levels of humility we have attained. Like any other communicable attribute of our Lord, when we take our eyes off of the object of our faith and focus on the fruits of our faith, we've missed the point.And at that point, at least, we have created an idol.]]> <![CDATA[The Nuts and Bolts of Conflict]]>
1. I was reading my Bible on the couch. My daughter wanted to watch the morning news. My dear wife was trying to talk to me over the noise of the TV. I experienced frustration. I didn't listen to her, telling her I was reading. I took my laptop, exasperated, and went off into the reading room to avoid the TV and to finish reading in silence and solitude. A voice whispers in my head, "Aren't I the holy one this morning?"

2. We have three cars in the driveway, all in a row. My wife needs to leave for work, but her car was at the top of the driveway. All three of us have a different agenda and schedule. Again, the tension levels rise, as everyone's different agenda comes to the surface and manifests itself. One is the middle of some makeup artistry in the bathroom, the other (me) is lost somewhere in Israel's theological problems in the book of Isaiah. But we all reluctantly plod out to our cars, start our engines, and exit the driveway in order to let Carole get to work on time.

I go back to my Bible reading after moving my car and this is on the reading schedule: (I read with the immediacy of that all too familiar mirror effect.) "1. What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2. You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Two things were driven home to me. One was personal: i.e. Although we were a long way from fighting, the serious conflicts are made out of the SAME STUFF! Having conflicting desires.. and when one party will not sacrifice their agenda for another, we have a serious problem.

The second one applies to our church. This underlined the necessity for all of is to experience the SAME DESIRES in the church. We have read recently that the problem with churches is not lack of Vision, but rather too many visions. When everyone has their OWN desires of how things ought to be, or if everyone has their own set of expectations from the church, and if their expectations are not based on Scriptures, we will experience quarrels and fights and conflict.

As we all learn (through prayer and communing with our God) from the same Source what He wants us to do, we all, slowly but surely, arrive on the same page. And we will begin working in unity, with one heart and mind.

Werner]]> 1393338771 Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400 1866539317 1393338771 0 2009-05-12
1. I was reading my Bible on the couch. My daughter wanted to watch the morning news. My dear wife was trying to talk to me over the noise of the TV. I experienced frustration. I didn't listen to her, telling her I was reading. I took my laptop, exasperated, and went off into the reading room to avoid the TV and to finish reading in silence and solitude. A voice whispers in my head, "Aren't I the holy one this morning?"

2. We have three cars in the driveway, all in a row. My wife needs to leave for work, but her car was at the top of the driveway. All three of us have a different agenda and schedule. Again, the tension levels rise, as everyone's different agenda comes to the surface and manifests itself. One is the middle of some makeup artistry in the bathroom, the other (me) is lost somewhere in Israel's theological problems in the book of Isaiah. But we all reluctantly plod out to our cars, start our engines, and exit the driveway in order to let Carole get to work on time.

I go back to my Bible reading after moving my car and this is on the reading schedule: (I read with the immediacy of that all too familiar mirror effect.) "1. What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2. You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Two things were driven home to me. One was personal: i.e. Although we were a long way from fighting, the serious conflicts are made out of the SAME STUFF! Having conflicting desires.. and when one party will not sacrifice their agenda for another, we have a serious problem.

The second one applies to our church. This underlined the necessity for all of is to experience the SAME DESIRES in the church. We have read recently that the problem with churches is not lack of Vision, but rather too many visions. When everyone has their OWN desires of how things ought to be, or if everyone has their own set of expectations from the church, and if their expectations are not based on Scriptures, we will experience quarrels and fights and conflict.

As we all learn (through prayer and communing with our God) from the same Source what He wants us to do, we all, slowly but surely, arrive on the same page. And we will begin working in unity, with one heart and mind.

Werner]]> <![CDATA[Questions About Communion]]> communion


Like Baptism, Communion is a Christian ritual that was instituted by Jesus Christ and practiced by his followers from the very beginning. Some refer to it as a sacrament. We generally refer to it as an ordinance. Communion is a corporate, symbolic act of remembrance of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It involves the receiving of a piece of bread and a sip of wine (or grape juice). These elements represent the body and blood of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we worship and follow. By receiving both the bread and the "fruit of the vine", Christians are encouraged to enter more fully into the realization of Christ's suffering for them, and are strengthened by that act, together with the church.


How Important is it?


This question is the same as asking the question, how important is it to my marriage to tell my wife that I love her? It is the Christian's desire to fulfill the desires of the One Who loves us. He is the One who said, Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me (Jn 14:21).


Looking at the question from a different angle, how significant is this practice?



Various Christian traditions have viewed this quite differently. Very early in church history, some started taking the meaning of Jesus` words quite literally as he held the bread and said ...This is my bodyo and ...This is my bloodo with reference to the wine. Thus you have a view known as transubstantiation, the belief that the elements miraculously and mysteriously change into the actual flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. You can imagine that those elements are treated very reverently and are offered up as a re-presentation of the once-for-all sacrifice that Jesus offered for us. People who hold this view also believe that because the bread and wine are actually and literally the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus, they are obligated to worship it. They also believe that grace is communicated to the participant. Grace is understood as a divine enablement to resist sin in one's life and adds to the merits that are necessary to attain ultimate salvation.


The view we believe to be biblical is known as the memorial view. That is, we believe that the language that Jesus used was very naturally a figure of speech. In holding up the bread, Jesus said, "This is my body". That is no different than holding up a photograph of one's spouse and saying, "This is my wife." What is meant is, "This is a depiction of my wife". No one believes that the substance that the photo is made of (paper, pixels and ink) somehow changes into the substance that a person is made of. The bread and wine are symbols, meant to represent Jesus Christ himself. We believe that grace is communicated to the participant, not magically through the bread and wine, but in the act of prayerful meditation and in our obedience to Christ.


Who are the Participants in Communion?


Communion is based on the Last Supper that Jesus had with his disciples before he was arrested, tried and executed on a Roman cross. The Last Supper was the Passover meal that Jewish people celebrate every year as a memorial of the exodus event. In this memorial event the Jewish people remember that they were once in bondage as slaves to another power, but had been redeemed by God's mighty hand of deliverance. Through the instrumentality of a lamb that was slaughtered for them, the blood of which was spilled and applied to each Jewish household, judgment was averted.


In the same way, those who may participate in the act of Communion are people who live in the realization of redemption by the sacrificial death of the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". It makes no sense at all and it is not biblically permissible that people take part who do not self-identify as followers of Christ. But individuals need to assume responsibility for this decision, (except in matters of church discipline) because we cannot be a judge of the heart to decide who is a true believer and who is not. Thus we observe an "open table" where all professing and self-examined Christians are welcome.


What about partaking in an unworthy manner?


An examination of the context of this term, unworthy manner in 1 Corinthians 11 will show that the Apostle Paul's concern was not that believers were partaking who felt unworthy. We are all unworthy in that sense. The unworthy manner that Paul describes in his Corinthian epistle had to do with the fact that Communion was not being held in the spirit in which it was intended. They were using the occasion as an excuse to party and actually get drunk.


What about children?


We realize that children can and do understand redemption at an early age. We encourage children under the age of 12 to be seated beside their parents during a Communion service. It is the parents' responsibility to determine whether that child receives Communion in the spirit that is intended. This would mean not allowing a child to partake simply because a parent doesn't want their child to feel excluded, or simply because a child is curious. Those who pass the elements should not be responsible for making these decisions.


How frequently should we hold Communion?


The Bible gives us no prescription. It only assumes that we do it regularly. Jesus said, "As often as you do it... do this in remembrance of me." (1 Cor 11:26) The disciples seemingly did it daily in the early chapters of Acts. Later we see that they did it on a weekly basis, and it became a core part of their corporate life of worship. We routinely do it on a monthly basis, but are not bound or limited by any scriptural constraints. If we want to do it more frequently, we certainly can.


Why do we use grape juice instead of wine?


Firstly, wine in the mid-east was fermented grape juice. We suspect that whether it is fermented or not matters little to the Lord. It does matter that there may be individuals in the congregation who conscientiously avoid any alcoholic beverage out of conviction or due to a former life of alcohol abuse. Therefore, in order to avoid tripping anyone up, we serve grape juice.


Secondly, we live in a culture that has in its history regarded any drinking of alcoholic beverages as sinful. This is so deeply embedded in the conscience of some that is becomes a violation of conscience for them.


...Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weako (1 Cor. 8:9).


What shall I think or meditate on while this service takes place?



First, we are to be sharing in the reality of who and what Jesus Christ really means to us in all the fullness of His life and work on our behalf'righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; acceptance, significance, and ability to live for the Lord and others. Think about what Jesus Christ means to you because of His sacrifice.
Second, as a fellowship, Communion is a sharing together with one another. It is a time when together, as we pass the elements, we are demonstrating our common faith, commitment, concerns, love, devotion to Christ and the ministry and life to which He has called us.
Third, the observance of the Lord's Table should also be a time for examination. It should be a time for personal examination and evaluation of our loves, aspirations, values, devotion, relationships, pursuits, and of our lives in general.
Last but certainly not least, it is a time of confession. Self examination is a good thing. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to your conscience anything that requires cleansing. And determine, as the Lord brings these matters to light and as you confess them, that you will do what it takes to make them right.

If you have any questions or need further clarification on this topic, please email werner1950@gmail.com]]> 1330799731 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 1866539317 1330799731 0 2008-02-21 communion


Like Baptism, Communion is a Christian ritual that was instituted by Jesus Christ and practiced by his followers from the very beginning. Some refer to it as a sacrament. We generally refer to it as an ordinance. Communion is a corporate, symbolic act of remembrance of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It involves the receiving of a piece of bread and a sip of wine (or grape juice). These elements represent the body and blood of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we worship and follow. By receiving both the bread and the "fruit of the vine", Christians are encouraged to enter more fully into the realization of Christ's suffering for them, and are strengthened by that act, together with the church.


How Important is it?


This question is the same as asking the question, how important is it to my marriage to tell my wife that I love her? It is the Christian's desire to fulfill the desires of the One Who loves us. He is the One who said, Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me (Jn 14:21).


Looking at the question from a different angle, how significant is this practice?



Various Christian traditions have viewed this quite differently. Very early in church history, some started taking the meaning of Jesus` words quite literally as he held the bread and said ...This is my bodyo and ...This is my bloodo with reference to the wine. Thus you have a view known as transubstantiation, the belief that the elements miraculously and mysteriously change into the actual flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. You can imagine that those elements are treated very reverently and are offered up as a re-presentation of the once-for-all sacrifice that Jesus offered for us. People who hold this view also believe that because the bread and wine are actually and literally the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus, they are obligated to worship it. They also believe that grace is communicated to the participant. Grace is understood as a divine enablement to resist sin in one's life and adds to the merits that are necessary to attain ultimate salvation.


The view we believe to be biblical is known as the memorial view. That is, we believe that the language that Jesus used was very naturally a figure of speech. In holding up the bread, Jesus said, "This is my body". That is no different than holding up a photograph of one's spouse and saying, "This is my wife." What is meant is, "This is a depiction of my wife". No one believes that the substance that the photo is made of (paper, pixels and ink) somehow changes into the substance that a person is made of. The bread and wine are symbols, meant to represent Jesus Christ himself. We believe that grace is communicated to the participant, not magically through the bread and wine, but in the act of prayerful meditation and in our obedience to Christ.


Who are the Participants in Communion?


Communion is based on the Last Supper that Jesus had with his disciples before he was arrested, tried and executed on a Roman cross. The Last Supper was the Passover meal that Jewish people celebrate every year as a memorial of the exodus event. In this memorial event the Jewish people remember that they were once in bondage as slaves to another power, but had been redeemed by God's mighty hand of deliverance. Through the instrumentality of a lamb that was slaughtered for them, the blood of which was spilled and applied to each Jewish household, judgment was averted.


In the same way, those who may participate in the act of Communion are people who live in the realization of redemption by the sacrificial death of the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". It makes no sense at all and it is not biblically permissible that people take part who do not self-identify as followers of Christ. But individuals need to assume responsibility for this decision, (except in matters of church discipline) because we cannot be a judge of the heart to decide who is a true believer and who is not. Thus we observe an "open table" where all professing and self-examined Christians are welcome.


What about partaking in an unworthy manner?


An examination of the context of this term, unworthy manner in 1 Corinthians 11 will show that the Apostle Paul's concern was not that believers were partaking who felt unworthy. We are all unworthy in that sense. The unworthy manner that Paul describes in his Corinthian epistle had to do with the fact that Communion was not being held in the spirit in which it was intended. They were using the occasion as an excuse to party and actually get drunk.


What about children?


We realize that children can and do understand redemption at an early age. We encourage children under the age of 12 to be seated beside their parents during a Communion service. It is the parents' responsibility to determine whether that child receives Communion in the spirit that is intended. This would mean not allowing a child to partake simply because a parent doesn't want their child to feel excluded, or simply because a child is curious. Those who pass the elements should not be responsible for making these decisions.


How frequently should we hold Communion?


The Bible gives us no prescription. It only assumes that we do it regularly. Jesus said, "As often as you do it... do this in remembrance of me." (1 Cor 11:26) The disciples seemingly did it daily in the early chapters of Acts. Later we see that they did it on a weekly basis, and it became a core part of their corporate life of worship. We routinely do it on a monthly basis, but are not bound or limited by any scriptural constraints. If we want to do it more frequently, we certainly can.


Why do we use grape juice instead of wine?


Firstly, wine in the mid-east was fermented grape juice. We suspect that whether it is fermented or not matters little to the Lord. It does matter that there may be individuals in the congregation who conscientiously avoid any alcoholic beverage out of conviction or due to a former life of alcohol abuse. Therefore, in order to avoid tripping anyone up, we serve grape juice.


Secondly, we live in a culture that has in its history regarded any drinking of alcoholic beverages as sinful. This is so deeply embedded in the conscience of some that is becomes a violation of conscience for them.


...Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weako (1 Cor. 8:9).


What shall I think or meditate on while this service takes place?



First, we are to be sharing in the reality of who and what Jesus Christ really means to us in all the fullness of His life and work on our behalf'righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; acceptance, significance, and ability to live for the Lord and others. Think about what Jesus Christ means to you because of His sacrifice.
Second, as a fellowship, Communion is a sharing together with one another. It is a time when together, as we pass the elements, we are demonstrating our common faith, commitment, concerns, love, devotion to Christ and the ministry and life to which He has called us.
Third, the observance of the Lord's Table should also be a time for examination. It should be a time for personal examination and evaluation of our loves, aspirations, values, devotion, relationships, pursuits, and of our lives in general.
Last but certainly not least, it is a time of confession. Self examination is a good thing. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to your conscience anything that requires cleansing. And determine, as the Lord brings these matters to light and as you confess them, that you will do what it takes to make them right.

If you have any questions or need further clarification on this topic, please email werner1950@gmail.com]]> <![CDATA[Believer's baptism]]> Believer's baptism is a Christian ritual that dates back to the days prior to Jesus Christ. Baptism was a custom used by some Jews as an initiation ritual into their particular teaching. John the Baptist was a prophet who introduced Jesus Christ to the world. He taught repentance and baptized those who responded to his message. When Jesus came on the scene as a 30-year-old man, he was baptized by John in the river Jordan. His baptism was unique, in that He did not need a baptism of repentance. His baptism marked the beginning of a pattern for His followers.

Why should I be baptized?
Although there are several good reasons that ought to compel a follower of Christ to be baptized, the one that is most obvious is also simple to understand. Jesus expects His followers to be baptized.

After his resurrection and just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus gave some final instructions to His followers who would spread the good news of the Gospel and plant churches everywhere. He said to them: ...Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded youo (Matthew 28:19-20). That is precisely what we see them doing in the book of Acts.

It is somehow contradictory to hear individuals talk in glowing terms about their love for the Lord Jesus, and yet balk at the idea of being baptized. If you, the reader, have not been baptized, stop for a few moments and analyze your objections. In many cases, people wake up to the fact that baptism is far more important to the Lord than they first realized.
One mistaken line of reasoning goes as follows. A person hears the Bible teacher or preacher say something like, ...Baptism is not essential to salvation.o The conclusion is then drawn that baptism must not be important. It must be optional. Although it is true that baptism is not as important as salvation, obedience is nonetheless very important. Baptism is as essential as discipleship is. Baptism happens to be the first thing in our Christian walk that the Lord wants us to act on, while disobedience becomes a handicap in our walk with the Lord.

Who should be baptized?
You will notice that there is a particular order in the previously quoted verse (Matt 28:19-20). Jesus asked His disciples to

Make disciples
Baptize them
Instruct them
The order seems obvious. A person must first become a disciple. Infants cannot make that choice; therefore we do not baptize infants.* see footnote

Is there a minimum age before one can be baptized?
There is no direct answer to this question. Obviously there are different degrees of maturity at every age. Some ten-year-olds can be more mature than some 14-year-olds.

The difficulty with baptizing young children is the lack of the kind of life's experience that typically tests the reality of that faith. A child's ability to respond to concrete facts precedes by far his or her ability to process concepts and abstract thoughts. Young children simply do not adequately comprehend life-long commitments. In the days of the New Testament, when one stepped forward and declared allegiance to Jesus Christ, it meant a willingness to be ostracized from society; indeed it often meant a willingness to die for Him.



That was the nature of the decision, for there were many severe persecutions of Christians by various Roman emperors. Therefore, the decision to be baptized was the ultimate test at the very start of the young believer's life.

In later centuries, and during more peaceful times, some churches required baptismal candidates to learn their catechism for up to three years before they were baptized.

Rather than err too far on either side of this question, this church's approach will be to wait until a child is at least 12 years old. It was Jesus' age when he visited the temple with his parents and expressed that He must be about His Father's business. It is also the age when a Jewish child was considered to be a young adult. There is no clear teaching on the so-called age of accountability, but it makes good sense to recognize that although a very young child can come to faith in Jesus Christ, a life-impacting decision needs a few years of experience and some consolidation of one's faith before one commits to the waters of baptism. However, even at the age of 12, baptism will not be administered to a child who does not have full parental support.

What is the method of baptism?
We believe the Bible most clearly teaches that in baptism, a person is entirely immersed in water. In fact, the Greek word for baptism primarily means to ...immerseo. Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan. Although we will recognize the baptism of those who have been sprinkled or poured upon, we will practice immersion in most every situation. Exception to this practice will be made if a person is unable to be immersed due to disability or illness.

What is the significance of baptism?
Baptism is the symbol that tells the world that your heart belongs to Jesus Christ. What the wedding ring is to a bride and groom, baptism is to the believer. It is the symbol that identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. It is also the symbol of a conscience that is clean before God. It is obedience, but a joyful obedience.




Romans 6:3-4 says:

3 Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

The above passage indicates that water baptism takes on a two-fold meaning:

The immersion of the person into water indicates that we identify with the death of Christ. Thus, baptism links Jesus' death to the forgiveness of our sins. The imagery of washing is significant here and that's the reason for the use of water. Instead of a physical washing of dirt off the skin, baptism symbolizes that a spiritual cleansing from sin and selfishness has taken place. But baptism doesn't end there.
In addition, there's also a rising up out of the water, illustrating a resurrection out of the grave into new life. Baptism affirms to us that the Holy Spirit is central to our lives now and that we can be assured that just as we died with Christ, we are now more alive than ever. Jesus said: ...Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to lifeo (John 5:24). That is why we encourage baptism to be a public event. Baptism is a powerful object lesson of the new life that we have in Christ.

* When did some churches and denominations start baptizing infants and what were their reasons for doing so?
Only a few generations passed in the life of the early church, when some leaders began to teach that sins are actually forgiven by means of baptism. Because baptism and the moment of salvation are seen so closely together in the Scriptures, it was easy to come to that conclusion. Soon, salvation itself was believed to come through the act of baptism. If salvation no longer depended upon an act of faith on the part of the convert, and if the act of baptism was actually the means of salvation, logically, the sooner one was baptized, the better. Thus, infant baptism came about. In fact, if the life of the mother was in peril during or prior to childbirth, some even sought ways of baptizing 'in utero'.

Of course, we believe the Bible teaches that baptism follows salvation and signifies the washing away of all sin. The assurance of the forgiveness of sin can occur the moment a person trusts in Christ and is born again. Our sins are forgiven on the basis of the following word: ...But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sino (1 John 1:7).

]]> 124730298 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 1866539317 124730298 0 2008-02-21 Believer's baptism is a Christian ritual that dates back to the days prior to Jesus Christ. Baptism was a custom used by some Jews as an initiation ritual into their particular teaching. John the Baptist was a prophet who introduced Jesus Christ to the world. He taught repentance and baptized those who responded to his message. When Jesus came on the scene as a 30-year-old man, he was baptized by John in the river Jordan. His baptism was unique, in that He did not need a baptism of repentance. His baptism marked the beginning of a pattern for His followers.

Why should I be baptized?
Although there are several good reasons that ought to compel a follower of Christ to be baptized, the one that is most obvious is also simple to understand. Jesus expects His followers to be baptized.

After his resurrection and just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus gave some final instructions to His followers who would spread the good news of the Gospel and plant churches everywhere. He said to them: ...Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded youo (Matthew 28:19-20). That is precisely what we see them doing in the book of Acts.

It is somehow contradictory to hear individuals talk in glowing terms about their love for the Lord Jesus, and yet balk at the idea of being baptized. If you, the reader, have not been baptized, stop for a few moments and analyze your objections. In many cases, people wake up to the fact that baptism is far more important to the Lord than they first realized.
One mistaken line of reasoning goes as follows. A person hears the Bible teacher or preacher say something like, ...Baptism is not essential to salvation.o The conclusion is then drawn that baptism must not be important. It must be optional. Although it is true that baptism is not as important as salvation, obedience is nonetheless very important. Baptism is as essential as discipleship is. Baptism happens to be the first thing in our Christian walk that the Lord wants us to act on, while disobedience becomes a handicap in our walk with the Lord.

Who should be baptized?
You will notice that there is a particular order in the previously quoted verse (Matt 28:19-20). Jesus asked His disciples to

Make disciples
Baptize them
Instruct them
The order seems obvious. A person must first become a disciple. Infants cannot make that choice; therefore we do not baptize infants.* see footnote

Is there a minimum age before one can be baptized?
There is no direct answer to this question. Obviously there are different degrees of maturity at every age. Some ten-year-olds can be more mature than some 14-year-olds.

The difficulty with baptizing young children is the lack of the kind of life's experience that typically tests the reality of that faith. A child's ability to respond to concrete facts precedes by far his or her ability to process concepts and abstract thoughts. Young children simply do not adequately comprehend life-long commitments. In the days of the New Testament, when one stepped forward and declared allegiance to Jesus Christ, it meant a willingness to be ostracized from society; indeed it often meant a willingness to die for Him.



That was the nature of the decision, for there were many severe persecutions of Christians by various Roman emperors. Therefore, the decision to be baptized was the ultimate test at the very start of the young believer's life.

In later centuries, and during more peaceful times, some churches required baptismal candidates to learn their catechism for up to three years before they were baptized.

Rather than err too far on either side of this question, this church's approach will be to wait until a child is at least 12 years old. It was Jesus' age when he visited the temple with his parents and expressed that He must be about His Father's business. It is also the age when a Jewish child was considered to be a young adult. There is no clear teaching on the so-called age of accountability, but it makes good sense to recognize that although a very young child can come to faith in Jesus Christ, a life-impacting decision needs a few years of experience and some consolidation of one's faith before one commits to the waters of baptism. However, even at the age of 12, baptism will not be administered to a child who does not have full parental support.

What is the method of baptism?
We believe the Bible most clearly teaches that in baptism, a person is entirely immersed in water. In fact, the Greek word for baptism primarily means to ...immerseo. Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan. Although we will recognize the baptism of those who have been sprinkled or poured upon, we will practice immersion in most every situation. Exception to this practice will be made if a person is unable to be immersed due to disability or illness.

What is the significance of baptism?
Baptism is the symbol that tells the world that your heart belongs to Jesus Christ. What the wedding ring is to a bride and groom, baptism is to the believer. It is the symbol that identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. It is also the symbol of a conscience that is clean before God. It is obedience, but a joyful obedience.




Romans 6:3-4 says:

3 Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

The above passage indicates that water baptism takes on a two-fold meaning:

The immersion of the person into water indicates that we identify with the death of Christ. Thus, baptism links Jesus' death to the forgiveness of our sins. The imagery of washing is significant here and that's the reason for the use of water. Instead of a physical washing of dirt off the skin, baptism symbolizes that a spiritual cleansing from sin and selfishness has taken place. But baptism doesn't end there.
In addition, there's also a rising up out of the water, illustrating a resurrection out of the grave into new life. Baptism affirms to us that the Holy Spirit is central to our lives now and that we can be assured that just as we died with Christ, we are now more alive than ever. Jesus said: ...Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to lifeo (John 5:24). That is why we encourage baptism to be a public event. Baptism is a powerful object lesson of the new life that we have in Christ.

* When did some churches and denominations start baptizing infants and what were their reasons for doing so?
Only a few generations passed in the life of the early church, when some leaders began to teach that sins are actually forgiven by means of baptism. Because baptism and the moment of salvation are seen so closely together in the Scriptures, it was easy to come to that conclusion. Soon, salvation itself was believed to come through the act of baptism. If salvation no longer depended upon an act of faith on the part of the convert, and if the act of baptism was actually the means of salvation, logically, the sooner one was baptized, the better. Thus, infant baptism came about. In fact, if the life of the mother was in peril during or prior to childbirth, some even sought ways of baptizing 'in utero'.

Of course, we believe the Bible teaches that baptism follows salvation and signifies the washing away of all sin. The assurance of the forgiveness of sin can occur the moment a person trusts in Christ and is born again. Our sins are forgiven on the basis of the following word: ...But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sino (1 John 1:7).

]]> <![CDATA[Baptism]]> Introduction
Believer's baptism is a Christian ritual that dates back to the days prior to Jesus Christ. Baptism was a custom used by some Jews as an initiation ritual into their particular teaching. John the Baptist was a prophet who introduced Jesus Christ to the world. He taught repentance and baptized those who responded to his message. When Jesus came on the scene as a 30-year-old man, he was baptized by John in the river Jordan. His baptism was unique, in that He did not need a baptism of repentance. His baptism marked the beginning of a pattern for His followers.

Why should I be baptized?
Although there are several good reasons that ought to compel a follower of Christ to be baptized, the one that is most obvious is also simple to understand. Jesus expects His followers to be baptized.

After his resurrection and just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus gave some final instructions to His followers who would spread the good news of the Gospel and plant churches everywhere. He said to them: ...Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded youo (Matthew 28:19-20). That is precisely what we see them doing in the book of Acts.

It is somehow contradictory to hear individuals talk in glowing terms about their love for the Lord Jesus, and yet balk at the idea of being baptized. If you, the reader, have not been baptized, stop for a few moments and analyze your objections. In many cases, people wake up to the fact that baptism is far more important to the Lord than they first realized.
One mistaken line of reasoning goes as follows. A person hears the Bible teacher or preacher say something like, ...Baptism is not essential to salvation.o The conclusion is then drawn that baptism must not be important. It must be optional. Although it is true that baptism is not as important as salvation, obedience is nonetheless very important. Baptism is as essential as discipleship is. Baptism happens to be the first thing in our Christian walk that the Lord wants us to act on, while disobedience becomes a handicap in our walk with the Lord.

Who should be baptized?
You will notice that there is a particular order in the previously quoted verse (Matt 28:19-20). Jesus asked His disciples to


Make disciples
Baptize them
Instruct them

The order seems obvious. A person must first become a disciple. Infants cannot make that choice; therefore we do not baptize infants.* see footnote

Is there a minimum age before one can be baptized?
There is no direct answer to this question. Obviously there are different degrees of maturity at every age. Some ten-year-olds can be more mature than some 14-year-olds. The difficulty with baptizing young children is the lack of the kind of life's experience that typically tests the reality of that faith. A child's ability to respond to concrete facts precedes by far his or her ability to process concepts and abstract thoughts. Young children simply do not adequately comprehend life-long commitments. In the days of the New Testament, when one stepped forward and declared allegiance to Jesus Christ, it meant a willingness to be ostracized from society; indeed it often meant a willingness to die for Him.

That was the nature of the decision, for there were many severe persecutions of Christians by various Roman emperors. Therefore, the decision to be baptized was the ultimate test at the very start of the young believer's life. In later centuries, and during more peaceful times, some churches required baptismal candidates to learn their catechism for up to three years before they were baptized.

Rather than err too far on either side of this question, this church's approach will be to wait until a child is at least 12 years old. It was Jesus' age when he visited the temple with his parents and expressed that He must be about His Father's business. It is also the age when a Jewish child was considered to be a young adult. There is no clear teaching on the so-called age of accountability, but it makes good sense to recognize that although a very young child can come to faith in Jesus Christ, a life-impacting decision needs a few years of experience and some consolidation of one's faith before one commits to the waters of baptism. However, even at the age of 12, baptism will not be administered to a child who does not have full parental support.

What is the method of baptism?
We believe the Bible most clearly teaches that in baptism, a person is entirely immersed in water. In fact, the Greek word for baptism primarily means to ...immerseo. Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan. Although we will recognize the baptism of those who have been sprinkled or poured upon, we will practice immersion in most every situation. Exception to this practice will be made if a person is unable to be immersed due to disability or illness.

What is the significance of baptism?
Baptism is the symbol that tells the world that your heart belongs to Jesus Christ. What the wedding ring is to a bride and groom, baptism is to the believer. It is the symbol that identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. It is also the symbol of a conscience that is clean before God. It is obedience, but a joyful obedience.

Romans 6:3-4 says:
3 Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

The above passage indicates that water baptism takes on a two-fold meaning:
1. The immersion of the person into water indicates that we identify with the death of Christ. Thus, baptism links Jesus' death to the forgiveness of our sins. The imagery of washing is significant here and that's the reason for the use of water. Instead of a physical washing of dirt off the skin, baptism symbolizes that a spiritual cleansing from sin and selfishness has taken place. But baptism doesn't end there.
2. In addition, there's also a rising up out of the water, illustrating a resurrection out of the grave into new life. Baptism affirms to us that the Holy Spirit is central to our lives now and that we can be assured that just as we died with Christ, we are now more alive than ever. Jesus said: Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life (John 5:24). That is why we encourage baptism to be a public event. Baptism is a powerful object lesson of the new life that we have in Christ.

* When did some churches and denominations start baptizing infants and what were their reasons for doing so?
Only a few generations passed in the life of the early church, when some leaders began to teach that sins are actually forgiven by means of baptism. Because baptism and the moment of salvation are seen so closely together in the Scriptures, it was easy to come to that conclusion. Soon, salvation itself was believed to come through the act of baptism. If salvation no longer depended upon an act of faith on the part of the convert, and if the act of baptism was actually the means of salvation, logically, the sooner one was baptized, the better. Thus, infant baptism came about. In fact, if the life of the mother or child was in peril during or prior to childbirth, some even sought ways of baptizing 'in utero'.

Of course, we believe the Bible teaches that baptism follows salvation and signifies the washing away of all sin. The assurance of the forgiveness of sin can occur the moment a person trusts in Christ and is born again. Our sins are forgiven on the basis of the following word: ...But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sino (1 John 1:7).

]]> 1540609159 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 1866539317 1540609159 0 2008-02-21 Introduction
Believer's baptism is a Christian ritual that dates back to the days prior to Jesus Christ. Baptism was a custom used by some Jews as an initiation ritual into their particular teaching. John the Baptist was a prophet who introduced Jesus Christ to the world. He taught repentance and baptized those who responded to his message. When Jesus came on the scene as a 30-year-old man, he was baptized by John in the river Jordan. His baptism was unique, in that He did not need a baptism of repentance. His baptism marked the beginning of a pattern for His followers.

Why should I be baptized?
Although there are several good reasons that ought to compel a follower of Christ to be baptized, the one that is most obvious is also simple to understand. Jesus expects His followers to be baptized.

After his resurrection and just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus gave some final instructions to His followers who would spread the good news of the Gospel and plant churches everywhere. He said to them: ...Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded youo (Matthew 28:19-20). That is precisely what we see them doing in the book of Acts.

It is somehow contradictory to hear individuals talk in glowing terms about their love for the Lord Jesus, and yet balk at the idea of being baptized. If you, the reader, have not been baptized, stop for a few moments and analyze your objections. In many cases, people wake up to the fact that baptism is far more important to the Lord than they first realized.
One mistaken line of reasoning goes as follows. A person hears the Bible teacher or preacher say something like, ...Baptism is not essential to salvation.o The conclusion is then drawn that baptism must not be important. It must be optional. Although it is true that baptism is not as important as salvation, obedience is nonetheless very important. Baptism is as essential as discipleship is. Baptism happens to be the first thing in our Christian walk that the Lord wants us to act on, while disobedience becomes a handicap in our walk with the Lord.

Who should be baptized?
You will notice that there is a particular order in the previously quoted verse (Matt 28:19-20). Jesus asked His disciples to


Make disciples
Baptize them
Instruct them

The order seems obvious. A person must first become a disciple. Infants cannot make that choice; therefore we do not baptize infants.* see footnote

Is there a minimum age before one can be baptized?
There is no direct answer to this question. Obviously there are different degrees of maturity at every age. Some ten-year-olds can be more mature than some 14-year-olds. The difficulty with baptizing young children is the lack of the kind of life's experience that typically tests the reality of that faith. A child's ability to respond to concrete facts precedes by far his or her ability to process concepts and abstract thoughts. Young children simply do not adequately comprehend life-long commitments. In the days of the New Testament, when one stepped forward and declared allegiance to Jesus Christ, it meant a willingness to be ostracized from society; indeed it often meant a willingness to die for Him.

That was the nature of the decision, for there were many severe persecutions of Christians by various Roman emperors. Therefore, the decision to be baptized was the ultimate test at the very start of the young believer's life. In later centuries, and during more peaceful times, some churches required baptismal candidates to learn their catechism for up to three years before they were baptized.

Rather than err too far on either side of this question, this church's approach will be to wait until a child is at least 12 years old. It was Jesus' age when he visited the temple with his parents and expressed that He must be about His Father's business. It is also the age when a Jewish child was considered to be a young adult. There is no clear teaching on the so-called age of accountability, but it makes good sense to recognize that although a very young child can come to faith in Jesus Christ, a life-impacting decision needs a few years of experience and some consolidation of one's faith before one commits to the waters of baptism. However, even at the age of 12, baptism will not be administered to a child who does not have full parental support.

What is the method of baptism?
We believe the Bible most clearly teaches that in baptism, a person is entirely immersed in water. In fact, the Greek word for baptism primarily means to ...immerseo. Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan. Although we will recognize the baptism of those who have been sprinkled or poured upon, we will practice immersion in most every situation. Exception to this practice will be made if a person is unable to be immersed due to disability or illness.

What is the significance of baptism?
Baptism is the symbol that tells the world that your heart belongs to Jesus Christ. What the wedding ring is to a bride and groom, baptism is to the believer. It is the symbol that identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. It is also the symbol of a conscience that is clean before God. It is obedience, but a joyful obedience.

Romans 6:3-4 says:
3 Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

The above passage indicates that water baptism takes on a two-fold meaning:
1. The immersion of the person into water indicates that we identify with the death of Christ. Thus, baptism links Jesus' death to the forgiveness of our sins. The imagery of washing is significant here and that's the reason for the use of water. Instead of a physical washing of dirt off the skin, baptism symbolizes that a spiritual cleansing from sin and selfishness has taken place. But baptism doesn't end there.
2. In addition, there's also a rising up out of the water, illustrating a resurrection out of the grave into new life. Baptism affirms to us that the Holy Spirit is central to our lives now and that we can be assured that just as we died with Christ, we are now more alive than ever. Jesus said: Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life (John 5:24). That is why we encourage baptism to be a public event. Baptism is a powerful object lesson of the new life that we have in Christ.

* When did some churches and denominations start baptizing infants and what were their reasons for doing so?
Only a few generations passed in the life of the early church, when some leaders began to teach that sins are actually forgiven by means of baptism. Because baptism and the moment of salvation are seen so closely together in the Scriptures, it was easy to come to that conclusion. Soon, salvation itself was believed to come through the act of baptism. If salvation no longer depended upon an act of faith on the part of the convert, and if the act of baptism was actually the means of salvation, logically, the sooner one was baptized, the better. Thus, infant baptism came about. In fact, if the life of the mother or child was in peril during or prior to childbirth, some even sought ways of baptizing 'in utero'.

Of course, we believe the Bible teaches that baptism follows salvation and signifies the washing away of all sin. The assurance of the forgiveness of sin can occur the moment a person trusts in Christ and is born again. Our sins are forgiven on the basis of the following word: ...But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sino (1 John 1:7).

]]>