Reformation Faith Today

by Les

Now in no way am I in the same league with the heavyweights in theology. But in my belief in infant baptism I am squarely in the same league with the many godly folk past and present who share my biblical conviction that the bible teaches infant baptism. (For the credobaptist view on this blog see my brother Randy’s position here)

On the issue of baptism I can truly see how my immersion only (of professing believers) brothers make their case. I respect them and their position on the matter. I have been a credobaptist in a former theological life. Since this is not a matter of “in the faith” or “not in the faith” I believe that sincere brothers can come down on either side of the issue.

That said, I am disheartened when a man I respect in so many ways, Mark Dever, says the following about me and what I believe (in an article titled What I CAN and CANNOT Live With as a Pastor:

Infant baptism. I cannot live with infant baptism. Having said that, if I were the pastor of the only church allowed in Mecca, maybe… But even then, I simply lack the authority to admit someone to the Lord’s Table who has not been baptized. It is, as one said not too long ago, “above my pay-grade.” I have many dear paedo-baptists friends from whom I have learned much. Yet I see their practice as a sinful (though sincere) error from which God protects them by allowing for inconsistency in their doctrinal system, just as he graciously protects me from consistency with my own errors. (bold added)

Ouch! The vast majority of Christians throughout history have just been thrown under the bus. Sinful practice?

I can see that as a pastor, a Baptist pastor, that Rev. Dever cannot “live with infant baptism.” I understand that. He holds a different view. But to call infant baptism a sinful practice? 1 John 2 speaks to us, I suppose:

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s [2] seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

My brother Mark has other things he can and cannot live with on his list. Some I agree with completely. But his reasoning on this one is not only wrong, it is unnecessarily hurtful to many godly men who have gone before him and who minister the gospel with him.