Articles
Baptism by a Non-Christian
Baptism by a Non-Christian
By Paul R. Blake
(I received the following question by email from a dear brother in Ohio) “What qualification (if any) must one possess before he can baptize others? In a worst case scenario, what if a person wanted to be baptized, but was in a place with only non-Christians?”
Good question, Brother! In the case of the person being baptized, we know that he or she must do so from the heart; that is, they must believe and repent from the heart, and make the confession by mouth. When he is being baptized, he must do so with the intent that he is being baptized for the remission of sins and that he will arise a new creature in Christ. Similarly, the person doing the baptism must do so with the intent that he is baptizing this one into Christ for the remission of sins. Please note that he is doing so in the name of or by the authority of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I do not believe one who is outside of Christ can pretend to be acting by the authority of Christ.
In Acts 19, Jewish exorcists attempted to do something in the name of Jesus, and they not only failed, they were punished. “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified” (Acts 19:13-17). I would certainly fear for both the one outside of Christ trying to baptize by the authority of the Lord, and for the one who is placing his hope of salvation on such a practice.
I have heard the argument that states that since at least one of the apostles had to be unbaptized when he baptized the others, it is possible for non-Christians to baptize others in the name of Christ. That is based on limited and uninformed human reasoning; God’s word is silent on the matter. We cannot generate a doctrine based on what God did not say about the matter.
However, I have faith that if one truly wants to be baptized, Providentially, God will see to it that it gets done right. This is a matter of faith. When the Ethiopian eunuch wanted to be baptized, God supplied the baptizer (Philip) and the water in the middle of a desert region. Based on the promises of God and His examples of Providential care, I believe that when one wants to become a Christian, a baptizer and sufficient water will be available, and if not in the immediate area, then in the near future. I cannot imagine that one who hears the gospel for the first time and wants to be saved will be killed before having the opportunity. However, I would not suggest that one who has on multiple occasions rejected the gospel would have the same level of mercy and protection.
Finally and more to the point, it has been my experience that over the years men can make up a lot of hypothetical situations that appear to void or create conflict with commands of the Lord. In truth, I believe such situations exist only in the minds of brethren or as some sort of religious urban myth. I do not believe they actually exist or have happened. And, if they have happened, so what? God is all wise and all knowing. He will figure out how to handle that matter according to His infinite wisdom. Regardless of what exceptions that we can think up in our own minds for others, they have NO bearing on us or the people we teach, and most importantly, they do not void the direct command of the Lord. We still need to believe, repent, confess and be baptized for the remission of sins in the name of Jesus Christ.
Have you noticed how such questions seem to convey a false air of importance and serve no purpose when it comes to edification? These questions clog up Bible classes using time better spent on what God has revealed in His word. If brethren persist in dwelling on such questions, offer them a question of your own. “How does answering hypothetical questions edify us?” “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless” (Titus 3:9).
A Coward
A man who regards reputation as worth more than character is a coward. Reputation is what the world says of us; character is what God knows us to be. Many guard well their reputations, but care little for their characters; while the former we leave behind at death and the latter goes ahead to the judgment bar of God. If one‘s character is right, it will not matter in the judgment day what his reputation was. Since then, it is not reputation but character that goes with us, a man who strives to build reputation to the neglect of character is a coward.
What Am I?
I am a little thing with a big meaning; I help everybody; I unlock doors, open hearts, do away with prejudice; I create friendships and good will; I inspire respect and confidence; everybody likes me; I bore nobody; I violate no law; I cost nothing; many have praised me; none have condemned me; I am pleasing to everyone; I am useful every moment of the day. I am courtesy.
What Makes Us Christians
“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matt. 12:50). “It is not what we eat, but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain, but what we save that make us rich; not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess, but what we practice that makes us Christians.” (Author Unknown) In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24).
A Moments Wisdom
--It is not easy to apologize; to begin over; to admit error; to be unselfish; to take advice; to be considerate; to endure success; to keep on trying; to avoid mistakes; to forgive and forget; to make the most of little; to maintain a high standard; to shoulder a deserved blame; but it always pays!
--It is good to check up once in a while and make sure you have not lost the things money cannot buy.
--Letting a man follow the wrong course because he is your friend is mistaken kindness.
--What is right cannot be separated from what is glorious.
--A Christian should put off everything that has a tendency to put him out of “the straight and narrow way.
--Many a man tries to break himself of bad habits only after bad habits have broken him.
--Never bear more than one kind of trouble at a time. Some people bear all three--all they have now, all they ever had, and all they expect to have.
--Learn to pause, or nothing worthwhile will ever catch up with you.
--Examine the contents, not the bottle.
--Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier.
--Improvement begins with I.
--A pessimist is someone who looks at the land of milk and honey and sees only cholesterol and calories.
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