Plan "B"

So, I'm nearly done with my study on the history of baptism (from 1000 BC to 35 AD). Here's the Reader's Digest version:

1. In John The Baptist's time, baptisms were done according to the Mikveh (or Mikvaot), which not only was performed with complete immersion, it also required complete nudity (in order for the water to fully drench every nook and cranny). All jewelry and bandages were to be removed also. Dreadlocks were a particular problem because some tight dreads could conceivably prevent the water from reaching every hair.

2. John was clear to point out that there would be another who would come who would revamp the whole baptism ritual and give eternal life through belief alone. Later writings by Paul state firmly that acts\deeds\rituals\etc do not save you. Only grace through faith alone [period]. One example of works he gives is the circumcision. Oh, how I wish he had addressed baptism also, but that wasn't the problem at the time. The point is clear though - just as circumcision doesn't make you a Jew, neither does any other outward work make you a Christian. According to the Bible. Disagree if you must, but you're not disagreeing with me. You're disagreeing with the Bible.

3. Just like circumcision was when Paul circumcised Timothy. Paul didn't do it in an attempt at converting Timothy to Judaism. (That would be ridiculous by the way).

4. Baptism is reserved for conscious, willing participants. If we could suppose to have the sins forgiven for someone who was both not conscious of the activity of sprinkling water on them (like an infant) or unwillingly partaking (like a crying infant), then what would prevent the following?

What do you need for baptism according to some faiths? One, you need a participant - any regular person of any age with any degree of desire or lack of desire to be saved. Their involvement is merely consequential. Two, you need water, blessed by a holy person. Three, you need to somehow have this 'holy water' sprinkled over them in an act of 'baptism'.

Now, suppose the following. One, take everyone in a large area - say, the state of New York. Two, you wait for a large storm cloud to come overhead and you have a priest bless all the water in the cloud. Three, it rains, and every unknowing person who happens to get water sprinkled on them is now saved from their sins.

Think about it. The water comes directly from the heavens - you can't get more holy than water from heaven that has been blessed by a pious person. It's water (read Mana) from heaven for Pete's sake! (get it?)

5. Baptized or not baptized, that isn't really the question. In the same way Paul addressed the issue of "circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing", so must we realize the truth of "baptism of the heart". Has your heart truly been given to Christ? Are you saved? Born again according to the words that Jesus spoke? That's the crux of the question. If you think some act or deed is your ticket to heaven, then let the rain fall and splash around all you want. The way of ritual seems right to some men. Unfortunately though, the end thereof are the ways of death.

Having settled this in my heart, I sadly cannot continue onto the other studies I would wish to for reasons I won't go into here. I don't write this information on my blog in order to condemn anyone. I write it in order to help - or try to help - guide people who may have been mislead into various beliefs which are either not in the Bible or specifically against the Bible. Many people may read the above as an attack. It was presented as a teaching point (2 Tim 3:16).

Labels: christianity, faith