Who cares about Baptism? Why should this matter to ordinary believers?

Christians were relatively settled on this for about 1500 years, but during the European Reformations, widespread access to scripture allowed Christians to biblically evaluate every practice of the church; some became convinced that baptism should only happen after conversion, and not include kids. Because spiritual and theological issues were seen as matters of eternal life and death, believers were willing to risk their lives and take the lives of others over this issue!  

The longer I (pastor Mike) have been involved in the church, the more the signs and symbols have come to mean. Jesus commanded his followers to practice baptism and communion, and these signs have proven to be the Spirit’s way of communicating the gospel to us in a way that goes deeper than words. They give us visible, tangible expressions of the work of Jesus, through which the Holy Spirit uses to draw near to us. They teach us our identity in Christ and sustain us in him.  Specifically, baptism is the way God works through his people to demonstrate who is one of us. And that’s why this question matters so much: is a person “one of God’s people” by virtue of being born to believing parents (the covenantal view), or only and exclusively by virtue of their faith, demonstrated through confession of sin and commitment to Christ (the baptist view)? 

Because God in the OT included the children of Israelites in the chosen people - calling them to circumcise their new born boys and including them in the passover feast - we believe God still includes children. Peter seems to affirm this on the day of Pentecost: “this promise [of baptism and the Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” (Acts 2:39)

Let me repeat: we believe these conclusions are secondary. Seek clarity, but resist the human impulse to divide and separate over the question of baptism. This view that does not preclude a baptistic person from membership in my church! We can have loving fellowship in the Name of Jesus. The main thing will always be the Glory of Jesus, displayed through his incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Let’s unite by faith in him, surrender to him, and discipleship for him in every nation, for the glory of God and the good of the world.