TCGreek said:
Your comments are fine, my brother.
1. Yet you have not understand about how we should understand "being buried with Jesus in water baptism" is His burial is not like ours.
2. I'm all for immersion; I'm not as radical as I sounded.
3. Concerning the LS, the elements are specified.
For some reason, as I type, my fingers refuse to put down the word 'not' 98% of the time. Seriously. I have to go back and re-read what I write to make sure it was there. I say there becuase when I said :
"Yes, that is sarcasm (and specifically directed at you brother), but at the same an honest question." it should have read:
Yes, that is sarcasm (and
not specifically directed at you brother), but at the same an honest question.
However, the point about "how we should understand being buried...it is not like ours".
Actually it maintains the same. They entombed Christ but he was still wholely put inside the earth or even was completely set into a thing.
As I said, it maintains the same sybolism and does not change in any significant way.
FOR ALL OTHERS ABOUT BAPTISING THE ILL OR MEDICALLY CHALLAGED>>
I have seen it done many times. But it should be done thoughtfully and properly. I have seen their physician attend or that the baptism was done in a Hospital so to make sure nothing went amiss. Baptism does not save but it IS considered one of our first steps of obedience AS WE CAN. The pastor AND congregation should be sensitive to the needs of the person while encouraging them on in their faith.
As I have said before, I have seen people with absolute medical phobias of water, (they would not even get in a tub to bathe) and yet God moved after a time in their heart that their faith moved them beyond their fear to be baptised.
I have seen those with IV's and such be baptised in the biblical fashion and with nurses or doctors present to help make sure the patient is safe. (if a person is on a respirator how do you even know they want to be baptised in the first place?? :laugh: )
Anyway, if we are talking about forced baptism, THAT I'm against. But if we are speaking of thoughfully considered baptism in conjunction with the persons request, well - I have yet to not see this fulfilled in a safe and God honoring way.