The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum HowWouldYouAnswerThis?

Pilgrim,

I know we are in disagreement on this issue because we disagree on what baptism represents, however, I appreciate your answer, you are staying true to your view. I do want you to understand, I do hold a very high view of the church not that you implied I didn't. I believe God calls individuals to the ministry, who the church should have no say on removing. Then there are individuals who mistake disire for calling and enter the ministry uncalled. One of the failures of the baptist denomination is their autonomy. I agree with the government of the Presbyterian, and Reformed churches and would like it if more churches (especially ours) followed that method. What happens for us is that we have carnal believers or even non-believers making decisions in the church by vote I do believe that candidates for baptism must be interviewed, and the interviewer needs to be knowledgeable to determine if the person is a proper candidate for baptism (this is because I hold to believers baptism). That I guess would be about as close to trained I would come on this issue. Something that really turned me off this past year was the statement by baptists that their goal was to baptize 1 million, talk about wrong focus!! Anyway, sorry I got off topic, I did appreciate the person's concern, which showed maturity in questioning his qualification to perform a baptism, too bad more are not as thoughtful before doing something church related.