The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum HowWouldYouAnswerThis?

Paul, your answer implies that you believe that the great commission was only given to the called/ordained people of the church, which I'm sure you don't really believe. I do believe in a special calling of the pastor/teacher, but I also believe that "ALL" born again believers should be able to teach one on one, making disciples, teaching them to obey all that Christ commanded. baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now, I'm not completely ignorant, and I do see where this could lead into abuses as well as gross error, so it isn't that I don't respect the position about the qualifications. I believe like anything, opening baptism up to anyone performing it without some type of overseer (elders etc.) is dangerous and unwarranted, but if people are approved by a qualified elder or pastor, any person should be able to perform it. In the case we are discussing, if someone has observed what the man is teaching, seeing that he is orthodox and that he understands what baptism is about, then there is no reason he shouldn't be able to do it on his own.