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| Q: | My sister is a member of a church in Chicago, where she is called a Disciple of Christ. She has been taught that babies should not be baptized because they cannot repent, nor do they understand what repentence means. She believes with time and as one ages they should become baptized. What exact messages can I supply to her to show her what the bible states about this belief? Also, she was offended when I told her that I could not pray with her, due to this belief about bapitism. She asked me why not. I could not think of the verse that says that if we are not of the same belief, we cannot pray together. Any advice or bible verse? Her husband said he doesn't belief in Christianity and that the bible said the Jesus came for the Jews, the chosen people. He believes we organize religion. What is the WELS response to something like this. | ||||||
| A: | To repent and believe means to have one's heart turned from sin to trust in the Savior. None of us, by our own power or ability, can repent or believe. We were all born "dead in [our] trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Therefore, it is a miracle of the Holy Spirit when anyone's heart is led from unbelief to faith. That's what Paul tells us later in that same chapter, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9). It is no greater a miracle when this happens within the heart of an infant than when this happens in the heart of an adult. It is in the water of baptism that the power of the Holy Spirit is at work through the gospel to turn hearts of young and old to that miracle of repentance and faith that makes us spiritually alive. Listen, as Peter, on the first Pentecost, invited all, of every age, to receive baptism so that they might receive the gift of forgiveness and salvation by the power of the Holy Spirit. "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:38,39). Your sister's church thinks of repentance and faith as decisions that human reason must make once the gospel has been proclaimed. If repentance and faith were indeed such works of human beings, even in the smallest part, then it would be "logical" to withhold baptism until someone could mentally g.html what was happening. But since repentance and faith are miracles of the Holy Spirit worked through the gospel, whether in Word or Sacraments, then it is perfectly biblical to administer baptism to "all who are far off", regardless of age. Secondly, you asked about a passage that would help you explain why you cannot pray with someone who does not share a common faith with you. In Psalm 119:103, 104, the psalm writer states, "How sweet are your promises to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts, therefore I hate every wrong path.". Because we are convinced that all God's words are important, especially his promises that bring us the peace of forgiveness (such as our baptism), we hate every "wrong path" that twists and distorts the clear message of God's Word. Where someone persists in teaching and holding to such wrong paths, it is loving to clearly let it be known that we consider such errors of teaching to be dangerous to their souls, and ours! In Romans 16:17, the Apostle Paul tells us how we are to act towards those who teach what we are convinced is contrary to the Scripture, "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.". When Paul tells us to "keep away from them," that doesn't mean that we cannot be friendly or kind towards those who disagree with us in doctrine. However, it does mean that we must avoid anything that would give the impression that such their false beliefs don't matter. To join someone in prayer is to give the impression that we are united in our belief's in our God. Where such is not the case, we are deceiving someone to act as if we share a common faith when we do not. Remember: just because we don't pray with them doesn't mean that we can read their hearts about whether they are believers or not. It is just a loving confession to the fact that something they hold to and teach is not in keeping with the gospel. | ||||||
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