When Paul and Silas went to Philippi on their second missionary journey they first encountered Lydia. She believed the gospel, and she and her entire household were baptized (Acts 16:13-15).
After casting a demon out of a young girl, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten, and thrown into prison. At midnight they were singing in prison, and an earthquake caused the doors to be opened. The jailer there rushed in and saw the open doors, and presuming everyone had fled, drew his sword to kill himself. Paul cried out of the darkness that they were still there. This gave occasion for Paul to preach to the jailer, and he also believed in Jesus, and he and his whole household were baptized (Acts 16:16-34, but especially 16:33).
I wonder if we might make some gains in the debate over infant baptism and believers baptism if we simply said, “We practice household baptism.”
What do you think?
PrBW
This requires some thought – hmmmmm – there I thought about it and I “LIKE” it!
Pastor,
I, coming from an evangelical baptistish background, think this would be a great way to talk about infant baptism and why we do it. The term is more “Scriptural” in the sense that it is what is described in the Scriptures yet still holds true to what we believe as Lutherans as revealed in the Word. I’m going to start using this term now! Thank you for your insight and wisdom! God be praised!
I think this is a great idea, and those who would argue against it would find themselves in the position of having to add conditions where the Scripture text doesn’t have them.
I like. It is Scriptural.
I’m in! Really Mr. & Mrs. Evangelical, where is the restriction to baptism based on age found in Scripture exactky again? Household baptism IS found, as demonstrated above, and doesn’t contradict Peter in Acts 2 but listens to him. The question for the Evangelical to answer is what did the apostles teach, and what did they do? Who are you to change it?
When I was struggling from my Baptist understanding of baptism to a Lutheran one, I noted the household passages in my “defense” of the Baptist understanding. The problem of course is that Lady Reason must have her way vs letting the Scripture/mystery hold sway. We would not have these doctrinal differences among believers if there were only Scripture to support one way over the other. If I recall I believe the household baptism passages are discounted somewhat as a practice of the culture (the way of the head so went the household.) Sadly, baptism is a “dedication” to most and is seen too much as an individual thing (distinctly an American Christianity thing per Pastor Wolfmueller’s book).
I like better that the question of who is doing the baptizing? With the answer – the big W who of Christ Himself. This at least might provoke the person to think away from this is about “me doing” vs Someone else doing to me.
White Horse Inn discussions have also pointed out that a major issue is people NOT noting who is doing the acting vs the receiving. The LAW says “you need to do” and the Gospel says “I have done this for you”
Baptism made into an ordinance becomes “Law” rather than a gift of faith (means) from God (Gospel).
I like it, pastor. I think there is hardly anything in the New Testament we can dismiss as something which applied only to “the culture of that time”.
Nice! I’ll use it along with “prove it” to the Baptists (which I married). However, I’m not sure why you said we can make gains. It’s not our position to prove infant baptism, but a Baptist to disprove it, which they can’t without omitting parts of scripture – Apostolic tradition and church history. In 1689, the man-made tradition, with its “qualification and restrictions” is in the baptist catechism. Until then, it really wasn’t an issue in the church.
Keep up the good work PW. I really like your lessons and the manner in which you present them.
Fair enough, but you know how these conversations all get messed up.
Thanks for the kind words!
I am so grateful to have an online community of people like you all! Thanks pastor, for giving Lutherans a solid online resource and for giving us a place to find support and commonality with other believers. Sadly, I feel like I am always on the defense here in my small town, located in the middle of baptist country. I just wish I could put into words the beauty of this doctrine!