That Whole Baptism Thing
This response to Wayne Grudem by John Piper is worth reading:
If you don't know, Wayne Grudem is a Reformed Baptistic Charismatic whose Systematic Theology is (yes, I know that sounded odd) one of the better "modern" systematics. It is the "go to" Systematic for many evangelicals. He recently revised his chapter on baptism.
Funny, I remember debating the old version of that chapter in college with folks who knew I was paedobaptist. Even back then I found the chapter insufficient and uncompelling. According to Piper, it has become even less so.
Piper is arguing for what the PCA already does: admit baptistic Christians into membership while continuing to hold that their view on baptism is not correct. He'd like to see the same in Baptist churches, but has had some degree of difficulty in seeing that change occur in his own church.
Having just preaching last week on Peter’s vision of the sheet being lowered from heaven, the whole theme of what makes for unity in Christ has been at the forefront of my thinking. The point of the vision was that Peter should not allow his religious traditions (dietary laws, Gentile uncleaness) to keep him from admitting a God-fearing Gentile into church membership. Is it time for Baptists to stop calling sound, God-fearing Presbyterians unclean? (And vice versa.)
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If you don't know, Wayne Grudem is a Reformed Baptistic Charismatic whose Systematic Theology is (yes, I know that sounded odd) one of the better "modern" systematics. It is the "go to" Systematic for many evangelicals. He recently revised his chapter on baptism.
Funny, I remember debating the old version of that chapter in college with folks who knew I was paedobaptist. Even back then I found the chapter insufficient and uncompelling. According to Piper, it has become even less so.
Piper is arguing for what the PCA already does: admit baptistic Christians into membership while continuing to hold that their view on baptism is not correct. He'd like to see the same in Baptist churches, but has had some degree of difficulty in seeing that change occur in his own church.
Having just preaching last week on Peter’s vision of the sheet being lowered from heaven, the whole theme of what makes for unity in Christ has been at the forefront of my thinking. The point of the vision was that Peter should not allow his religious traditions (dietary laws, Gentile uncleaness) to keep him from admitting a God-fearing Gentile into church membership. Is it time for Baptists to stop calling sound, God-fearing Presbyterians unclean? (And vice versa.)
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posted on 8/09/2007 | permalink | more bloggy goodness
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2 Comments:
Hey Shaun,
In your experience or knowledge, do you know if the PCA admits "baptistic Christians" into leadership (Teaching and/or Ruling Edler) within the church, or only membership? I'm a 2nd year M.Div student at Covenant Seminary wrestling with this issue. I'm from a PCA background, and am 98% good-ol presbyterian. Baptism happens to be one point I'm inclined to see from the baptist side of things.
Thanks for the post. I found your comments helpful. I've recently moved my blog over to: gensheer.wordpress.com in case you check out my profile on Blogger. Thanks again,
Chris,
Leadership within the PCA requires subscription to the Confession and Catechisms. At least TE and RE leadership does. While you may find "lay leadership" being accomplished by those of a baptistic perspective, I doubt such an exception to the Confession would be allowed among the ordained. I'm sure it has happened, but to my knowledge it is rare.
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