Carla Hinton, religious editor for The Oklahoman (“Faith In The Summer,” June 28, 2014, p. 1 D) reports concerning a five year old girl who “closed her eyes and held her breath in preparation for a life-changing experience” - her baptism. Her religious leader asked her “if she was ready to be baptized as an outward sign of her acceptance of Christ into her heart.”
This young girl was one of 214 people baptized that Monday as “part of the church’s annual series, ‘The Greatest Show on Earth.’” The church’s creative director mentioned that other activities on that Monday “included a cookout with free hamburgers and hot dogs, plus fun opportunities to interact with members dressed like superheroes, Captain America, Superman, and Iron man and Disney princesses. Also, children were encouraged to dress up as their favorite princess or superhero.”
A father, who said he had already been baptized, “seized the opportunity to be baptized again so he could share the special ritual with is daughter,” age 4, at that church. “It’s just amazing, he said.”
One wonders if Jesus and the apostles observed all this, if they, too, might find all the above as quite amazing!! It reminds one of Paul’s prophetic utterance that “in the last days grievous times shall come, for men shall be...holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof” (Titus 2:1-5). While Paul previewed many sinful and sobering things that would appear in the last days, the part above seems to fit the activities related to “the Greatest Show on Earth.”
Not one Scripture was related to the baptisms of the 5 year old girl and 4 year old girl (and her father). The nearest thing to gospel Truth was to state the baptism was “an outward sign of her acceptance of Christ” - a common statement by many church leaders in this day—a statement never found in Scripture! The biblical purpose of Baptism has been clearly stated in Scripture: “be saved” (Mk. 16:15,16); “for the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38); to get “into Christ” (Rom. 6:3, 4; Gal. 3:26,27); to be “baptized into one body,” which is the church (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22,23); into a relationship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit (Mat. 28:18,19).
How many of the 214 baptized that day were taught the purpose of baptism, as given in the New Testament?? Were they saved from sin by obeying the God-powered gospel (Rom. 1:16; I Pet. 3:21; Acts 10:47, 48), or did they go through a form, having denied and been deceived as to the power thereof?? The Gospel of Christ has not changed!Is that true of some 21st Century baptisms?