Tag Archives: Ordinances

The Reformed Tradition and the Problem of Infant Communion

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INTRODUCTION The title of this article may seem like I am suggesting that churches who hold to Reformed1 theology should not be practicing infant communion. The fact is, they do not. One might wonder, “Does any denomination allow infants to partake of the Lord’s Supper?” The answer is yes. In Eastern Orthodox churches and a few other denominations, it is not only allowed, but it is a standard practice. Why do these churches accept this practice, and why is it a problem for churches who adhere to Reformed theology?

Colossians 2:11-12 and the Circumcision-Infant Baptism Analogy

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Most Baptists have heard of Reformed and Presbyterian churches who baptize babies, because “the practice of circumcision in the Old Testament (OT) is replaced by infant baptism in the New.” Verses cited in support of this analogy include Gen. 17:7–8; Gal. 3:9, 14; Col. 2:11–12; Acts 2:38–39; Rom. 4:11–12; 1 Cor. 7:14; Matt. 28:19; Mark 10:13–16; and Luke 18:15.1The challenge for those who use this analogy is that these passages either mention circumcision (Gen. 17:7–8; Rom. 4:11–12) or baptism (Acts 2:38–39; Matt.

The Reformers’ Defense of Infant Baptism

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The question of infant baptism has embroiled the church for centuries. Though Baptist theologians have repudiated this teaching, it is still prevalent in many churches today. This widespread practice means that church leaders need to continue to address this important issue. In this article, Dr. Ken Rathbun, a graduate of Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary, focuses on the Reformers’ statements regarding infant baptism and shows that they were not consistent with their guiding principles. This well-researched treatment of the subject will help you better understand the issue and enable you to express the Scriptural teaching more clearly.

Helping Your Local Church to Prosper

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Often when church growth issues are discussed, they are looked at from the perspective of the pastor. The responsibility for a church’s prosperity, however, rests with each church member as well, and we want to look at ways that all of us can be of help to our local churches. Actually, church growth is not the ultimate goal—having a spiritually healthy church should be our focus. Growth is often the result of a church being in good spiritual condition so that God can bless it.

The Catholic View of Salvation: A Fundamentalist Evaluation

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Introduction On March 29, 1994 a declaration was released entitled, “Evangelicals and Catholics Together.” It states, “We affirm together that we are justified by grace through faith because of Christ.” But is the evangelical (or fundamentalist) view of salvation really the same as the Roman Catholic? The evangelical/fundamentalist view teaches that the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ on the cross accomplished our salvation and that this salvation is applied by personal trust in this sacrifice. The Roman Catholic View of Salvation 1.

The Doctrine of the Church and Its Identifying Marks

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There is much confusion these days over what the Bible teaches about the church. Here at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary we are often asked what we believe in this area, and we are glad for the opportunity to set forth our convictions. There is much more that could be said about the church but these comments reflect our basic understanding of what the Scriptures teach. Significance We believe that the doctrine of the church is just as significant as any of the other grand teachings of Scripture.

The Importance of Water Baptism

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The importance of water baptism has been understood in different ways throughout church history. Some groups have taught that water baptism is the means by which God forgives sins. Others have said that water baptism is a sign and a seal of being in a covenant relationship with God. Obviously this view is much more vague than the first one and allows for differences of interpretation. Yet a third view argues that since water baptism is only a symbol of what God has already done and since water baptism has caused great division within Christendom, either water baptism should not be performed at all or it should be made optional for church membership.

Why Support the Local Church?

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All sorts of religious organizations vie for our support today. While they may not wish to diminish the importance of the local church, they often run the risk of becoming competitive with it as they seek our time, talents and treasures. And in contrast with their glowing reports of what the Lord is doing through them, one’s experience with a local church may be disheartening. In such a time of discouragement we often tend to become slack in our attendance, withdraw our financial support and become less involved in its ministry.