Danny,
Thanks for your reply! This is very interesting. You wrote:
God has spoken to me about other things though. I've never had a situation where His spoken word has contradicted scripture.
And:
Do you believe that God still speaks to us apart from the written word?
Apart from His written word I am not sure. He has never spoken to me apart from the scriptures, and perhaps people, but then how would one know whether it was God speaking through a person or not? I have prayed earnestly for God to provide an answer in the past, asking for a sign, or anything, but never received an answer that I recognized. Perhaps someone sharing what, by all appearances, was their opinion was from God. How do you discern this?
You say God has spoken to you. In what manner? A clear, audible voice? Dream? Mental impression? Another person? If any but the first of the four listed, how would you know?
Earlier in this discussion you wrote:
Baptism was a Jewish rite. It carried a great deal of meaning in Jewish culture. A Gentile converting to Judaism would undergo baptism. John baptizing in the Jordon was a scandal to the Jewish authorities because he was subverting a sacred cultural and religious ritual (and making them look bad in the process). During the time period that the New Testament was written, the church was still largely Jewish, with a growing number of Gentiles. For a Gentile to become a Christian was, essentially, to join a Jewish sect (hence the council at Jerusalem in Acts 15 to determine whether circumcision and obedience to the Torah was required of Gentile converts). In a setting where circumcision of male Gentile converts was seriously considered, the use of baptism makes perfect sense.
Regarding the early church being essentially a Jewish sect, you are in error. Jesus referred to the church as "my church". I hope what you meant to say was that the church could have become no more than a Jewish sect. Thankfully, God did not allow this to happen.
You are correct that baptism was a Jewish rite. They baptized far more often than Christ required; for a Christian, its once and done. However, Jesus clearly intended it to be for the gentiles (i. e. all non-jews). The "great commission" makes that plain - "all nations". And this the Apostles faithfully carried out.
Danny, early on you mentioned that you did not mean to give offense. You have not offended me (astonished perhaps
), and I hope I have not offended you. I am most concerned though, with what you believe, especially since, as I understand, you teach others. I would be very afraid to teach what you indicate you believe regarding baptism.