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
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
), 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.