A
I went through this topic with a fine tooth comb for someone from the Church of Christ. 30 pages or so, with graphs, and every passage that might apply considered. Quite in depth.
If you want the complete study, let me know. Maybe I can e-mail it, or even post it somewhere. (Open for suggestions) That said, one of the biggest issues was what I bring up with everyone holding to this belief:
Question: "You believe that water baptism is a requirement for salvation, right?"
Answer: "Yes, absolutely."
Question: Would you ever consider sharing a gospel message with someone and leaving out the part about water baptism being essential?"
Answer: "Never."
Question: "How about one time in a hundred? Might you leave out water baptism one time in a hundred?"
Answer: "No. It is an essential part of salvation. I do not give partial salvation messages. All of what is required I ALWAYS share."
Me: "I am quite sure that all of the writers of scripture, and the Apostles, agree with you. All of the essentials for each person, in each of the circumstances they were found, were ALL shared with everyone they were witnessing to."
Question: "This brings up an issue though. If water baptism is a requirement for salvation, why is it that in over 70% of the places where the gospel message is given, water baptism is not mentioned at all? Here are all of the places in scripture where the message is given. The ones highlighted are the ones where water baptism is "mentioned" at all."
The problem with all false beliefs, including the ones you and I still have, is that we have gathered the passages and facts that we can use to prove our beliefs true and all opposing beliefs false, and we interpret everything in the light of our, now infallible, beliefs.
How many people still believe in good Friday and Easter Sunday, in spite of the fact that to do so makes Jesus a false prophet worthy of being stoned to death, discrediting all of the New Testament as well? Yes, that one belief is that important. You can't get three days and three nights out of Friday night, Saturday Day, and a partial Saturday night. (The women showed up while it was still dark and He was already gone.) The facts to get to the truth are available to those willing to work to get them, but for most people their beliefs are enough. Truth doesn't matter.
We tolerate tons of inconsistencies between our beliefs and what scripture says God says and does. For example, David had 5 wives, and kids with 4 of them, BEFORE HE EVER COMMITTED ADULTERY. How many wives and kids by them do you need to have before you commit adultery?
Solomon never committed adultery at all according to scripture. God reproved him regarding sin with his wives, but it wasn't over lust, having sex with a thousand women, or adultery. Have you picked beliefs that make God / Jesus inconsistent? Why isn't Solomon the poster child for rampant ungodly lust? Are our modern definitions what the word of God said and meant, or do we merely pick and choose what we need to believe what we want, just like those from the church of Christ?
Do we close our eyes and stick our fingers in our ears and say "La, La, La..." over to ourselves loudly when the inconsistencies between our beliefs and the scriptures are pointed out? Do we love the truth more than our beliefs, or do we draw near to it only with our lips?
If you want the complete study, let me know. Maybe I can e-mail it, or even post it somewhere. (Open for suggestions) That said, one of the biggest issues was what I bring up with everyone holding to this belief:
Question: "You believe that water baptism is a requirement for salvation, right?"
Answer: "Yes, absolutely."
Question: Would you ever consider sharing a gospel message with someone and leaving out the part about water baptism being essential?"
Answer: "Never."
Question: "How about one time in a hundred? Might you leave out water baptism one time in a hundred?"
Answer: "No. It is an essential part of salvation. I do not give partial salvation messages. All of what is required I ALWAYS share."
Me: "I am quite sure that all of the writers of scripture, and the Apostles, agree with you. All of the essentials for each person, in each of the circumstances they were found, were ALL shared with everyone they were witnessing to."
Question: "This brings up an issue though. If water baptism is a requirement for salvation, why is it that in over 70% of the places where the gospel message is given, water baptism is not mentioned at all? Here are all of the places in scripture where the message is given. The ones highlighted are the ones where water baptism is "mentioned" at all."
The problem with all false beliefs, including the ones you and I still have, is that we have gathered the passages and facts that we can use to prove our beliefs true and all opposing beliefs false, and we interpret everything in the light of our, now infallible, beliefs.
How many people still believe in good Friday and Easter Sunday, in spite of the fact that to do so makes Jesus a false prophet worthy of being stoned to death, discrediting all of the New Testament as well? Yes, that one belief is that important. You can't get three days and three nights out of Friday night, Saturday Day, and a partial Saturday night. (The women showed up while it was still dark and He was already gone.) The facts to get to the truth are available to those willing to work to get them, but for most people their beliefs are enough. Truth doesn't matter.
We tolerate tons of inconsistencies between our beliefs and what scripture says God says and does. For example, David had 5 wives, and kids with 4 of them, BEFORE HE EVER COMMITTED ADULTERY. How many wives and kids by them do you need to have before you commit adultery?
Solomon never committed adultery at all according to scripture. God reproved him regarding sin with his wives, but it wasn't over lust, having sex with a thousand women, or adultery. Have you picked beliefs that make God / Jesus inconsistent? Why isn't Solomon the poster child for rampant ungodly lust? Are our modern definitions what the word of God said and meant, or do we merely pick and choose what we need to believe what we want, just like those from the church of Christ?
Do we close our eyes and stick our fingers in our ears and say "La, La, La..." over to ourselves loudly when the inconsistencies between our beliefs and the scriptures are pointed out? Do we love the truth more than our beliefs, or do we draw near to it only with our lips?