Curious Christian

Reflections on culture, nature, and spirituality from a Christian perspective

Do westerners interpret baptism too individualistically?

Published by

Matt Stone

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Baptism-circle“He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Luke 3:3)

If we recall that the exile and ongoing oppression of Israel was understood by the prophets to be a consequence of the collective sin of Israel, then is it possible that John was calling for, first and foremost, a collective repentance?

And is it possible, therefore, that we should not only think of immersion, not only in terms of reconciliation with God, but also in terms of reconciliation with one another? As initiation into God’s world changing initiative?

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One response to “Do westerners interpret baptism too individualistically?”

  1. Steve Hayes Avatar
    Steve Hayes

    One of the signs of Western individualism in baptism can be seen in the (ana)Baptist understanding that young children should not be baptised because they are too young to understand it. The individualistic “understanding” is therefore given a disproportionate and exaggerated importance.
    The fleeing Israelites did not leave their infants to the mercy of the pursuing Egyptian army on the grounds that they were too young to “understand” the crossing of the Red Sea. They carried them across.

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