The PuritanBoard - View Single Post - John Bunyan and Baptist Churchmanship by Mark Dever

Blueridge Baptist · #18 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueridge Baptist

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Ritchie

In my denomination the issue of whether or not Baptists should be members is a sore point; I say that if we allow them to partake of the Lord's Supper, then they should be recognised as church members.

To my baptist shame my Presbyterian brethren seem to show much more grace in this matter. I have often partook of the sacrement at an ARP church close by. Some of my baptist brethren won't let anyone who is not baptized by immersion partake and some if they are not part of "thier" group. Shamefull behaviour imo.

Those who exclude those who in their view do not have a valid baptism are only acting in accordance with their confession and historic Baptist practice, although the ones who won't commune those who weren't baptized in a church that is part of their group may have veered closer to Landmarkism. Maybe you are starting to see the light and will come over to the Presby side!

In my opinion, a position that allows presbys or anyone else to commune but bars them from church membership is inconsistent although it may be laudable for its charity. From a practical standpoint, I don't imagine too many convinced Presbys would join a Baptist church unless there were no sound Presby or other paedo options in the area. The same goes for convinced Baptists joining a Presbyterian church.

Lest someone think I'm cutting it too fine, well we Puritans are precisionists after all.

And that's where some of us baptists see the presby postion as inconsistant. If you is baptized, even if it is a child, how can you bar them from the table? Yes we can be hiar splitters sometimes can't we.