On the PB it is appropriate to deal with issues theologically. So far the positions for both views have been argued on biblical and theological grounds. However, it might also be interesting to look at it from an organizational intentionality angle. Viewed programmatically and organizationally (rather than theologically), both Presbyterians and Baptists attempt to deal with the practical pastoral problems inherent in their systems.

Paedo-baptists will always have the problem that Roman Catholics have of avoiding religious nominalism despite the fact of infant entrance into the community. Catholics deal with it through confirmation while good Reformed churches seem to put much more stress on the third use of the law and the "experimental Calvinism" typical of the Puritans. Most of the strict Reformed groups also emphasize church discipline in ways that free churches have generally long since forgotten (except for a rare bird like MacArthur). Is it a fail safe method for quality assurance? No, Jesus spoke of the wheat and the tares.

Credo-baptists grew out of an environment of Christian nominalism in faith and attributed it to the problem of the composition of the church. If we just insist that you can't get into the community without at least giving a credible profession, perhaps that will purify the church. So a regnerate membership became the goal, safeguarded by believer's baptism. But, with the Baptist practice of performing baptisms at younger and younger ages (sometimes as young as 4 to 6), you must wonder if it is not more of a delayed infant baptism than adult "credo baptism."

Both systems attempt to be "biblical." They both seize upon themes and verses that make sense, at least on an unbiased "common sense" first reading of the text. And, both struggle to resolve a pastoral problem of hypocrisy and false professors in a disciplined and "biblical" manner.

The law of non-contradiction convinces me that while both may be wrong, they cannot both be right. Hence, along with CT, my reading list for the next few months includes both paedo and credo books.

__________________
Dennis E. McFadden, Ex Mainline Baptist (in Remission)
Atherton Baptist Homes, CEO
First Baptist Church of Alhambra, Member, Transformation Ministries (CA)

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?