Moderators, if this isn't the appropriate forum, please move.

I have an over zealous SBC friend who is theologically educated that has never been able to accept that I am a paedobaptist. It seems like every conversation over the past 4 1/2 years he's tried to drag me into a debate on why paedobaptism isn't scriptural (In one conversation he said he was trying to bring me back to the faith )

I've tried to explain my position many times but since he rejects non-baptist theology outright (or things he cannot harmonize with his baptistism), he'll never be able to see my arguments.

How can I deal graciously with my friend without compromising my convictions about baptism or turning into something hostle. I am asking that this not turn into a debate, there are other threads more suitable.

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Chris Bryant
Attending Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA), McKinney, TX
Member of Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA), Tulsa, OK
M.A.R., WTS/Redeemer Seminary, Dallas, TX (in progress)

We can pair him with my over-zealous presby friends and they can neutralize one another (like putting a humidifier and a dehumidifier in the same room and letting the two machines duke it out)....

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Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone

Maybe both of you could agree on Rom 14:4:

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http://www.villagecommunitychurch.org/


"Preparing a sermon is like cooking a meal. You need pots and pans and utensils, but you don't bring them out to the table where people are eating." Derek Thomas


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Kill him to death, a lot.


(of course, I am kidding)

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Dad
Christ Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCGA
Facebook - The Calvinist Vent
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It is God that multiplies our sorrows.... God, as a righteous Judge, does it, which ought to silence us under all our sorrows; as many as they are, we have deserved them all, and more: nay, God, as a tender Father, does it for our necessary correction, that we may be humbled for sin, and weaned from the world by all our sorrows; and the good we get by them, with the comfort we have under them, will abundantly balance our sorrows, how greatly soever they are multiplied. - Matthew Henry

Re-baptize him? Baptizing and glorifying all in one action?

No, like kill him dead, to the point of ceasing, until he lives no more from it... a lot.


(of course, I am kidding)

Have you straight-told him, "I do not wish to discuss this with you."?

Theognome

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Bill Cunningham
Covenant Reformed Church, URC
Kansas City
There are three kinds of people- those who can count, and those who can't.

Are you a theonomist, Josh? (just kidding)

No, but I'm a Theognome-ist.

It's the rat brains that do it.

Theognome

No. It was Whom. He did it.

Well, that just beats all. er, whom beats all, rather.

Theognome

Don't take the bait. Talk about Rick Warren or VBS and don't let the conversation drift towards baptism. Ask about the 4 dominant groups in the SBC and see where that goes. Steer that one towards the Calvinist resurgence.

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Rich Koster
1689'er
Browns Mills NJ USA
Often Goofy Reformed Eccentric
Romans 7:14-25

This is such an easy answer it scares me. Politely tell him you refuse to discuss the subject, and then stick to it. If he persists then you persist in telling him you will not discuss it. Eventually he'll get it.

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Bill Brown
Elder
Reformed Baptist
Maryland

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Visit my BLOG Theology for the Rest of Us

Obviously, it takes a Baptist to give advice on dealing with Baptists. :P

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Andrew DeShazo
Husband of Kathryn
Father of Phillip-Giles B. DeShazo
Deacon
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN
"From out of the depth of unbroken Infinfity arose the Question, "Who am I?" And to that Question there is the answer, "I am God!" -Meher Baba, died 1969.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Christ, died 33 AD, ressurected three days later.

Muskrat spleens!

This observation would work, I believe, regardless of which side in an argument is belligerent.

Instead of offering your "side" in the conversation, just rebut each point he makes. That's it, just rebuttal.

And if he demands that you "answer" some question of his, you can say "I'm not the one trying to convince my friend he's wrong. And I have no obligation to defend myself here. My defense isn't likely to convince you, and my aptitude for theological sparring will not make my conviction any weaker."

After a long series of losing his point, I think HE will stop. If he resorts to name-calling, or questioning your salvation, you can point out the insulting nature of the tactic, and ask him in Christian love to desist. If he refuses, then you might be looking at a person who is too tied up in gaining a personal victory in this contest, that he's willing to sacrifice a Christian friendship for the sake of pride.

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Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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Tell him he is wetter but not better!

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Dr. P. S. Ferguson
Bible Presbyterian
Singapore

I would second the advice to tell him it is not a topic for discussion, ref Romans 14.4 if he thinks he must save you from your heinous errors!

And if that fails, put your fingers in your ears, close your eyes, and shout very loudly 'Mongoose Livers' over and over again. When you open your eyes he will have disappeared.

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Jonathan Hunt

Elder holding forth the word of life at:
Cheltenham Evangelical Free Church (Confessionally Based)
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.
-- Thomas Elsworth

I would ask him to explain my position (paedo) and WHY I believe it from scripture before he can call himself rebutting it.

Tell him that both Piper and Sproul (who disagree with each other) said that a mark of Christian charity is being able to do this exact thing BEFORE being zealous about attacking the opposing view. Otherwise, he hasn't earned the right to bring up the topic.

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K. Joel Gilliard, Husband of Danielle since 7/11/09 (I married up!)
Theologically Correct dot Com
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I believe the only way to deal with an overzealous credobaptist is a stake through the heart. For overzealous paedobaptists you need a silver bullet.

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Tim Phillips
Pastor, Midlane Park Presbyterian Church (ARP)
Louisville, KY
Husband of Scottish Lass
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"Wherever the gospel is preached, it is as if God Himself came into the midst of us." ~ John Calvin

I think the best thing to do is bring the discussion back to our wonderful Saviour. I frequently have discussions with a charismatic friend and each time he starts to speak of the gifts, I try to bring the conversation back to Christ and Him crucified. Even though my doctrinal differences with this brother are major (many many more than just the gifts) I believe he is a true brother because of the zeal which he shows when Christ's sacrificial death is the topic of discussion, but furthermore this stops his ranting on the gifts, gives us a topic we agree on, and properly focuses us. I doubt we will discuss the mode and recipients of baptism in heaven, but Christ and Him crucified will be sung about for eternity.



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Ahh man Werewolves are so much cooler than vampires...thats it I'm goin paedobaptist.

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Bryan Riddle
1689 London Baptist Confession
Bethel Baptist Church Owasso, Oklahoma

Give him a few days posting privilege to the Baptism forum so he can try to persuade the paedo's here. He will learn a lot. His head will be spinning.

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R. Martin Snyder
1689er
http://www.puritanboard.com/blogs/puritancovenanter/

"Our object should not be to have scripture on our side but to be on the side of scripture; and however dear any sentiment may have become by being long entertained, so soon as it is seen to be contrary to the Bible, we must be prepared to abandon it without hesitation."
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I would, as others have said, just tell him that I wasn't going to discuss it. If that doesn't work, every time that he says something about baptism, just say, "Eeeggghht," loudly. Time it just right, so that when he says, "Bap.." you are in the process of "Eeeggghht!" Sooner or later he'll get the picture.

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soli Deo gloria!
~Nicholas~ Ordained Pastor
Member, Fulton PCA; GPTS Student
Christians are like snow covered dung; it is the purity of the covering which the Father sees. -Luther-
There is nothing more ugly than a Christian orthodoxy without understanding or without compassion.
-Francis Schaeffer-

Which are?

As to the overzealous credo....silver bullet.

Oops...I see Tim says a stake. Hmmm...debatable.

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Ivan R. Schoen, B.A., M.A., M.L.I.S.
Pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church (SBC)
Poplar Grove, IL, USA
http://maranatha-sbc.org

Calvinist
Arminian
Dispensational
Charismatic

There are no "factions", but these co-exist under the Baptist faith & message doc. The borders also overlap within the camps.

I see. True, but you'd probably find these groups within most evangelical groups. There are probably many more than this in the SBC, but I won't get into it. Personally, I don't know many that emphasis any of these aspects, especially the last two. but then I don't get out much. I think you are being kind when you say there are no factions.

I suggest lovingly avoiding the topic, decline to discuss, or switch the conversation to the CROSS, and other core doctrines which we all believe.

Baptism **IS** important, but there are too many Godly Christians in His service on each side of the issue for me to waste time fighting with my brothers about it. I will occasionally discuss it with my brothers with whom I disagree, and am almost always eager to listen to sermons or studies regarding "the other side"... but I remain convinced one way while many of my brethren convinced otherwise.

Just recently the issue came up with one of my closest friends who is an avowed paedo-baptist. He was initially surprised to learn I am a credo-baptist and I simply said I saw nothing constructive in bringing up a debate on the issue when there is so much in scripture that we can productively explore together and grow in our submission to the Spirit and in our appreciation of the Glory of our Lord and Savior.

For years I attended paedo-baptist churches because of the strong reformed Biblical teaching. I did not have a problem disagreeing on this point. I find it ironic that my paedo-baptist friend now finds himself in a strong Bible teaching baptist congregation!

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Eric Paulsen
Preaching Deacon, GFCC - Non-Denominational/Independent
Grizzly Flats, California

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. - Titus 1:9