| Author | Message | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 731 Registered: 7-2003  |
I'm just throwing this one out there for the group because I found it unusual and interesting. I receive a weekly newsletter from a former SDA pastor that once served here in Lincoln. He now serves a church in the NW made up of nearly all former SDAs. They still meet on Saturday's, but as far as I can tell there is not the same focus on Sabbath-keeping as is seen in SDA churches. Anyway, here's an excerpt from today's newsletter. I am curious if anyone else has heard of such a baptism outside of Mormonsim or I Cor. 15:29:
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| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1699 Registered: 11-2002 |
That's just too weird. Shane is dead. He had already given his life to God. My opinion is that they should leave it at that and greive and get peace in their hearts about his death. Frankly, I'm not too much on the idea of doing anything by proxy. | ||
| Tracey Registered user Username: Tracey Post Number: 280 Registered: 9-2004 |
Yeah, this is something the Mormons practice also. I was just reading about this in the bible. Not really expounded upon, so I can only go on what the bible does say.. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1626 Registered: 12-2003  |
No, I'm not aware of other "Christian" baptisms for the dead, either. The Study Notes of my NIV suggest that, while 1 Cor. 15:29 will proabaly always be obscure, Paul was commenting on a practice which the Corinthians were doing as part of his argument for the resurrection without necessarily approving the practice. Perhaps Paul was not mandating such a practice but was acknowledging its symbolism. I don't know! Colleen | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 310 Registered: 5-2002 |
This sounds more to me like a memorial service that includes a proxy baptism service that would have taken place had the man been alive to receive it. I'm not hearing "baptism for the dead" in the few words posted above. Just my $0.02 | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 454 Registered: 10-2004  |
Here is how I've heard it explained. The key to 1 Corinthians 15:29 may be the fact that Paul does not say "we" or "you" like he does throughout the chapter, but he says "those" and "they." He says, "Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?" (NASB.) So, he is not talking about a Christian practice, but he is perhaps just making the point that even those who are baptized for the dead know there is a resurrection. Or something like that.  Jeremy (Message edited by jeremy on March 18, 2005) | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 734 Registered: 7-2003 |
I agree with you Freeatlast. Despite my provocative title I don't think they're really engaging in baptisms for the dead. This just seems to be a sentimental act in memory of this individual. It is rather odd though...... it's kind of like saying, "My brother John was going to get married this weekend, but since he passed away I'm going to stand in his place during the ceremony". I don't know, I'm not really criticizing, I just haven't seen anything quite like this before. Chris | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 311 Registered: 5-2002 |
Great clarification Chris, thanks! I just hope and pray these folks don't think that this baptism ceremony has anything to do with the salvation of the deceased. Then, of course, I would have MAJOR issues with it. If he believed, and it sounds as if he did, then that boy was saved FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. With or without a baptism ceremony... | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 735 Registered: 7-2003 |
Agreed. | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 350 Registered: 6-2004 |
Mormonism is the only religion I know of that does this practice. It's bizarre to read it being performed elsewhere. Anyway, I guess my argument would be that the thief on the cross who repented made it to paradise with Jesus and he certainly didn't have time to get baptized, therefore Jesus baptism covered him. However, it's still a public proclaimation to have it done. | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 339 Registered: 4-2000  |
Wow, Chris, thanks for sharing two aberrant teachings in his newsletter. This is even worse than Mormonism because they only baptize to represent the dead. This view further adds that the deceased will actually be "with him" at the baptism (akin to transubstantiation held by the Roman Catholic Church). I get the same weekly newsletter so I am most curious what he will say about all this next week. I am sure that many of his newsletter subscribers will send him emails. Furthermore, I am wondering what his own church members will think about these unorthodox teachings. Interestingly, he also still teaches tithing despite the fact that he got into big trouble with the SDA Church on that one. It is my view that he is just "babysitting" those former Adventists that pay him tithe. Thus, he would not want to further alienate them by introducing a different day of worship. Indeed, it is hard to bite the hand that feeds you. Dennis J. Fischer | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 738 Registered: 7-2003 |
I didn't necessarily think he was promoting or teaching baptism for the dead. I just thought it was a sentimental exercise, albeit one that is a bit odd. Chris | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1700 Registered: 11-2002 |
Could you please put the link to the site you are talking about so us others can read it? Thanks. | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 740 Registered: 7-2003 |
It's a church newsletter with distribution to the pastor's congregation and a few others. It's not available on the web. | ||
| Sabra Registered user Username: Sabra Post Number: 315 Registered: 10-2001 |
I have always wondered what that verse is talking about in 1 Cor. 15. I've never heard anyone explain it in anyway that made sense to me. |
