More Baptism Discussion

Last week we highlighted the back and forth between Wayne Grudem and John Piper on the subject of baptism—particularly if Baptists should allow paedobaptists into membership.

The discussion was spurred by Grudem’s rewriting his section “Do Churches Need to Be Divided Over Baptism?” in his Systematic Theology. Piper didn’t like the changes that Grudem made. Grudem responded to Piper, holding his ground (even though his very own wife was on Piper’s side!).

The discussion continues over at Church Matters, the blog of 9Marks Ministries.

Mark Dever (Wikipedia) defends Grudem’s side. Dever defends the position that “baptism SHOULD be required for church membership” with two points:

1. Because Jesus clearly commanded baptism and to disobey this command is sin [whether intentional or not]. To continue in such an unbaptized state is unrepentant sin [whether intentional or not]. . . . Baptism precedes the Lord’s Table. . . .
2. Because according to the New Testament, it is not merely the elders, but the entire membership of the local church that bear responsibility for establishing and patrolling “border & boundary” issues of discipline (Mt. 18; I Cor. 5) and doctrine (Gal. 1; II Tim 4). . . .

Read Dever’s whole post.

Aaron Menikoff contributes by showing that this debate goes back to the time of John Bunyan, who argued for the inclusion of paedobaptists in membership.

What observations can be made based on this discussion? Regarding the first question, Bunyan sought out certain themes in Scripture that seemed to contradict denying membership to a Christian: unity and love being the primary ones. Next, he traded on the emotional weight of these themes and prioritized them above other apparently contradictory ones: obedience [to the command to be baptized] and truth [regarding the necessity of baptism preceding communion]. Booth saw something greater at stake in the discussion than simply whether a few Baptist churches would become mixed. Churches prizing the conscience of the individual above the clear teaching of Scripture threatened leaving their young Baptist roots. This, of course, is eventually what happened to Bunyan’s church. Not during his time, but a few church splits later, Bedford Baptist became Bedford Congregationalist.

Read Menikoff’s whole post.

Menikoff plans to follow up with two more posts.

Here are all the relevant posts and articles:

• Grudem on baptism in his Systematic Theology (Amazon | Google Books | Libronix)
• Grudem on baptism in his updated Systematic Theology
• Justin Taylor: Grudem’s Change of Mind regarding Differences on Baptism within a Local Church
• John Piper: Response to Grudem on Baptism and Church Membership
• (John Piper earlier on baptism and church membership)
• Wayne Grudem: Wayne Grudem’s Response to Piper
• Mark Dever: Baptism, Church Membership and Congregationalism
• Aaron Menikoff: Historical Reflections on Baptism and Church Membership, Part One

See our previous posts:

• Two Baptist Perspectives on Baptism
• Free eBooks! (a free book on polity by Dever)

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