I think each of us has a responsibility as a believer to call out false doctrine that does not align with Scripture. God has preserved Scripture for us and it can be used to try the doctrine of man, whether that man be apostle or peer. We are told in 2 Timothy 3:16,Valerie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2024 5:41 am
You are not in the position to call early church writers false teachers or call out false doctrine in regards to this topic. You are 2000 years out from Apostles starting Churches. You are defending Anabaptists for their beliefs which is understandable but they are simply wrong about their conclusions. And I loaned my early church writers book out but you are wrong that this started in 300.
EVERY country the Apostles started the Church, east or west, the "norm" was infant baptism. It was stated as fact not "guessing" that the Apostles themselves taught it.
Anyone questioning it, like I remember Tertullian did, and I believe that was before 300 that he questioned it, well he left the Church anyways to become a Montanist, a sect that eventually died out. But the "common" practice was for Believers to baptize their infants. As OJ pointed out about Anabaptists differing each other in application, same would be true of the original Church- early church writers BEFORE 300 had opinions on how old the infant should be- how many days old.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
And Paul writes in Galatians 1:8
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you that that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
John 14 records "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you."
So yes, as believers with God's Spirit in us, we do have the ability to call out that which is contrary to scripture. Just because an early "church father" wrote something does not mean that writing is truth. Using the argument of oral tradition does not give credence to an idea. Paul clearly teaches that if something does not line of with God's word, it should not be heeded.
It seems to me that baptizing infants vs adults and pouring vs immersion are not in the same category and cannot be treated as the same. They are not opinions. One is a command of Christ and one is an application of that command. Christ commands baptism. In Scripture when people were baptized, they were baptized upon request and this request was preceded by repentance (Act 2:38 "And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized)' An infant cannot repent or ask for baptism. In scripture, repentance is a prerequisite to baptism. Furthermore baptism was received willingly, not forcefully. A 'baptism' of infants is nothing more than a bath. I prefer to give my children their bath at home.Valerie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2024 5:41 am Differing opinions on baptism does not fall in the category of heresy.
I believe in total immersion. I could say to teach pouring or sprinkling is heresy. But I can read the early church allowed for poring if there was not water available for total immersion.
As to immersion vs pouring, that is an application of a scriptural command. Scripture is not explicit in whether immersion or pouring constitutes baptism. It simply says to be baptized. Let's be careful not to put a command and an application into the same category.