Drops Immersion

PROMINENT NEW-EVANGELICAL BAPTIST PASTOR DROPS IMMERSION AS REQUIREMENT FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Dr. John Piper is one of the leading limelight figures within New-Evangelical circles today. Dr. Piper, the pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church [BBC] in suburban Minneapolis, MN is a frequent speaker at New-Evangelical gatherings, as well as the author of several best-selling religious books. It is virtually impossible to think of New-Evangelicalism today without considering Dr. Piper's name.
In an action taken on Aug. 9, 2005, the BBC "Council of Elders," with Dr. Piper's obvious planning and consent, voted by a 23-l margin to recommend to the congregation an amendment revision of the church's constitution to include membership for professing believers who have not been baptized by immersion. Several other major constitutional policy changes were also recommended that were the result of several years consultation and planning by the noted BBC pastor. The constitutional changes are part of an 85 page document released by the church, available on BBC's internet website.

THREE STATEMENTS OF FAITH IN ONE CONSTITUTION!

The new lengthy complicated church constitution document actually now contains three statements of faith: (a) A minimal "Membership Affirmation of Faith" which all Christians should believe and all BBC members should also believe (pp. 30-32), a statement that completely eliminates baptism; (b) the Baptist General Conference [BGC] "Affirmation of Faith" by BBC elders, that includes several new "interpretations" by the BBC elders with a Calvinistic Reformed viewpoint," not contained in the BGC statement (pp. 41-45), and (c) a more lengthy doctrinal declaration called the "BBC Elder Affirmation of Faith" (pp. 75-85)

ELIMINATION OF IMMERSION AS MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT

          The revised constitution states that while BBC teaches and practices baptism by immersion and practices only this mode (Sect. 2, no. 2), the church does not believe that immersion is an essential prerequisite for membership (Sec. 2, no. 3), so long as the potential church member has been baptized by some other mode and sincerely believe that other mode is Biblically correct (Sect. 2, no. 4). The membership requirements do exclude those who believe in baptismal regeneration or have not been "baptized" by any mode at all.
          A resolution passed by the BBC "Council of Elders," with only two dissenting votes on 4-6-2004, stated that refusing BBC membership to sincere professing believers who have not been immersed "is a very serious [matter]" and "implies a warranted doubt about the validity of one's faith." While this resolution is not part of the revised church constitution, it formed an important backdrop to the eventual alterations.
          Section 2, no. 5, states in part, "We will welcome into membership candidates, who, after a time of study, discussion, and prayer, prescribed by the Elders, retain a conviction that it would be a violation of their conscience to be baptized by immersion as believers."

DR. PIPER'S FAULTY RATIONALE & A LONELY ELDER'S REFUTATION

Dr. Piper's rationale for the reduced church membership admission requirements come from his views some of which are cited below: That (a) Infant baptism is not "viewed as a weighty or central departure from the faith" (p. 14); that (b) Immersion would have eliminated many of Christianity's great saints from being BBC members (p. 17); (c) that requirements for local church membership should be identical to requirements for entrance in the "Universal church" (p. 19); (d) that immersion requires too much priority over other Bible doctrines (p. 19), and that (e) immersion requires some believers to violate their conscience by submitting to its practice (p. 20).
Elder Paul Dreblow (the one dissenting vote?), objected to Dr. Piper's proposal. The F.D editor is citing three of his objections: (a) that immersion is the only standard and practice described and taught in the N.T (p. 23); (b) that such action would decrease consciousness of the true N.T. teaching on baptism, and (c) where such a position will eventually lead the church; where will it all end? (p. 26).

OTHER MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

          1. The clause that members must promise to "sustain the doctrines of the church" has been deleted (p. 34).
          2. New members are no longer required to pledge fulfillment of any stewardship obligations (p.36).
          3. Articles 7 and 8 of the "BBC Elders Affirmation of Faith" add a strong Reformed Calvinistic position to the church's third statement               of faith.

SOME PERTINENT OBSERVATIONS BY THE F. D. EDITOR

          1. There are probably more individuals in hell today because of the teaching of infant baptism than any other of satan's unbiblical doctrines. Infant baptism is not a minor issue that can be consigned by Baptists as merely an insignificant part of Protestant, Reformed and Roman Catholic theology. This unscriptural doctrine is the lynchpin of Satan's wicked plot.
          2. The revised Bethlehem Baptist Church constitution adds Reformed Calvinistic theology (pp. 41-45, pp. 75-85), to the church's doctrinal statutes, making these new beliefs, the major underpinning of the church's doctrinal stance.
          3. Since both Dr. Piper and the BBC Council of Elders freely admit that in the N.T., only immersion is taught and was practiced by believers, why not just stick with the N.T? The Great Commission mandate, the only authoritative mandate believers possess, clearly teaches immersion only-Matt. 28:18-20. Immersion is the only acceptable Scriptural mode-Acts 8:36-38.
          PS: The F.D. editor does not have space or time in this issue to refute Dr. Piper's faulty views and unbiblical actions. He strongly encourages readers to secure the book he edited by Daniel Merrill entitled "The Mode and Subjects of Baptism." See elsewhere in this F.D. issue on how you may obtain a copy.

October-November 2005. The Fundamentalist Digest; Permission granted for reprint, so long as proper credit is given. The above item is a sample of the numerous timely articles that are contained in the bi-monthly issues of The Fundamentalist Digest.

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