handy
Member
I read this on another thread here at the forum:
The question was whether or not water baptism is essential for salvation. As usual in a Christian forum, that is ever a lively topic. I've been reading thread after thread after thread over the years on that one. Never seems to be resolved.
Anyhoo, that's not what this thread is about. What this thread is about is what is essential. Not necessarily for salvation, but for all Christians. If you want to discuss water baptism as essential for salvation, the discussion is in Apologetics and Theology. This is more of a general talk.
I'm getting worried that the Church these days seems to think that the only thing that is essential is salvation. Whether we have it. Whether we keep it. What we got to do to get it.
What caught my eye in the above quote was that the writer stated that water baptism is not an essential act. Now, the writer most certainly may have meant, "not essential for salvation", however, I wanted to take that statement and use it as a jumping point for a greater discussion.
Now, I happen to believe that water baptism is not essential for salvation. However, I do believe that water baptism is most essential. Just like I believe that milk is not essential for being born. Babies are born without any milk every day. However, once the baby is born, to deny milk is to deny what is essential for life and health and nourishment and growth.
Besides salvation, or better yet, beyond salvation, what is essential for every Christian?
But you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Nevertheless,
I am not against baptism in water. It is just another way to confess
Christ. Not an essential act though.
The question was whether or not water baptism is essential for salvation. As usual in a Christian forum, that is ever a lively topic. I've been reading thread after thread after thread over the years on that one. Never seems to be resolved.
Anyhoo, that's not what this thread is about. What this thread is about is what is essential. Not necessarily for salvation, but for all Christians. If you want to discuss water baptism as essential for salvation, the discussion is in Apologetics and Theology. This is more of a general talk.
I'm getting worried that the Church these days seems to think that the only thing that is essential is salvation. Whether we have it. Whether we keep it. What we got to do to get it.
What caught my eye in the above quote was that the writer stated that water baptism is not an essential act. Now, the writer most certainly may have meant, "not essential for salvation", however, I wanted to take that statement and use it as a jumping point for a greater discussion.
Now, I happen to believe that water baptism is not essential for salvation. However, I do believe that water baptism is most essential. Just like I believe that milk is not essential for being born. Babies are born without any milk every day. However, once the baby is born, to deny milk is to deny what is essential for life and health and nourishment and growth.
Besides salvation, or better yet, beyond salvation, what is essential for every Christian?