Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!sun-barr!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: zappala@larisa.usc.edu (Daniel Zappala) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Mormon Religion Message-ID: Date: 25 Aug 90 01:24:09 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Lines: 42 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article jygabler@ucdavis.edu (Jason Y. Gabler) writes: > >Every Mormon family I have know is relentless to the fact this one may believe >in Jesus, but if they are not _baptized_ they are still not saved ( taking >the verse from John, out of context from the rest of the Bible ). > >Doesn't Ephesians 2:8,9 state that there is _no_ _act_ by which we can earn >salvation? That it is _soley_ a gift from God that we can lift no finger >to achieve, but only the spiritual and conscious _acceptance_ of His >death. > This discussion compelled me to write about why I think baptism is essential to Christianity. Baptism signifies not only your acceptance of Christ as Savior, but also your desire to follow his teachings in the context of a Church. A Christian heart desires to live Christ's example fully, and so that means both personally, in a family, and in social setting. A Church is the social expression of common beliefs and practices, and so without it you are not completely living your faith. A further reason a Church is important is to maintain unity in Christian beliefs; through unity an individual is less likely to go astray. A true Church will also afford the community of believers to receive guideance/revelations from the Holy Spirit. "wherever two or more are gathered in my name..." Baptism also frequently involves laying of the hands, which gives the person the gift of the Holy Ghost. This cannot be received without proper apostolic authority. So why would a Christian not want to be baptized, unless he/she did not truly want to live out Christ's example in a powerful way? Wasn't Christ himself baptized as an example for us? If you want to get technical, and discuss those people who live Christian lives, but don't have a chance to actually be baptized during their life, then I'm sure the Heavenly Father will provide some means for them to be baptized later. Daniel Zappala