Around the Horn, April 18th, 2008
No thinking person can ignore the massive and seemingly insoluble moral debates that plague our society and frame national debate. When the most basic issues of life, sexuality, family, marriage, and moral responsibility are up for grabs, the nation has reached a testing point of unprecedented proportions. Given the confusion, only the most radical relativist can celebrate our current state of moral affairs.
What is the difference between morals and values? Has culture blurred the lines? Do you still grasp unto the global moral standards set by God? Or do we set our own standard, our own values?
At Moffatt Bible College in Kijabe, for example, the librarian gave me a tour. One set of double doors opened to the textbook closet. Most students can’t afford to buy books for their classes, so here they can check out the required texts for the term. In the center of the center shelf was a stack of The Supremacy of God in Preaching.
It’s great to see God using Pastor John Piper to have his preaching of God’s word affect Kenya. His wife Noel Piper is visiting Kenya and is noticing the teaching and writings of Pastor John Piper around the bible college. It is even more great to know that the message about the supremacy of God is being told among all nations.
The Bible does not put an age requirement on baptism. But it does describe water baptism as a post-conversion act of identification with Christ. In Acts 2:38, Peter emphasized repentance as a corollary to baptism. In verse 41 of that same chapter, Luke records that it was “those who had received his word” that were baptized. Acts 16:34 indicates that the Philippian Jailer’s household believed before they were baptized. Colossians 2:11-12, 1 Peter 3:18-21, and other passages associate baptism with saving faith; and even the order of the Great Commission puts “making disciples” before “baptizing them” (Matt. 28:19).
What does the bible say in regards to baptism and children? What does the bible say about infant baptism? I haven’t really researched too much into this before, but I’m convinced scripture talks about being a believer in Christ before being baptized. I will definitely do more digging on the subject though.
