From: eje@irenaeus.mlo.dec.com (Eric James Ewanco)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Baptismal Hair-Splitting (Was Re: And what *is* a Christian?)
Date: 30 Aug 92 06:14:56 GMT
Reply-To: ewanco@kalvin.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

In article <Aug.27.03.03.42.1992.3075@athos.rutgers.edu>, dzeigler@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Daniel R Zeigler) writes:
From: dzeigler@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Daniel R Zeigler)
Subject: Baptismal Hair-Splitting (Was Re: And what *is* a Christian?)
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 03:03:44 GMT+5:00
Organization: The Ohio State University

> Imagine a committed, born-again Southern Baptist (I'll call him
> Billy) and a Church of Christ member (let's call him Alex)
> frequently argue about the significance of baptism.  One night when
> they are in one of their hair-splitting discussions, they are caught
> up in a time-warp and find themselves back in first century Antioch.
> They strap on their universal translators and begin to mingle with
> the brothers there.  Barnabas introduces them to Gaius, a new
> Christian who was just baptized the night before.  "Tell us about
> your conversion," prompts Alex.  "Yes, I love to hear personal
> testimonies," chimes in Billy.  So Gaius tells them this story: . . . 
> . . .

What a wonderful parable, thanks for posting that!

However I can also offer a parable.  Suppose that that you are a second-century
Roman official who is seeking information on these Christians, because the
order has been given that they be put to death.  It is part of your job to
carry this out.  You receive the following letter -- an apology, that is, a
defense of the faith -- from a Christian named Justin, born at Falvia Neapolis
between the years 100 and 110 A.D.  This letter is called Justin's First
Apology, and was written between 148 and 155.

You turn to Book I, chapter 61, and read the section he as written on how one
becomes a Christian.

   I will explain by what manner we, who have been renewed by Christ, have
   dedicated ourselves to God, so that we may not seem to be acting wickedly
   in our explanation by leaving this out.  All those who are convinced and
   believe that the things we teach and say are true, and who profess to be
   able to live in this manner, are taught to pray and to ask God in fasting
   the forgiveness of their sins while we pray and fast together with them.
   Then they are led by us to where there is water and are reborn in the
   same rebirth in which we ourselves were also reborn.  They undergo the
   washing in water in the name of God the Father and Master of the
   universe, and of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit.

   For indeed Christ said, "Unless you be reborn, you will not enter into
   the Kingdom of Heaven." Now it is clear to all that it is impossible for
   those who have already been born to return again into their mother's
   wombs.  As we wrote previously, it has been said through Isaiah the
   prophet how those who have sinned and repented will avoid the
   consequences of their sins.  For thus was it said, "Wash, make yourselves
   clean, remove the evils from your souls, defend the orphan and do justice
   for the widow; and come let us converse together, says the Lord.  And if
   your sins are like purple, I will make them white like wool; and if they
   are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow.  But if you do not
   listen to me, a sword will devour you, for the mouth of the Lord has
   spoken these things." (Is 1:16-20)

   We learned this doctrine from the Apostles.  In our first birth we were
   born unconscious, according to necessity, out of the humid seed from the
   intercourse of our parents, and we grew up in evil customs and bad
   habits.  But in order that we may not remain children of necessity and
   ignorance, but of election and understanding and may obtain remission of
   sins previously committed, the name of God the Father and Master of the
   universe is invoked in the water over the one who has chosen to be reborn
   and who has repented of his sins.  This name alone is the one which he
   invokes who is leading the candidate to the washing.  Indeed no one is
   able to pronounce the name of the ineffable God.  If someone would dare
   to say what it is, he would be seized with incurable madness.

   This washing is called "enlightenment", since those who have learned
   these things are enlightened in their minds.  The one being illuminated
   is washed in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius
   Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who through he prophets
   foretold all these things regarding Jesus.  (Apology I.61)

Intrigued, you decide to read more writings of these Christians.  You pick
one written by the brother of the Christian's current leader.  His name is
Hermas, and he has written himself a parable, called The Shepherd. You turn
to the book of Parables, 9, 16, 2, and read,

   "They had need," [the Shepherd] said,  "to come  up through the water, so
   that they might be made alive;  for they  could  not otherwise enter into
   the  kingdom of God except by putting away the mortality of their  former
   lives. [3]  These also, then, who had fallen asleep, received the seal of
   the Son of  God,  and entered into  the kingdom of  God.  For,"  he said,
   "before a man bears the name of the Son of God, he  is dead.  But when he
   receives the seal, he puts  mortality aside and again receives life.  [4]
   The seal, therefore, is the water.  They go down into the water dead, and
   come out of it alive."

You turn to the book of Mandates, 4, 3, 1.  The narrator is questioning the
Shepherd.

   "Sir," I said, "I will continue to question you." "Speak," he replied. "I
   have heard,  sir,"  said  I, "from  some teachers, that there is no other
   repentance except that which took place when we went down into  the water
   and obtained the remission of our former sins."  [2] He said to me,  "You
   have heard rightly, for so it is.  One who has received remission of sins
   ought  never sin again,  but live  in purity.  [3]  Since,  however,  you
   inquire accurately about  everything,, I will  explain  this also to you,
   without giving any inducement  to those who shall in the  future believe,
   or to those who already believe in the Lord.   Those  who already believe
   or who shall in the future  believe have  no repentance of sins; but they
   do  have the remission of  their former  sins.   [4]  The Lord  appointed
   repentance, however, for those who were called before these days; for the
   Lord knows the heart; and knowing  all things  beforehand,  He  knew  the
   weakness  of man and  the  subtlety  of the  devil,  who  desires  to  do
   wickedness to the servants of God,  and desires to do them  evil. [5] The
   Lord, then, being  compassionate,  dealt  kindly with  His  creation  and
   established this repentance; and the control of this repentance was given
   to me.   [6]  But I say to you,"  he declared, "after this great and holy
   calling, if a man be tempted by the devil and sin, he has one repentance.
   But  if he sin and repent repeatedly -- repentance is of little  value to
   such a man, and with difficulty he will live."  [7]  I said to him, "I am
   made to live  again  by hearing these  things from you so accurately; for
   now  I know that  if I do not again add  to my  sins, I  shall be saved."
   "You shall be saved," he said, "and everyone who will do these things."

You lose interest and put the writings away.  But Justin is later martyred
and the church honors him by the name St. Justin Martyr.  Both the writings
of the First Apology of St. Justin Martyr and the Shepherd of Hermas are
treasured by the Christians, and kept even to the twentieth century, where
they can be found in such works as _Faith of the Early Fathers_, by William
Jurgens (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1970). 

Eric
--
/=============================================================================\
| Eric Ewanco - Software Engineer     For the rash and outrageous opinions ex-|
| Digital Equipment Corp, Maynard MA  pressed herein I alone am responsible;  |
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\==============================- 2 Th 2:15 -==================================/
    "...[T]he greatest and most ancient Church known to all, founded and
    organized at Rome by [] Peter and Paul, [is] that Church which has the
    tradition and faith which comes down to us after having been announced
    to men by the Apostles.  For with this Church, because of its superior
    origin, all Churches must agree ...  and it is in her that the
    faithful everywhere have maintained the Apostolic tradition."
       -- St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, c. 180 A.D., 3,3,3.