52 The Means of Grace

Another great class last night from Pastor Dave. I can't think when I've enjoyed a class at church this much, and how nice that we are doing it together and can discuss the readings. Also, since my husband grew up Presbyterian (Calvinist) and I was Church of the Brethren (anabaptist) we both have our own ingrained assumptions.

Dave did his usual moving back and forth across the room to demonstrate various positions from Roman Catholic to Baptist in Baptism and Holy Communion, and again placed himself in the middle to represent where the Lutherans stand on God's giving believers the Gospel with something 1) visible, 2) instituted by Christ and 3) connecting us to forgiveness.

He gave two interesting examples on baptism. He noted that the Lutheran view is about 1) what God has done, not human decision, and 2) relationships. He compared a baby's ability to respond to God's initiative to her ability to bond with her parent--we don't ask a baby to speak her affection and interest in her mother, or to choose her.

Next, he told us that he has baptized adults by immersion while a missionary in Africa. In Cameroon, where he was a missionary and pastor, Christian refugees from Chad had settled temporarily in his area (he noted that the different Christian missionaries had different areas in an informal agreement). Under the teaching of a Lutheran pastor, they understood the Lutheran baptism views of sprinkling with a small amount of water. However, the elders came and ask him if he would baptize by immersion so that when they went home to Chad, as they all intended to do, their baptism would be recognized by their church. Pastor Dave agreed, knowing the amount of water isn't the issue--rejoicing with new Christians in their baptism was.