IMB Policy Change on Baptism

If you are in the SBC or are interested in keeping up with the discussion and disagreement on IMB policy changes, you need to be reading my other blog: Missional Baptist Blog.  Be sure to get into the comments as well.  We now have Hershael York posting to defend the changes, Ergun Caner giving him a "high five," and Tom Ascol pointing out that this policy tells our forefathers they weren't wet in the wight way.

MBB Posts...
Hershael York Likes the IMB Baptism Policy
Ergun Caner, IMB Policy
Ascol on York

Comments

[Hashman]

Hey Steve,
How 'bout opening a thread for discussion asking for predictions on this thing.

Right now I'm doubting that there will be 75% agreement that Wade should be removed.

I'm not sure about the likelihood of approval for the general proposal by the IMB. If is requires over 50.1% it may make it. But if the threshhold is much higher, based on the level of opposition from both conservatives and moderates, and the lack of a defense other than the IMB and Dr. York, it doesn't seem likely.

Right or wrong, I wonder if there will come a time when it will be pulled, either the proposal to remove Wade or the policy changes, simply out of fear of a political embarassment.

Of course, it could be that it has 90% support, and the people in favor of both have not discovered the blogosphere to weigh in.

[Joel Maners]

I have a Church of Christ background so traditionally I have held a very broad view of baptism as it relates to fellowship. Generally, I accept anyone as a brother who has been baptized to obey God. That's pretty inclusive. This was the reason Jesus was baptised.

The thing that makes me uncomfortable with this policy is that it seems to put more focus on the person doing the baptising than the one who is baptised. In my thinking, baptism is not a rite of the church but an expression of faith in Christ. If Jesus himself could submit to being baptised by a flawed human being such as John, why do we require a perfect understanding of all things scriptural from those who are baptising others? And yes, you could be baptised by "the Devil himself' and still be a Christian. It's not about the baptiser. It's about the expression of faith on the part of the believer.