Comments on: Rick Warren Would Want Me to Get Wet http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/ Worship Leader. Family Man. Jesus Follower. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:28:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: poopemerges http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-341 poopemerges Sun, 05 Aug 2007 05:37:30 +0000 http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-341 The Problem Crose is that you are making it into an either or issue...is it not possible that God supernaturally works in baptism, marking us as members of the covenant community...and that we as community members must be obedient in being baptized? I would say yes...I realize that you would say no, but one might want to be careful about throwing around what is and what is not in the Bible as though it should be explicitly clear to all, when also baptizes infants :). The Problem Crose is that you are making it into an either or issue…is it not possible that God supernaturally works in baptism, marking us as members of the covenant community…and that we as community members must be obedient in being baptized? I would say yes…I realize that you would say no, but one might want to be careful about throwing around what is and what is not in the Bible as though it should be explicitly clear to all, when also baptizes infants :).

]]> By: Billy Chia http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-161 Billy Chia Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:40:05 +0000 http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-161 Chris, <strong>Thank you</strong> for the sentiment. I mean, the reason I even post this type of personal stuff is for the purpose of feedback. So thank you for looking out for a brother. I do have to admit I found your resource <strong>trite </strong>and a bit <strong>condescending</strong>. I’ve been wrestling with this issue deeply for several years. I’m sure many other people have as well. Your resource seems to assume people have little or no knowledge of scripture and that simply isn’t the case. You need to realize that people don't disagree with you theologically solely because they live unexamined lives. The reality is that intelligent, biblically solid theologians hold to truths on both sides of the baptism question and that's what makes it so confusing. In response to your words: <blockquote> “it isn’t even supported by a single text of scripture.”</blockquote> From Acts 2: <blockquote> “What must we do?” “Repent and be baptized.”</blockquote> Doesn’t this succinctly state that “being baptized” was something the Jerusalem believers were supposed to “do?” One could even reasonably imply "in obedience" to the command (imperative “be baptized”) Peter was giving them on behalf of God? Chris,
Thank you for the sentiment. I mean, the reason I even post this type of personal stuff is for the purpose of feedback. So thank you for looking out for a brother.

I do have to admit I found your resource trite and a bit condescending. I’ve been wrestling with this issue deeply for several years. I’m sure many other people have as well. Your resource seems to assume people have little or no knowledge of scripture and that simply isn’t the case. You need to realize that people don’t disagree with you theologically solely because they live unexamined lives. The reality is that intelligent, biblically solid theologians hold to truths on both sides of the baptism question and that’s what makes it so confusing.

In response to your words:

“it isn’t even supported by a single text of scripture.”

From Acts 2:

“What must we do?”
“Repent and be baptized.”

Doesn’t this succinctly state that “being baptized” was something the Jerusalem believers were supposed to “do?” One could even reasonably imply “in obedience” to the command (imperative “be baptized”) Peter was giving them on behalf of God?

]]> By: chris rosebrough http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-159 chris rosebrough Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:39:55 +0000 http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-159 I think it is great that you are trying to work things out regarding baptism. However, I've found that so much of the emphasis of the teaching regarding baptism is on the person being baptized instead of what God is doing in baptism. They teach that the reason why we get baptized is because it is an act of obedience to show the world that we've identified ourselves with Jesus Christ. That is a bunch of hogwash and it isn't even supported by a single text of scripture. There is a great pdf resource available on the web that looks at the promises of baptism It is short but it is fleshes out what is truly going on in baptism you can download using it this link http://podcast.extremetheology.com/extreme/TSBaptism.pdf I think it is great that you are trying to work things out regarding baptism.

However, I’ve found that so much of the emphasis of the teaching regarding baptism is on the person being baptized instead of what God is doing in baptism.

They teach that the reason why we get baptized is because it is an act of obedience to show the world that we’ve identified ourselves with Jesus Christ.

That is a bunch of hogwash and it isn’t even supported by a single text of scripture.

There is a great pdf resource available on the web that looks at the promises of baptism It is short but it is fleshes out what is truly going on in baptism you can download using it this link

http://podcast.extremetheology.com/extreme/TSBaptism.pdf

]]> By: Relentless Rick Warren « Inept as Icing http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-157 Relentless Rick Warren « Inept as Icing Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:46:07 +0000 http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-157 [...] Relentless Rick Warren Published June 29th, 2007 Humor , Blogging Look at Rick Warren’s very next blog post right after I posted about baptism. [...] [...] Relentless Rick Warren Published June 29th, 2007 Humor , Blogging Look at Rick Warren’s very next blog post right after I posted about baptism. [...]

]]> By: Billy Chia http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-149 Billy Chia Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:05:10 +0000 http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-149 Daniel, Yeah I agree with you. Scripture is not at all like a "manual" and is very much large chunks of narrative and poetry. So it is that much of my spiritual wrestling is couched within narrative. Daniel,
Yeah I agree with you. Scripture is not at all like a “manual” and is very much large chunks of narrative and poetry. So it is that much of my spiritual wrestling is couched within narrative.

]]> By: Daniel Tomlinson http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-148 Daniel Tomlinson Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:52:18 +0000 http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-148 Word my brother. I'm right there with you. I really wish sometimes that life came with an owner's manual, but please no one write back and tell me it's the Bible. That's perfect and good, but the Bible still waxes on and on about people that fail, fail and fail. Word my brother. I’m right there with you. I really wish sometimes that life came with an owner’s manual, but please no one write back and tell me it’s the Bible. That’s perfect and good, but the Bible still waxes on and on about people that fail, fail and fail.

]]> By: worshipcity http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-147 worshipcity Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:32:07 +0000 http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-147 Man, I've never read the Rick Warren book but every time I see him on TV or read an article or catch him on the internet I love what that guy says! I'll have to truck on over to the podcast! Man, I’ve never read the Rick Warren book but every time I see him on TV or read an article or catch him on the internet I love what that guy says! I’ll have to truck on over to the podcast!

]]> By: Billy Chia http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-146 Billy Chia Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:39:04 +0000 http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-146 Nike Baptism - Check out the podcast, but esentially Warren encourages to "Just Do It." Nike Baptism - Check out the podcast, but esentially Warren encourages to “Just Do It.”

]]> By: Fred McKinnon http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-145 Fred McKinnon Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:45:36 +0000 http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-145 Hey - Speaking of baptism, check out the awesome message about baptism by Pastor Steven Furtick on the Elevation Podcast (Charlotte, NC) .. it's in iTunes! For the KIngdom, Fred PS: see you on <a href="http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/index.php?referrerid=1" rel="nofollow">TheWorshipCommunity.Com</a> Hey -
Speaking of baptism, check out the awesome message about baptism by Pastor Steven Furtick on the Elevation Podcast (Charlotte, NC) .. it’s in iTunes!

For the KIngdom,
Fred

PS: see you on TheWorshipCommunity.Com

]]> By: Chris http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-144 Chris Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:18:37 +0000 http://billychia.com/2007/06/25/rick-warren-would-want-me-to-get-wet/#comment-144 Dude, It has been forever. I still remember chilling out in the music room and doing songs for tool time. So crazy. What you wrote above is so true. This year, I recently completed Stephen Ministry training. The whole concept is that a lay-person acts as a counselor to someone in need. The entire time, we had doubts about our knowledge and skills. But their response to us was that God has all the power to change people, we don't. That is what is so great about Jesus is that he can even take our mistakes and sins and turn them around into something completely beautiful and Godly. I have been struggling lately on what God really wants from us as humans. I used to think that it was a bunch of the sunday school stuff - all related to not sinning and being a good person. My studying of the Bible has brought me to a passage in Micah that saved me from my doubts about God's love. Here it is. Micah 6:8 "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." For me at least, loving God's mercy and walking humbly by means of realizing that I suck as a human being is easy. The acting is harder, but honestly it all comes from God, and that means I am not in control of my life - it is all God and HIS power. I hope my ramblings make sense to you. I love this stuff. Hope everything is well with you. I'd love to get together with you sometime. Oh yeah, and how blogging saved your marriage - brillant. Dude,

It has been forever. I still remember chilling out in the music room and doing songs for tool time. So crazy.

What you wrote above is so true. This year, I recently completed Stephen Ministry training. The whole concept is that a lay-person acts as a counselor to someone in need. The entire time, we had doubts about our knowledge and skills. But their response to us was that God has all the power to change people, we don’t. That is what is so great about Jesus is that he can even take our mistakes and sins and turn them around into something completely beautiful and Godly.

I have been struggling lately on what God really wants from us as humans. I used to think that it was a bunch of the sunday school stuff - all related to not sinning and being a good person. My studying of the Bible has brought me to a passage in Micah that saved me from my doubts about God’s love. Here it is.

Micah 6:8
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

For me at least, loving God’s mercy and walking humbly by means of realizing that I suck as a human being is easy. The acting is harder, but honestly it all comes from God, and that means I am not in control of my life - it is all God and HIS power.

I hope my ramblings make sense to you. I love this stuff. Hope everything is well with you. I’d love to get together with you sometime. Oh yeah, and how blogging saved your marriage - brillant.

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