| A Message from the Interim Pastor…
Continuing on last week’s theme of looking at random Bible passages and trying to think of them in new ways, this week I want us to take a look at Matthew 28:19-20a, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”
Here’s a passage that many people say commands us to be missionaries. In fact, it may very well be the impetus behind the attempt to “Christianize” the world during the 18th and 19th centuries. What’s more, these same folks would tell us that this passage means that making disciples is simply a matter of baptizing them and telling them what they have to do to be a “good Christians” (which of course includes coming to church every Sunday J). But, I think that we all know that being a disciple entails a whole lot more than just that.
(While not germane to our discussion here, you should be aware that the concept of baptizing in the name of the Triune God did not exist at the time of Jesus. What’s more, in the Book of Acts baptism was done in the name of Jesus alone. Therefore, it is quite possible that Jesus didn’t actually say what is recorded in Matthew 28:19.)
A disciple is a follower of Jesus. That means that a disciple is someone who actually goes where Jesus leads. So, does a person need to be baptized to “follow” Jesus? After all, there is no scriptural evidence that the original twelve had been baptized. Consider what is written in Matthew 3:18-20. “As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
So, I guess the questions to wrestle with are: Is it possible to make disciples – followers of Jesus – without baptizing them? Or better yet, how would our interpretation of this verse change if we thought of baptism as the ceremonial acknowledgement of the gift already given by God? Think about it.
Peace and blessing,
Pastor Michael
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