Let’s
be very clear at the outset. There are godly, faithful, and earnest students of
the Bible who hold to different views about water baptism. Disagreement about
baptism is not proof of rebellion, stupidity, or immaturity. Some of the most
wonderful Christians you and I know fail to agree with one another about
baptism. This is water that really does divide real Christians. . . . One more
word is in order regarding our differences over baptism. We must all realize
that we are finite beings. None of us will ever be able to comprehend all of
God’s revelation completely or infallibly. We “see through a glass, darkly” (1
Cor. 13:12 KJV). And we remain sinners, even at our very best. Perhaps one
reason God has left this particular matter in doubt, at least among so many
faithful Christians, is that by these differences we will be reminded of just
how much we truly need one another. The Bible should never be interpreted
alone, without the Spirit and the help of others. The Holy Spirit works through
us. If all the church is involved in interpreting the Bible, as it should be,
then no faithful Christian, or single part of the visible church, should be
seen as unfaithful simply because he or she holds a view of baptism that
differs from mine or that of my tradition. (John H. Armstrong, “Introduction:
Division, Differences, and a Dream,” in Understanding Four Views on Baptism,
ed. John H. Armstrong [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2007], 12, 13)
We
can differ about the way in which grace and salvation are related to baptism
without concluding that those in other traditions are without the grace of God
because of this disagreement. (John H. Armstrong, “Conclusion: Finding Common
Ground Amid Disagreement and Agreement,” ibid., 163)