Friday, October 14, 2022

John H. Armstrong's Attempt to Downplay the Significance of Theological Disagreements Concerning Baptismal Regeneration

  

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)