Truly Baptist: The Presbyterians?

Self-Proclaimed "Baptist Reformed" Believers Make Controversial Claim to Be "More Baptist" Because They Baptize Entire Families

In a shocking twist of theology, some Reformed Christians have declared themselves to be the "True Baptists" because they baptize entire families, including infants and children. They argue that they are following the biblical pattern of household baptism, which they claim is more faithful to the original meaning of the word "baptize" than the modern practice of individual believer's baptism.

"We are more Baptist than the Baptists, because we baptize more people," said Robert Brown, a self-proclaimed "Baptist Reformed" pastor from Geneva, Switzerland. "We don't wait for people to make a personal decision to follow Christ, we just assume that they are part of the covenant community by virtue of their birth. That way, we can ensure that everyone is baptized and saved, even if they don't know it yet."

Brown said that he was inspired by the examples of Abraham, Noah, and Cornelius in the Bible, who all had their entire households circumcised or baptized as a sign of God's covenant with them. He said that baptism is not a symbol of personal faith, but a mark of divine election and grace.

"Baptism is not something you do, it's something God does to you," he explained. "It doesn't matter if you understand it or not, or if you consent to it or not. God has already chosen you before the foundation of the world, and baptism is just a confirmation of that. It's like a divine tattoo that you can't erase."

Brown also said that baptizing infants and children has many practical benefits, such as increasing church membership, ensuring church attendance, and preventing apostasy.

"If you baptize someone as a baby, they will always be part of the church, whether they like it or not," he said. "They will have to come to church every Sunday, pay their tithes and offerings, and obey the church leaders. And if they ever try to leave the church or join another denomination, we can excommunicate them and condemn them to hell. It's a win-win situation for us."

However, not everyone agrees with Brown's logic. Some Baptists have criticized his views as unbiblical, illogical, and heretical.

"Baptism is not a magic ritual that guarantees salvation," said James Wilson, a famous Baptist preacher from London, England. "Baptism is a public profession of faith in Christ, and it must be done voluntarily and consciously by those who have repented of their sins and trusted in Christ alone for salvation. Baptizing infants and children who have no clue what is happening to them is not only pointless, but also dangerous. It gives them a false sense of security and deprives them of the opportunity to make a genuine decision for Christ later in life."

Wilson also challenged Brown's interpretation of the biblical examples of household baptism. He said that there is no evidence that those households included infants or children, or that they were baptized without their own faith and consent.

"The Bible clearly says that those who were baptized were those who heard the word of God and believed," he said. "For example, Acts 16:31-34 says that the jailer and his household were baptized after they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. It doesn't say that they were baptized because they were born into a Christian family or because someone else believed for them."

Wilson also pointed out the inconsistency of Brown's position. He said that if Brown believes that baptism is equivalent to circumcision, then he should also practice other aspects of the Old Testament law, such as animal sacrifices, dietary restrictions, and Sabbath observance.

"If you want to be consistent with your covenant theology, then you should also follow the whole law of Moses," he said. "But if you want to be free from the law and live by grace through faith in Christ alone, then you should also follow the New Testament pattern of baptism by immersion upon profession of faith. You can't have it both ways."

Wilson also made an argument for diction and terminology, which historically has been a topic of debate. "B.B. Warfield once said, 'If everything that is called Christianity in these days is Christianity, then there is no such thing as Christianity. A name applied indiscriminately to everything designates nothing.' The same can be said of Baptists. If everybody calls themselves 'Baptists' despite a fundamental disagreement about the application of the covenants, then how are you going to know who is Truly Baptist?"

The debate between Brown and Wilson has sparked a heated controversy among Christians around the world. Some have sided with Brown and called themselves Baptists Reformed, while others have sided with Wilson and called themselves Biblical Baptists. Others have tried to find a middle ground or avoid taking sides altogether.

Meanwhile, some non-Christian observers have expressed confusion and amusement at the whole situation.

"I don't get it," said David Lee, an atheist comedian from Riverside, California. "Why are they arguing about water? Water is water. It doesn't matter if you sprinkle it or dunk it or drink it or swim in it. It's still water. It doesn't change anything. Unless you pee in it."

Lee said that he respects all religions and believes that everyone has the right to worship God in their own way. However, he said that he prefers his own worldview over Christianity because it is simpler and more logical.

"Atheism is easy," he said. "There is no God, no prophet, no book, no way. That's it. No water, no blood, no cross, no Trinity, no confusion. Just no logic, no reason, no evidence, no truth, no beginning, no end. That's why atheism is the most rational worldview in the world. Because it makes sense."

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