Things I Never Heard.
At least, not in church....
Let's consider a couple of things:
For one thing, Baptism. We are, after all, Baptists, so we should understand the real significance of that event in our lives. We should understand the magnitude of what it represents.
I've heard Jesus was Baptized, and we should be, too. Well, He walked on water and healed the sick, but we do not seem to do those things.
Jesus also walked on water, but I haven't seen that happening among us, now, in 38 years in SBC.
I have also heard that Baptism represent the first confession of our faith. That always grinds on me; if that's so, then those in the congregation that morning (around 33% of the members, at that) are the only ones to whom our faith is confessed. I have a hard time thinking that's really His plan.
Then there's Holy Communion. We do that because He did say "..as often as you do this ...".
So we take Communion fairly regularly, most likely on some "special occasion" ... like the 5th Sunday of the month (at least when it has five Sundays).
But is that all it means? I realize it represents the Body and Blood of the Savior, but is there more? I think there is....
BAPTISM:
When we are baptized ... by immersion, the only real form of baptism ... we place ourselves in the hands of someone else. They then lower us into, and under, the water. Backwards, in a position from which it would be difficult for us to recover.
In a very real sense, we are placing ourselves in a very difficult position, placing our lives in someone else's hands.
To continue living, we must be rescued.
Isn't that like the Christian life? One from which we'd have difficulty leaving (think Eternal Security of the believer) and one which we really have no hope, outside of being rescued by Someone.
I am 81 years old. My last day here is a lot closer than my first day. And on that day, my sole and soul hope of "rescue" is my security in Jesus.
Then there's ......
COMMUNION:
All throughout the animal kingdom, "upward mobility" is always initiated within the level above. Dirt cannot become grass, but the grass can send down roots and part of the dirt can become part of the grass.
The same is true for Grass & Cows, for Cows & Man, and Man & God. (Check Hebrews 9:27 to see what God did about that). But then we come to Jesus and Man. Jesus tells us that we must consume His Body and Blood, or we have no part in Him! There's a lot of symbolism in that!
For one thing, He wants to be part of our lives! That's an awesome thought all by itself, and let's add His guidance to the mix .... IF we listen to Him. And pay obedient attention. PLUS: Some of the things He wants done here need some flesh, and methinks HE wants to commandeer ours! Talk about an HONOR!
Those things ... those thoughts and conclusions ... are things I have never heard anyone say.
Well ... at least not man ....