In a previous entry, we ended on the question of whether a denomination that includes many Protestant streams that see baptism as either a sign of incorporation into a covenant community or as sign of previous regeneration can honestly claim baptism is a sacrament within its bylaws.
The gulf between views of baptism as imparting a gift from God (sacramental) and outward sign of covenant community (Zwingli, Congregationalist) or a sign pointing to an inward act of faith that has already transpired (Baptist, Anabaptist, Pentecostal/Charismatic) becomes even broader when we begin to discuss the ontological meaning of baptism.
Continue reading "Baptism as Sacrament – Part II – Ontological Change?"
Since the time of Constantine, baptism has often been one of the strands holding together the knot of national identity and Christendom.
In my
I am pleased to report that my Annual Life Lessons have, at long last, been caught up. I’ve not spent much time writing on this section of the site since I started seminary.
When I was a kid one of my first albums was ABBA’s Greatest Hits Volume 2. It wasn’t until much later, when I lived in Russia, that I really developed a full appreciation of ABBA’s music.
Today I returned home from the annual meeting of the 