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Baptism - Sign and Seal of the Covenant of GraceHow much water and when?BAPTISM - SIGN AND SEAL OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE This book, written by a Baptist pastor, is a lucid and thoughtful presentation of the case for believer's baptism. It is eirenic in tone, though robust in conviction. Russell wishes to distance himself from those placing an undue stress on the necessity of baptism as well as those who regard it as unimportant. He briefly surveys the historical evidence and, at greater length, the biblical evidence and concludes: 'Be-cause of the clear command of Christ and the practice of the apostles, it is the plain duty of every professing Christian to ask for baptism and of every Christian minister to press upon his congregation this obligation.' He lists his objections to infant baptism, discusses those verses that have been used to justify that practice and has a chapter devoted to counter the argument in its favour drawn from covenant theology. He also firmly rejects baptismal regeneration. He is very helpful in discussing the significance of baptism and argues strongly that full immersion is the only mode of baptism. While valuing this book I had two areas of uncertainty about it. First, while I think Russell makes an excellent case for baptism by immersion as much the most appropriate way of conducting baptism, I was less happy with his insistence that immersion was essential to the validity of baptism. The quantity of water seems to me a much more secondary factor than the profession of repentance and faith. I recently had the privilege of baptising by effusion someone in a wheelchair who was medically unfit to be immersed. Secondly, I felt that Russell did not address the pastoral dilemma those of Baptist conviction face in regard to baptism requested, on profession of faith, by children or young teens. While I firmly believe that young children can come to saving faith, it is not proven till later that this is truly the case. Experience suggests that many children from Christian homes do not really sort out what they believe for themselves until they have passed through adolescence. It is quite common for such children to express spiritual convictions at a young age with which they do not necessarily later identify. To baptise such children proves often (but not always) to be premature. However, this is a helpful book and deserves a wide readership. Rupert Bentley-Taylor, Bath© Evangelicals Now - February 2002 |