For about 100 years Anabaptists were persecuted for adult baptism.
Many underwent a “third baptism,” where the state executed them by drowning.
If a lay person baptized a lay person in a private home and the state found out, you’d better run.
It is hard to believe Christians doing this to other Christians, or at least sanctioning this. Even your favorite reformers openly supported this.
But that was the nature of the totalitarian state-church of Christendom back then.
Or just the nature of totalitarianism.
Believing or saying the wrong thing equals treason.
One of my daughters is in the process of getting baptized.
So we looked at baptism in Acts and the “third baptism” in the 1500-1600s. Both marked you as being justifiably executed. “Third baptism” was clearly more outrageous to her because Christians were doing this to Christians.
There is just nothing comparable today in the West.
I can set up an inflatable cold plunge tank in the middle of my street and baptize anyone without fear of violence.
The worst I could get is a traffic warning from the police or an HOA complaint.
But looking at the violence Christian’s went through should give us this:
Boldness to believe and practice our Jesus-following faith.
Even in our nuances.
So, here is what I don’t get:
Why is so much Christian content so tame.
I cannot stand snuggly, coffee-cup, candle-lit pictures of bare feet and an open Bible. This is disturbing.
Some even see unsubscribes as a kind of “third baptism” persecution.
Really?
Our love should be deep and our hides thick.
Our content should disrupt the darkness.
Our writing should be more battle ship and less luxury cruise.
Because there will come a day when your great grandchildren are confronted by totalitarianism.
And they will be glad that you were not at all concerned about petty unsubscribes.
Be bold my writing friend. Welcome the unsubscribes.
Write often if you can.
Let me know if you need some help with that.
Blair
P.S. Us laypeople should be doing a whole lot more baptisms, right? Something I am praying for for myself.