“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Rom. 6:4(NKJV)
One of the most talked about subjects in the Scriptures is baptism. It is discussed and argued about throughout the body of Christ and many denominations. Specific groups have formed because of their belief about baptism. It is a basic belief in Christainity yet there is much disagreement about the way it is to be practiced.
Throughout church history baptism has created many schisms in the church. Wars have been fought over it and ten of thousands of people have died from persecution because of their belief about baptism. Baptism was one of the elements that sparked the Protestant Reformation and divided the Roman Catholic Church.
With the development of Protestantism baptism became an issue among various groups or denominations. All the different doctrines of baptism were supported by interpretations of the Bible. Man began to impose his ideas about the subject and it separated many good Christians and created denominational walls.
Various practices arose concerning the method of baptism used and who should be baptized. Some groups started having infant baptism. Opposition to this arose and it was the cause of much tragedy and even deaths. Persecution arose against the Anabaptists because they believed that only consenting adults should be baptized. If they had received infant baptism it was not valid. They began to rebaptize believers. The church considered this to be heresy and tried to stop it through the Inquisition and great numbers of believers died as a result.
Methods of baptism have also led to divisions in the Church. There is imersion, sprinkling, pouring, and no baptism at all because it is “in the spirit.” It can be done sitting, standing, face down, face up, or other positions. Some believe it is only valid if done in free flowing water in the creek, river, lake, or ocean but never in any sort of container, including baptistries or swimming pools.
Can you see now what God has to tolerate in order to freely forgive the sins of man and have a testimony before men?