An ad for the First Christian Church has ran in The Lufkin Daily News titled, “What Disciples Believe.” One point was “Baptism by Immersion.” This is true because it is what the Bible teaches. Baptism is a burial that requires much water, with the people going down into and coming up out of the water (Col. 2:11-12; Rom. 6:3-4; Jn. 3:23; Acts 8:3839). Baptism literally means to dip, submerge, immerse as defined by Greek lexicons.
The ad also said, “Although Disciples practice baptism by immersion, other baptism traditions are honored.” In other words, it makes no difference to them whether or not someone is scripturally baptized. Other “baptism traditions” sprinkle and pour, and most do it for a reason other than the remission of sins. However, apostolic “tradition” — inspired tradition — is immersion for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Pet. 3:21). Sadly, the “Disciples” have compromised on this, accepting the traditions of men (cp. Matt. 15:7-14).
Steven F. Deaton
