Ralph E. Bass Jr.

What About Baptism?: a Discussion on the Mode, Candidate and Purpose of Christian Baptism Ralph E. Bass Jr.

Few subjects have divided Christianity as much as the subject of baptism. For this reason it is difficult to get one who baptizes by means of dipping, to read literature from an affusionist's, one who sprinkles or pours in baptism, or vice versa for that matter. The result is generations of believers, unaware of the reasons their Christian brothers practice their faith somewhat differently than do they. It also results in ignorance of their own theology. This is because we understand a doctrine with greater clarity when we can intelligently understand an opposing position's challenge to its teachings. Even though we might not be sympathetic to this position, at least we understand why they hold these beliefs. In doing this, we become increasingly educated. I was an immersionist for 33 years. I gave little thought to the possibility that another theology could be more accurate at any point than to the ones to which I subscribed. The challenge from one of a different "school of thought" resulted in a reevaluation of many elements in my theology. In the years that followed, baptism by dipping was one of several such elements that changed as a result of this reevaluation. You may want to give some areas of Christian theology a fresh look as well.