Emergents Blaspheme Baptism
The newest postmodern trend, the Emerging Church, is now blaspheming baptism. Scott Hodge, lead "pastor" of The Orchard Church Community, has posted a "How To" baptism video. The "emergent baptism" reduces the holy and precious things of God to a BBQ pool party, implied nudity, and expletives. If even the "pastors" regard baptism as a joke, is it any wonder this "church" boasts of more than 80 people committed to be baptized? These boys have no reverence for God . . . they portray a counterfeit Christ and Gospel that is not much different than the foolishness and wickedness of this age. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of how unrelevant the Emergents are, as they trample under their feet the precious things of God.
posted by orthopodeo | 4:58 PM
18 Comments:
Hey man,
No offense, but if you knew Scott you would know that he is one of the most honest, transparent and serious Christ followers you have ever met...I know him well and that video had nothing to do with portraying baptism in any sort of watered down, cheap or unholy act...Scott's church is one of the most serious about reaching people who have been continually turned off by the fundamentalist, legalistic and denonimational rhetoric...Scott is a pastor seriosly intent on raising up Christ followers that accurately reflect the mind of and actions of Christ...the video was simply a humorous way to lighten the mood and advertise a great event...lighten up a bit..
By the way, I am not on staff nor do I attend the Orchard...but I am a church leader that sees increasing judgement and dividing lines being drawn while trying to "Hold The Fort" for Jesus...Check our A.W. Tozer's book "Keys To A Deeper Life" and see what he has to say about fundamentalist legalism...that book was written in the 50's and is SO relevant for today...
a "counterfeit Christ"? do they deny any aspect of the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity?
I was not aware of that!
Yes, Jason, but is the honesty, transparency, and seriousness of following Christ defined by you, or Scripture? There is nothing humorous about this video, as it mocks the death and resurrection of our Lord by regarding it with absolute triviality. What type of individual would be baptized by the Orchard? Would be it one who is honest, transparent, and serious about the command of Christ to be baptized, or merely the apprehensive, who need a joke to motivate them to obedience? This really is a sad example of the blind leading the blind. How any Christian could regard baptism as a joke, and make irreverent laughs about it, is beyond me. The leadership may have desired to modernize a church ordinance for the apprehensive, but the result was a blasphemous parody of an important moment in the life of a believer.
i have read much of Tozer, including the book you recommended. I think Tozer would agree that the video was blasphemous. I suppose the Apostle Paul would be considered a fundamentalist legalist by today's worldly "church."
Irreverend Fox: a counterfeit Christ and Gospel would be any doctrine that is not biblical. Would a mockery of the death and resurrection of the Lord be a denial of Christ's deity (i.e. His holiness and sovereignty)?
any doctrine that is not biblical”? any??? are you serious? you mean to tell me that your doctrine is pure and inerrant (it has no errors?)
The comment was "a counterfeit Christ and Gospel would be any doctrine that is not biblical." The church has always recognized the essentialness of clarity regarding the person and work of Christ in addition to the Gospel. Indeed, a counterfeit Christ and Gospel can be proclaimed (and receives warning about such practices, no matter what the motivation may be) in contrast to Scripture (cf. Gal 1:6-9 as but one example). Do you seriously believe error is expected regarding the person and work of Christ and the Gospel? Or, are these matters that Scripture tells believers for which to earnestly contend (i.e. THE faith)?
Of course, it would be assumed that all Christians hold some non-essential doctrine(s) in error that only more diligent biblical study will correct (but the response was not in regard to those matters). But you never answered: Would a mockery of the death and resurrection of the Lord be a denial of Christ's deity (i.e. His holiness and sovereignty)?
thanks for clarifying...I certainly believe mockery of the person and work of Christ is blasphemous...
However I'd be very careful in passing judgment in this particular case...immaturity does not necessarily make a blasphemer...perhaps they do now or will some day regret their video... I’m not so sure that their video was mocking…mocking is a strong word and involves intention…at any rate I do not believe they intended harm…I’d like to give those who share the faith the benefit of the doubt…don't you?
Indeed, clarity is a prized commodity.
I would not necessarily regard mocking as intentional or unintentional; it is the belittling of something, which the video clearly did with the death and resurrection of Christ. I cannot discern the full intent for the video, but the reality is that it does blaspheme baptism. What faith is being shared when Christ's death and resurrection is trivialized? Different methods are fine so long as the message is not changed. In the case of the video, it is a mockery of biblical truth and reality (whether intentional or not).
have you ever trivialized the person and/or work of Christ by something you've done...while in ministry?
if so...is their trivialization worse than yours? why?
So another's sin would make other's sins acceptable? When does weakness and trivialization of Christ become the standard? This was the pastor, who is to be the shepherd of God's church, making this video.
wow...why didn't you answer my questions? you seem to be a straight-shooter...
First, your question is non sequitur (i.e. it has no relevance to whether the video [by a "pastor"!] is blasphemous). Second, I have answered all your questions (while you have systematically neglected many of mine in the direction of postmodern subjectivity). Third, what is the purpose for asking the question (do we compare ourselves to one another, or to Scripture)? My response to the question was that one person's sin does not justify another's sin. Furthermore, to trivialize the person and work of Christ publicly by a pastor among those whom he is to shepherd is inexcusable. I pray that those I shepherd would ever be so bold and loving as to reprove me if I ever mock the person and work of Christ publicly or privately. Certainly, I have not--nor ever will--attain sinless perfection. You seem more intent to defend the blaspheme than to be grieved to see the precious work of the Lord Jesus Christ belittled. Finally, every time we sin as believers, the person and work of Christ is treated as common (what shame for us who have experienced the undeserved riches of God's grace, but praise the Father that we have an Advocate [but never is that an excuse for sin, but a motivation to be more Christlike]). The comparison question is not relevant. What should grieve the church is the unrelenting motivation of the Emerging Church movement to continually represent a "christ" who is no different than them (the bitter fruits of their constructivism), and certainly does not evidence a life that fully understands the measures of God's grace. My sin, your sin, no one's sin is justification for blaspheming the precious work of baptism.
it's interesting how one blasphemer will go after another blasphemer...with little grace or mercy...
I do not water down the video...but nor do I water down my blasphemy or yours...I'm glad nobody is blogging about mine...
I'm just amazed how you seem so to imply that one form of blasphemy is more grave than another...God is just as offended by what you did today as He is with this video...
God help me...
??????????????
What color is the sky in your world?
Reproving contempt for sacred things is now blasphemy?
As believers, recognizing first our own limitations, yet striving toward holiness and seeking to handle God's Word correctly, it is our absolute responsiblity to reprove those who would place themselves under the banner of Christ while trampling under foot (whether ignorantly, or otherwise) the plain teachings of Scripture, especially those which reference the death, burial, and resurection. As Ron pointed out, the offender in question is a pastor, therefore ignorance is not an excuse. Scripture holds him to a much higher standard.
Irreverend fox, in one of your above posts you stated, "immaturity does not necessarily make a blasphemer". Would you suggest that the Scribes of Mark chapter 3 could have used immaturity as their excuse when Christ called them blashemers for attributing Christ's earthly miracles to the power of Satan? Certainly, they were blind to the fact that the very one they claimed to be waiting for stood there before them. But they were the experts, they had been given God's Word. Yet inspite of their ignorance, Christ sternly rebuked them. It has been well said that the most important attribute of God can be sumarized in three words: holy, holy, holy. God takes His character very seriously and so should we. To make such a mockery of the doctrine of Baptism, as this one has, is an affront against the character of God. And sadly, it is all too typical of the "emerging church" movement here in America.
c.leverett
i-fox, you have systematically ignored and recklessly distorted what it means to blaspheme the person and work of Christ. A textbook definition of blasphemy is to show contempt for sacred things. To regard baptism as a joke is indeed blasphemy (intended or not). Do not post comments that are not specific to the point being made.
orthopodeo,
you seem to be a very strict micro-manager.
I will pray for your continued spiritual growth and maturity in the grace of our Lord...
and maybe I will copy and paste all of this on my blog and condemn you and your ministry...
on second thought...maybe I won't...
I-fox: now you are posting comments about administrative skills??!? I appreciate the initial comments, but the actual issue is being blithely ignored.
I had to visit your profile at "Semper Reformanda" in an attempt to understand your thought process, but maybe I cannot on this issue. All I can say is by your own admission you are prone to "possible hallucinations or delusions." Indeed!
If you feel the need to condemn on your blog, please use Scripture (contextually that is), and I will be better for it (however, do not misunderstand that I am admitting error regarding reproof of those who profane the sacred things of God), but only if you accurately exposit the text, which I cannot imagine would be done considering your latest comments.
May we all consider the godly wisdom displayed in the following answer:
How are God's ordinances profaned and abused?
A. God's ordinances are profaned and abused— 1. When persons are irreverent in their attendance upon them, in regard of the outward gesture of their bodies, laughing, talking, sleeping, or any other way indecently behaving themselves in the time of prayer, preaching, singing, receiving the sacrament, or any other part of God's worship. "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God."— Eccles. 5:1. "Let all things be done decently and in order."— 1 Cor. 14:40. 2. When persons, under ordinances, are slight and formal, as to the inward frame of their minds; when their minds are roving and wandering, and their hearts are dead and dull, very unbeseeming the majesty of God, whom in his ordinances they wait upon, who, being a Spirit, doth chiefly look to the spiritual part of his service. "God is a Spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth."— John 4:24. 3. And chiefly, persons profane and abuse God's ordinances, when they make a profession of religion, and attend upon ordinances, that they may be accounted religious by men, without any sincere endeavours to approve the heart unto God; making use of religion only aq a cloak for covetousness, or maliciousness, or voluptuousness. "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."— 2 Tim. 3:5. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."— Matt. 23:14.
(from An Explicatory Catechism of the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly)
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