00B.19 Chapter 12--Why Methodists Baptize by Pouring and Baptize Babies--No. 4
XII. "Why Methodists Baptize by Pouring and Baptize Babies"
No. 4 For several weeks past we have reviewed on this page some articles that are appearing in the Methodist Herald on the question of "Why Methodists Baptize by Pouring and Baptize Babies." This week we will have to have a break in these review articles because of the fact that this editor has been away from home in some meetings. Through some mishandling of the mail the issues of the Methodist Herald that have not been reviewed failed to reach him. But this will give us an opportunity to say some things to our readers about these articles and to urge them to do some teaching work among their Methodist neighbors. We should not fail to try to teach the truth to the whole wide world, and those who need these articles most should be given the opportunity of seeing them. There is no need to say anything harsh or abusive about the Methodist people in order to point out the errors of their doctrine. It shall be the purpose and the prayer of this department to make these reviews convincing and conclusive, but to make them as mild and as kindly in spirit as the truth will allow.
Several times already we have mentioned the picture of John the Baptist pouring water upon the head of Jesus, which picture Editor Swift has been running each week. The picture has already appeared in that paper some eight or ten times, and it is to continue to appear each week as long as the editor writes upon this subject. The editor tells us that these articles are creating a great deal of interest among his readers and that they are handing his paper out to their neighbors who believe in immersion. He also tells us that many of his readers are rejoicing over the picture and that some of them are asking for enlarged copies of this picture to hang in their homes. In the issue of July 8 the following editorial paragraphs appear on the first page of the Herald under the headline, "Wants a Picture for Home." Read what he says: A reader from Memphis writes to know if he could secure a large picture like the one we are running every week with our special articles, John baptizing Jesus. We do not know how to secure such a picture; but these articles can be put into homes through subscriptions to the paper, and they would be a great blessing now and in years to come.
You would be surprised to know about the large amount of information we are receiving as to how young people and others really of our own fold are being proselyted by those who would make them believe they will be lost if not immersed. We believe that Bible proofs sustain the fact that immersion is not the proper mode of baptism and that John the Baptist, or John the "Purifier," did not immerse anyone, not even Jesus; and yet people are being deceived and led astray and turned away from the great purpose of water baptism—that of symbolizing the pouring out of the Holy Ghost upon all people everywhere who will repent of their sins and believe in Christ.
How pleased the devil would be to turn our thoughts away from this soul-searching, saving, and purifying personality! The emblems of the Lord’s Supper turn us to the cross, and the pouring of water upon the person signifies the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Now, it is the purpose of the Gospel Advocate to present this picture, which has already been characterized as a forgery, upon this page in a very early issue of our paper. We do this in order that our readers may see the kind of propaganda the Methodist Herald is using. We shall give with this picture an article upon the catacombs and upon the pictures and images that held such a large place in the minds of the Roman Catholic Church during the Dark Ages. We shall show that this picture is false from a half dozen different points of view. It is refuted by the word "baptize." It is refuted by all authentic history concerning the action of baptism in the apostolic age. It is refuted by the river Jordan, which it pictures as a small, insignificant stream. It is refuted by the Bible account of the baptism of our Lord. We are now making announcement of this article and the appearance of the picture so that our readers may prepare to receive it and to send it out where it will accomplish the greatest possible good. As the readers of the Methodist Herald have been securing subscribers for the very purpose of having them read the editor’s articles upon pouring, our readers should make a special effort to get subscribers before this picture and the article about it appear. The editor of the Methodist Herald has stated in one issue of his paper that hundreds of thousands of people have left the Methodist Church because they were convinced that sprinkling is not baptism. He states in the notes quoted above that many young people are being proselyted from the Methodist Church because they are made to believe that sprinkling is not baptism. The editor is now preparing to defend the Methodist doctrine and satisfy his readers on this question. This gives us a splendid opportunity of presenting the truth on this question in contrast with the arguments in favor of error. This will make it abundantly easy to show the Methodists that their doctrine cannot be sustained. If we show them that the Bible teaches baptism, in the absence of any argument in favor of their doctrine, they will imagine that if some of their strong men would speak they could show that we are wrong and that sprinkling is right. But when the editor of a paper which is the official organ of six different conferences, and who boasts that he has studied the question for forty years, undertakes to present the Bible proof for their doctrine, they cannot complain that they are not properly represented. Then, if their arguments are shown to be fallacious, many honest souls will be convinced of their error. This is an unusual opportunity, and all of our readers should make the best of it.
If hundreds of thousands of Methodists have quit that church because they were convinced that its teaching on baptism is false, then we certainly have, by the confession of the editor, knowledge of a very vulnerable point in their teaching, and right here is where we should concentrate our attack. This statement by the editor also shows that somebody has been teaching the truth to the Methodists in years gone by. Do we now love the Methodists well enough to wish to correct their errors? Do we have the faith, the loyalty, and the courage to teach what God has revealed on the question of baptism? If we have not grown weak ourselves on this question, and if we are not ready to compromise, let us make the best of this opportunity. On the same page with the fictitious picture which we have promised to print we hope to produce an actual photograph of a brother in Christ immersing a Methodist preacher in the river Jordan. This will also be a complete and graphic refutation of the picture which originated long after the apostasy. Your neighbors and friends will want to see the issue of the paper that carries these two pictures. Why not get them to subscribe now? Why not also write in to the Gospel Advocate office and tell us how many copies of that issue you can use? Where does the inspired word call John the "Purifier"? Did he "purify" our Lord when, according to the picture, he poured water on his head? Who said baptism symbolizes the Holy Spirit? Where is the passage? Paul says it is a symbol or "likeness" of Christ’s death and burial. (Romans 6:3-6.) Peter says it is "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), and an answer or an interrogation or a seeking for a good conscience (1 Peter 3:21). But no inspired man ever said that it symbolizes the "pouring out of the Holy Ghost." That is a doctrine of men. "In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9.) Next week we shall resume our review of the Methodist editor, and in an early issue the pictures will appear.