After I moved to Victoria West in the Karoo back in 2010, I had a lot of time in those first six months or so to reflect, and living there gave me a lot to reflect upon. I wrote this TIB on the 17th October 2010 after being inspired by a Sunday morning church service.

I was at the Victoria West Dutch Reformed Church this last Sunday morning. I go quite often to enjoy and observe this interesting congregation. It was a baptism service – very different to Pentecostal baptismal services, though. It was the second one I had attended in the nearly three months since moving here, proving that this is a growing community. Oh, sorry, my memory fails me – two people have died in my time here so I stand corrected on my last statement. But I want to think a bit about this thing of baptism.

Well, I don’t actually want to debate the two differing doctrines of water baptism – the Pentecostal belief of full immersion baptism after conversion to faith in Christ being an act of obedience to His example and instruction to convert and baptise; and the Reformed belief of baptising an infant as a sign of dedication, marking, the baby for God’s Kingdom as a sort of replacement of the sign of circumcision – I just want to think for a short while about attitudes surrounding these differences. (My description of these doctrines is my take on the subject and may well be criticised by theologians.)

Having been “brought up” spiritually in a Pentecostal church and having accepted the teachings about baptism, I believe this is probably what Jesus would want for us. This is my conviction. However, having also been given a blinding revelation of God’s love for people (PEOPLE, not "His people"), and having heard quite excellent exposition of the Reformed point of view, I have developed an opinion that has evolved into something that I now believe.

Almost all the teachings I have heard given to new believers in the Pentecostal churches has been given from a condescending position of having the “better knowledge” of the subject and has always left me with a slightly uneasy feeling of ridicule against any other take on the subject. Indeed, I have actually given some of these teachings, and my personality has even taken some delight at the innuendos I could self-righteously point in the Reformed direction. I am ashamed of this!

Then I think of what God speaks to me about. I think of the rebukes we suffer in the first chapter of Isaiah:

“Isa 1:12 When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?

Isa 1:13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!”

And I wonder how much this actually means to Him. I wonder at how the Dutch Reformed Church in this country actually does so much of what God expected His church to do. I think of the two people in this community that have recently died and how much the church (in the form of the leadership AND congregation members) has loved and helped the bereaved. I think of the tireless efforts of the ladies funding and working the soup kitchen in the poorer part of town. I think of the crazy generosity of some of the local farmers (not rich fruit or seed farmers of the northern and western regions of this country, but struggling sheep farmers) who give thousands of Rands to both the church and other community causes. I think of the outreach and mission activities supported by this community. And then I think of the struggles I have had in a Pentecostal church trying to instigate social justice work where the financial focus has been property and building and multi-media.

When I stand before my Lord, somehow I believe He will be less interested in the type and timing of my baptism as He will be on how much I might resemble a sheep or a goat. I am also convinced that baptism in itself would never have altered this by one hair.

Then I think of the example my new friend Manus used last Sunday morning: Alexander the Great was known for his leadership from the front lines and his harsh and merciless punishment of cowardice. On an occasion a young man was bought to him for judgement and on hearing that the lad was only 16, he decided to extend mercy to this young soldier. He asked of him his name and received the answer, “Alexander”. Shocked, the great leader’s response was simple: “Well, change your behaviour, or change your name!”

I do not intend to sling mud at Pentecostal churches nor do I wish to covert favour from my Reformed brothers. I intend to speak to the church, the “ekklesia”, the called out and set apart of God. Those that seek to bear the name “Christian”.

I believe we need to change our behaviour, or change our name!

30 August 2022