• 期刊

Baptism: Foundation of Christian Unity or Means of Separation? The Case for the Coexistence of Multiple Baptismal Traditions

Baptism is a rite practised by nearly all churches of all times, and already this commonality makes it a visible expression of Christian unity. In reality, however, Baptism is often experienced as expression of Christian disunity. This paper, therefore, first examines the New Testament teaching of Baptism and concludes that Baptism really is the foundation of Christian unity, unity with God and fellow Christians. Furthermore, the conclusiveness of the prominently disputed issues about the mode and the time of Baptism is examined. In a final analysis, the case is made for the acceptance of the coexistence of different baptismal views, based on practical, historical, theological and scriptural evidences. The mutual acceptance of different baptismal views, developed in different Christian traditions, allows to retain Baptism as real foundation of Christian unity. Different baptismal views can be understood as em-phasising different aspects of biblical baptismal theology, while at the same time the different views can also encourage mutual correction. The hope would be that in this way each view can become more compatible with the core of scriptural teaching while maintaining the special accentuation of its denominational tradition.