Misguided Focus

"Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” Mark 7:13

According to an article by AP News, "Baptisms by Arizona priest presumed invalid due to error." The "error" is detailed in the article. "(Rev. Andres) Arango’s error was in saying, “We baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” when he should have begun the sentence by saying, “I baptize you.” The difference is theologically crucial, the Vatican ruled in 2020 because it’s not the “we” of the congregation doing the baptizing but the “I” of Jesus Christ, working through the priest." This is what is wrong with the so-called Christian church. We have taken a procedure used by Jews to convert Gentiles into Judaism, which Jesus Christ used as a picture of salvation, and turned it into how a person is saved or an act of obedience after salvation. The statement about the error contains many problems.

It is one thing for Arango to say "we baptize" instead of "I baptize." But, to say that "I baptize" is to be used because Jesus Christ is "working through the priest" is not biblical at all. There is nothing in the Bible about Jesus Christ working through priests when they baptize. First of all, Jesus Christ is our high priest. Hebrews 4:14 says, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess." Jesus is not baptizing anybody "through" a priest. This ceremony is a religious ritual not a requirement of God.

Secondly, is the statement that Arango's error was "theologically crucial." Honestly, who cares? Theology means the study of God. It does not mean that what you are studying, believing, and practicing is of God. It doesn't even mean you are studying the correct God. Given the fact this uproar is regarding a mistake made during a ritual is strong evidence that they have the wrong God. When Jesus Christ told the disciples to go out and baptize people in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, He was instructing them to identify people with the one true God. The baptism that identifies a person with God is the baptism of the Holy Spirit received when a person is born again of the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ. That is why Ephesians 4:5 says, "one Lord, one faith, one baptism..." The "one baptism" is the receiving of the Holy Spirit at the moment you accept Jesus Christ as your savior.

Finally, what are we reminded to do in the Bible? We are told about "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2)." You are not fixing your eyes on Jesus when they are focused on a mistake made during the performance of a religious ritual not required by God and plays no role in your relationship with Him. Reverend Arando has become the focus instead of Jesus Christ. The article concludes by saying, "Arango had returned to the church several times since his resignation to perform re-baptisms with the proper wording." Re-baptisms? That's like me saying I was born-again again.

When I was saved, I didn't make note of the day it happened. I only remembered the year. Over time, I was exposed to teaching that made a big deal about the date you received Jesus. Since I didn't remember there were times I "re-dedicated" myself to Christ or "re-accepted" Jesus so I could have a date to refer to. Eventually, I realized this error and moved on with my life. I also have never been water baptized since becoming a Christian. That, too, bugged me for a short time. Then I realized that many people in history didn't know the day of their physical birth. But, that doesn't matter because they lived. You don't need a birthdate when it is clear that you are alive. That is proof you were born. So, it is with our Lord. Whether you are water baptized, re-baptized, use the correct wording, forget the date, etc., it doesn't matter what tradition you participated in as long as you know you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior through being born again. You are alive to God. That may not matter to the Vatican or some other religious entity, but it is all that matters to God.