CHRISTIAN IDIOT. - VI

Some of my good Christian friends who go to religious meetings persuade me to attend those meetings. Well, I have been to some of them. The songs and music seem to be livelier than our church hymnal. But the message always boils down to “qualifying for salvation through immersion baptism.” Their favorite biblical evidence for immersion baptism is the baptism given by John the Baptist on the banks of river Jordan. I try to find answers to some idiotic questions: Who was this John the Baptist? He was a Jew! Who were the multitudes that came to be baptized by him? They were also Jews! What did they become after they were baptized? They just remained Jews! John’s baptism did neither save them nor did it make them Christians! It is no big deal that Jesus also received that baptism along with other Jews. For him it was just another Jewish rite. After all Jesus received circumcision as a Jewish child. And he worshiped in synagogues on Saturdays as a Jew. Why do we have to care about those Jewish rites? When it comes to Christian baptism, I would rather confess my faith with St. Paul, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Eph.4:5) I would boldly refuse a second baptism because it disregards God’s grace given to me in my first baptism. My intelligent Christian friends tell me that I will not enter into the pearly gates without an immersion baptism. I do not care for such a heaven! I would rather spend my life to give credence to the words of the prayer my Lord taught me, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on this earth…” I may sound idiotic. But I am not alone! There are other idiots including the good Lord who said, “Lo, I am with you always!” and all those who toil for the coming of God’s Kingdom instead of qualifying to go to “heavenly” Kingdom.