House Church Talk - inclination toward ceremonial

[Bruce Woodford]

Hi All,

Was it Dan or Gleen that referred to believers' baptism as something that 
some think of as "ceremonial" and thus something to be done away with?   
(Sorry, I deleted more of my e-mails than I intended before responding to 
this one!)

I believe that just as Israel (even before the old covenant was given at 
Sinai) had three symbolic physical practices given by God to be observed by 
them forever which would mark them out as  distinct from all other peoples, 
so too there are 3 God-given symbolic physical practices that are to mark 
out new covenant saints from all others.

Those practices for Israel are: (1) Circumcision (a one time act of 
initiation), (2) The Passover ( an annual memorial meal and (3) The keeping 
of the 7th day sabbath rest ( a continual weekly observance).

The three practices for new covenant saints all have two parts (the one is 
meaningless without the other!)

One has to do with the DEAD, AND THE LIVING: By immersion in and emergence 
from water, Baptism portrays death burial and resurrection. It is a one time 
act shortly after salvation which testifies to our UNION with Him.

The next  has to do with the BREAD AND THE CUP: The Lord's Supper (breaking 
the bread and drinkling the cup) is a regular memorial meal which 
demonstrates our COMMUNION in the body and blood of our Saviour.

The third has to do with our HEAD AND OUR HAIR:  The man's hair kept from 
growing long and the woman's hair allowed to grow long demonstrate the GLORY 
of our Head (Christ) and avoids SHAME. The man's head that is uncovered 
while he prays or prophesies and the woman's head which is covered while she 
prays or prophesies demonstrates the HONOR of our Head (Christ) and avoids 
DISHONOR.  Since God has crowned Christ with GLORY and HONOR (Hebrews 2:9), 
we are obedient to and demonstrating our submission to His HEADSHIP as we do 
the same.

None of these are "rituals" or "rites", but can be empty, meaningless and, 
in fact, counterproductive if the real truths which they demonstrate are not 
true in us and in our behaviour!

The baptism of an unconverted person, the partaking of the Lord's Supper by 
a believer who denies communion with God by living in unconfessed and 
unjudged sin, and obedience to outward instructions realtive to one's head 
and hair by one who has no desire for Christ to exercise His headship in 
their life are all counterproductive actions!!!

But when obedience from the heart expresses itself in obedience to commands 
relative to physical actions there is a God-honoring consistency and 
integrity in the life.

O, that Godly consistency and integrity would be much more of a hallmark in 
my life than it is!!

Your brother in Christ,
Bruce

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