Comments on: What Can Wash Away My Sins? http://pursiful.com/2006/09/what-can-wash-away-my-sins/ Darrell Pursiful's blog Mon, 14 May 2012 13:24:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: D. P. http://pursiful.com/2006/09/what-can-wash-away-my-sins/comment-page-1/#comment-38 D. P. Fri, 08 Sep 2006 17:48:22 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=33#comment-38 That's a good point, PS. I wondered about the baptism angle when I read the story. There may be two ways of looking at it: (1) the symbolism of the ritual itself and (2) the experience of the ritual on the part of the baptizand and (especially in the case of infant baptism) the experience of those observing the ritual. I don't know if the affusion/immersion dichotomy has the kind of symbolic meaning you're perceiving. It very well might, but I'm unfamiliar with anybody arguing that the reason one baptizes infants by affusion has to do with "less need" for cleansing (or however one might prefer to phrase it theologically). Also, I believe the Eastern Orthodox do in fact immerse infants. As far as one's inner perception or experience of being baptized, I'm sure there is something about being plunged helplessly under a whole lot of water that may well help sort out the feelings of being "clean" as opposed to "dirty." It may be appropriate in some circumstances for pastors baptizing adult converts to explore this line of thought. I expect something like that may be behind some passages in the NT. Off the top of my head: <blockquote>Acts 22:16: "Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name" (Ananias to Paul). Hebrews 10: "Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water." </blockquote>I would further note that the idea of needing cleansing for the conscience crops up in several places in Hebrews. That’s a good point, PS. I wondered about the baptism angle when I read the story. There may be two ways of looking at it: (1) the symbolism of the ritual itself and (2) the experience of the ritual on the part of the baptizand and (especially in the case of infant baptism) the experience of those observing the ritual.

I don’t know if the affusion/immersion dichotomy has the kind of symbolic meaning you’re perceiving. It very well might, but I’m unfamiliar with anybody arguing that the reason one baptizes infants by affusion has to do with “less need” for cleansing (or however one might prefer to phrase it theologically). Also, I believe the Eastern Orthodox do in fact immerse infants.

As far as one’s inner perception or experience of being baptized, I’m sure there is something about being plunged helplessly under a whole lot of water that may well help sort out the feelings of being “clean” as opposed to “dirty.” It may be appropriate in some circumstances for pastors baptizing adult converts to explore this line of thought. I expect something like that may be behind some passages in the NT. Off the top of my head:

Acts 22:16: “Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name” (Ananias to Paul).

Hebrews 10: “Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.”

I would further note that the idea of needing cleansing for the conscience crops up in several places in Hebrews.

]]> By: PS http://pursiful.com/2006/09/what-can-wash-away-my-sins/comment-page-1/#comment-37 PS Fri, 08 Sep 2006 16:49:35 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=33#comment-37 Is there possibly a symbolic or actual relationship between the baptism of adult converted people by dunking and the baptism of infants by pouring of the water? There would be more sins and guilt to be washed away for the adult? Undoubtably, you and I have a differing understanding of baptism, but your post made me wonder if the adult convert needs to "do more" to feel clean. Is there possibly a symbolic or actual relationship between the baptism of adult converted people by dunking and the baptism of infants by pouring of the water? There would be more sins and guilt to be washed away for the adult?

Undoubtably, you and I have a differing understanding of baptism, but your post made me wonder if the adult convert needs to “do more” to feel clean.

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