Or: How I Manage to Annoy Both Baptists and Presbyterians
Here at Redemption Ranch—a delightfully independent, reformed “Presbytist” congregation meeting in a field in North Zulch—I’ve quietly held a position on baptism that gets both sides of the aisle huffing: I’m a dual-practitioner. That’s right: I’ll sprinkle your baby and I’ll dunk your believer. And if that makes Baptists scowl and Presbyterians whisper about my orthodoxy, so be it.
1. The Great Baptismal Impasse: Mode vs. Meaning
Let’s start where every baptismal debate starts—with water and opinions. Does the New Testament mandate immersion, sprinkling, pouring, or interpretive interpretive sprinkling-while-immersed? Spoiler: Scripture isn’t absolutely clear on the mode of baptism.
- Greek roots: Baptizo can mean “wash,” “dip,” or even “immerse”—but we saw entire cities baptized (Acts 2:41). Did they all dive into the Jordan?
- Biblical images: Isaiah speaks of “sprinkled clean” (Isa. 52:15), Peter of “sprinkling of the Spirit” (1 Pet. 1:2)—can’t dunk your heart, right?
- Early practice: Tertullian describes all three: immersion if the vessel allowed, pouring or sprinkling if folks were ill or water was scarce.
When two reputable hermeneutical giants—immersionists and sprinklers—both claim “Bible says so,” I’m forced to conclude that God gave us freedom on the how, while fixing our eyes on the why.
2. Great Men, Great Minds…Great Fence-Sitters
History’s roll call of theological heavy-hitters reads like Baptists vs. Presbyterians:
- John Calvin leaned paedobaptism (infant) but didn’t fuss over pouring vs. immersion.
- Charles Spurgeon, a Baptist icon, insisted on believer’s baptism by immersion—but he also acknowledged church tradition’s role in guiding doubtful consciences.
- Jonathan Edwards baptized infants and adults alike, yet urged charity toward differing convictions.
- B.B. Warfield (Reformed stalwart) dunked his infants, convinced it symbolized union with Christ’s death and resurrection.
If some of the smartest, most faithful saints could recognize both sides as plausible, who am I to draw in the sand? Their humility and nuance encourage me to hold my own convictions lightly, even as I hold them firmly.
3. Why the Fence Splinter? Denominational DNA and Baptismal Wars
So why does baptism—one simple act of water and word—divide so fiercely?
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Identity Marker
- Baptists: “Anyone who professes faith, no infants allowed. We’ve got autonomy and regeneration in one plunge.”
- Presbyterians: “Covenant children belong to the visible church—infant sprinkling signposts God’s promise to families.”
Each tribe sees the mode and subjects of baptism as non-negotiable—because they tie it to everything: ecclesiology, covenant theology, assurance, church membership.
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Authority and Tradition
- Baptists lean “Sola Scriptura”—if you can’t point to a clear text, it’s forbidden.
- Presbyterians value church fathers and creeds—if history affirms it, it’s permissible.Which hermeneutical grid you choose determines whether sprinkling your baby is “tradition bound” or “biblical fidelity.”
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Emotional Investment
- We humans hate “both sides are right.” We want winners. We want unity around a distinct practice.
So we weaponize baptismal fonts to defend our brand. We label each other as “unbiblical” or “traditionists” whenever our convictions are challenged. And somehow, we miss the forest for the fonts.
4. My Personal Conviction: Leaning Paedobaptism, Living Mixed Mode
If forced to choose—and this is purely personal—I lean paedobaptism. Why?
- Covenant continuity—from circumcision in the OT to baptism in the NT (Colossians 2:11–12).
- Household baptisms in Acts (e.g., Lydia, the Philippian jailer)—“all your household” included infants.
- The symbol of water upon the brow speaks powerfully of cleansing grace applied in promise.
Yet at Redemption Ranch, we’re meeting families hungry for water, any way they can get it. Our nearest Presbyterian or Reformed church is hours away. So we baptize the way our folks need: infants are lightly poured, repentant adults are fully immersed—no pews broken, no consciences crushed.
Why should I enforce a personal conviction—swaddling it in presuppositions and creedal footnotes—just to make denominations happy? I serve folks wrestling with sin, not fonts. I preach the gospel of grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—not mode alone.
5. A Plea for Baptismal Charity
If you’re reading this and you bleed Baptist red or Presbyterian blue, hear me out:
- Baptists, I get your zeal for a profession of faith. It’s biblical and beautiful to see someone consciously pledge allegiance to Christ. I affirm believer’s baptism in full immersion as an excellent picture of union with Christ.
- Presbyterians, I share your joy in covenant promises. I rejoice that God draws children into His covenant family, marking them with the sign and seal of grace. I celebrate the LORD’s faithfulness to generations.
But here’s the bottom line: our unity in Christ far outweighs our unity in mode. If we can’t celebrate each other’s faithful baptisms, we’re missing the very point of the gospel.
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5)—not three baptisms, not zero baptisms, but one baptism with plural expressions of grace.
6. Practical Takeaways for Pastors and People
- Preach the Gospel, Not the Font
- Spend more sermon time on the cross than on the candidate for baptism.
- Remind folks that water doesn’t save—Christ saves (1 Pet. 3:21).
- Offer Multiple Options
- If your space and conscience allow, provide both immersion and sprinkling. Let families choose what best illustrates Christ to them.
- Educate, Don’t Excommunicate
- Teach the biblical arguments on both sides graciously.
- Encourage questions. Resist the urge to shun those with different convictions.
- Prioritize Pastoral Care
- Baptism should be a joyful milestone, not a guilt trip.
- If someone wrestles with assurance because of your mode, you’ve missed the point.
Conclusion: Water and the Word, Together at Redemption Ranch
Here in our field-church at Redemption Ranch, we baptize with humility and joy. We splash, we pour, we dunk—and we celebrate every single time because it’s never about water alone. It’s about the Word behind the water: Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection; God’s covenant promises; the Holy Spirit’s work in a sinner’s heart.
To my Baptist friends: I’m not here to water down your convictions. To my Presbyterian friends: I’m not here to dunk on your theology. I’m here to steward the gospel, the flock, and—yes—the font with charity and conviction.
Because when the Bride of Christ stands before her Bridegroom, no one will ask, “Did you fully emerse your infants?” They’ll ask, “Did you cling to the Lamb who was slain?”
And that, dear reader, is the one thing worth dividing over—not the font’s depth but the depth of your faith.
Thanks for reading.
