Studies

A Baptizing Community

The church is not just some social club. Unlike social clubs, the church is not at its core a socializing community. If it were, its big concern would be to find others to socialize with.

The church is born in baptism. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free” (1 Corinthians 12:13). And the church’s mandate is to baptize: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). The church is a baptizing community.

Who should the church be looking for? Unbaptized people, to baptize! And baptized people, to call back to their baptism with God’s Law and Gospel.

A short essay that treats the church as “A Baptizing Community” is available here.