Baptism and the Kingdom: lessons from Luke-Acts for a post-Christendom Church

Attempts to reform baptismal practice are characteristic of both dual-practice and credobaptist churches. Such reforms of baptism are frequently discussed within contours shaped by the concept of sacrament and the discourse it has generated. This article proposes, with reference to Luke-Acts, that t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal for the study of the Christian church 2016-10, Vol.16 (4), p.273-287
Main Author: Thompson, Geoff
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Baptism
Christianity
kingdom of God
Luke-Acts
post-Christendom
sacrament
sacramentality
Theology
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Summary:Attempts to reform baptismal practice are characteristic of both dual-practice and credobaptist churches. Such reforms of baptism are frequently discussed within contours shaped by the concept of sacrament and the discourse it has generated. This article proposes, with reference to Luke-Acts, that the meaning of baptism can be illuminated in alternative ways by reference to its relationship to the kingdom of God. Whilst not an anti-sacramental argument, it proposes that elements of the theology of baptism can be constructively pursued by reference to the explicit and implicit links Luke makes between baptism and the kingdom. By so drawing on Luke-Acts, the agency of the Church (in addition to that of the baptisand and God) can be given particular attention. This leads, in turn, to a proposal for an ecclesial posture of both intentionality and vulnerability to attend baptismal practice.
ISSN:1474-225X
1747-0234
DOI:10.1080/1474225X.2016.1252150