Another Reason I Call This the Main Thing

Main thing is certainly about the Cross and its centrality to all our hope. However, it is also about clarifying what to fight about. Some things God said clearly, and we can talk about them with authority here.  Some things God did not say clearly. We should not presume that he could not and then help him. If God was unclear, he meant to be unclear.

So, we can speak with clarity on the Cross and how we are saved, but not so clearly on what to have for communion or how much water is needed for baptism.  Now, some who read this think the Bible is very clear on what to consume at communion. Others think it is very clear how much water is needed at baptism. The Bible is not so clear.

Lets use this as an example. I know some Christians sprinkle. I know other Christians (including my family) immerse.   However, the Orthodox Christians who live where Jesus lived do not sprinkle or immerse. In Acts 2, Peter says the Spirit will be poured out on you, so they baptize with water by pouring.  When Jesus got baptized, did he say we needed to do baptism with this as a model.  Does he specify anywhere how much water is needed? There is not even a commend to be baptized in the Bible! There is a command that those who spread the good news should baptize people who believe with water, and usually it is done immediately. The Bible does not command we do it immediately, but it is certainly not wrong to do it immediately.

Main Thing Writing on Main Clear Things

If the Bible said we must do it just like Jesus got baptized, then we still do not know. Now, the Bible says Jesus came up out of the water after being baptized. Does that mean he got immersed? He could have gone in knee deep and John the Baptist poured water over him. Then, Jesus came up out of the water. John could have used a plant that he dipped in the Jordan and sprinkled it on Jesus. Winter is cold at the Jordan. Did they only do baptism in summer as immersion is so cold in winter?

If God had thought how we did baptism was important, he would have specified much more clearly. However, why did he not speak clearly? Why did Jesus use many different  ways to heal people. like putting mud one guys eyes? I sense Jesus did this as he did not want us to worship the method, but rather worship the one who gave power to heal the blind man. I think he did not specify what to eat or drink at communion as the main thing is to be with Jesus in it and not worship the elements.

If we go to make the Bible say something, we are at risk of succeeding, but we have not advanced the truth. We need to see what the original authors meant and who they were writing. Then learn what are the main things that we need to hold to. and what are things to not fight about.

Then we are on track