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BAPTISM

Small groups answer

Recent articles reporting discouraging baptism results are once again triggering exhortations for churches to focus on evangelism. At issue is why Christians are not more motivated to evangelize. The reason they’re not, I submit, is because there isn’t much of a “good news” story rising up in them. This, then, backs us up a step and causes us to wonder why this fact is true, which it most assuredly is.

Phenomenology of religion studies continually show very little difference between Christians and non-Christians with respect to their chosen lifestyles. A turn around factor to change this situation is the nurturing and accountability provided in a small group. Not a Sunday School class, which is more informational than transformational, involved more with getting the Word out instead of getting the Word in.

Instead, a weekly small group meeting that focuses on acting on the Word will put to use all the good teaching our pastors provide and thereby cause a “good news” story within us to finally rise up. Rightly implemented, small groups will not implode but will produce an evangelism that far exceeds our present efforts.

Jim Phillips
Aiea, Hawaii

Incorrect theology

I am writing in response to a letter that was published in your May 12 issue regarding baptism. I was particularly disturbed by the last paragraph, which states: “while I know that baptism alone does not save anyone, I do believe (based on Bible scripture) it is one of the necessary steps to salvation.”

I think this person needs to dive into the scriptures and find out for himself what the Bible really says. I would suggest the book of John for starters. I think it’s a slap on Jesus’ face when we start attaching conditions to salvation, as if His sacrifice was not enough. There is a lot of dangerous and erroneous doctrine out there, and people need to be in the Word, finding out what God says. As a Baptist, I am a strong advocate for baptism; as an outward expression of my salvation, and as a symbolic picture of something that has already happened. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Yolanda Dresback
Hallandale

GAMBLING

Danger warning

My husband is at Apalachee in Sneads, Florida, and is having a hard time. He is a compulsive gambler and there is no help for him in prison. His addiction is what led him there. It came to a point in his life when he was so overwhelmed with gambling that he no longer cared if he lived. Now, he is trying to turn his life around, but yet our state offers nothing to him even though it makes millions a year off of gambling.

Gambling is becoming the number one addiction for teenagers, surpassing drugs and drinking.

We need to do something to help those who become sick from it and not just turn our backs and say that it is not our problem. It is our problem and with more gambling being allowed in our state it will only get worse. Please let people know how gambling can affect a persons’ life forever and hurt the ones that love the person who becomes ill from it.

NAME WITHHELD
Ormond Beach