When baptism becomes works righteousness [July/Aug 2023 issue]

I was reading Layton Friesen’s article in The Messenger. I wonder if he would expand on his thought about tailoring baptism leading to tailoring salvation. Interesting thoughts; I am curious about what he means exactly. It would make for a good study question among fellow Christians.

– Helen Bergen
Aylmer, Ont.

Layton Friesen’s response:

That is a good question and I welcome the opportunity to say something further.

This article is saying that there is a connection between our theology of baptism and our practice of baptism—the way we carry out the ritual itself on a Sunday morning. How we do a baptism says a lot about what we really think baptism means. Baptism symbolizes salvation.

I notice in recent years we have a greater concern that each person finds their own baptism to be their own special time. We each get to pick exactly when we are baptized, how we will be baptized (poured? immersed?) and the special friends and family who will baptize us or stand beside us in the river. Some even pick their own baptism entirely and then go back to their church and ask for it to be recognized.

I am suggesting that all this personalizing communicates (symbolizes) something that baptism was not meant to say. It suggests that salvation is something I personally design for myself to express my unique tastes and personality. When, instead, I need to submit to a ritual that my church decided on long before I was born, the church is symbolizing the fact that we don’t get to make up our own salvation. We submit to the wonderful gift that salvation is apart from our own achievements.

I am open to understanding this all better, but that is what I was trying to communicate. By the way, these same questions need to be asked about other rituals, like weddings and funerals, but that is a further discussion.

– Layton Friesen
Winnipeg, Man.

Walking through deconstruction [July/Aug 2023 issue]

My faith construction started before I remember. I believed without reservation. I accepted God’s plan as firmly as I believed the sky was blue and the grass was green. So how could such a faith be so suddenly shattered?

Pastor James writes, “When the deconstruction impulse isn’t properly channelled, it can turn a faith renovation into a faith demolition.” I agree. Having done many building renovation jobs, I understand the many layers of deconstruction before a project is ready for reconstruction.

In my experience, sometimes you can rip out the old cabinets and replace them with new ones. Other times you discover rot behind the old cabinets, and you have to replace rusty pipes and dangerous electrical wires.

In my life it felt like a tornado had deconstructed my faith and all I could do was walk away from it. And I did.

However, God in his kindness and great wisdom was right there, handing me brick after brick to help reconstruct my faith into something much stronger than before. My building blocks in reconstructing my faith came in the form of an assignment. My roommate suggested I could do a research paper on how Jesus reacted or responded to everyone he met. It didn’t take long before I was completely overwhelmed by his love. My trust in him was restored by his love.

– Elma Koop
Blumenort, Man.

When Christians behave rightly [Sept/Oct 2023]

Thank you for writing about how we often prefer bad news over good news. I am guilty!

I applaud radio hosts, editors, and other people of influence (like pastors) who regularly offer the mic to those who are realistic (that’s good) but who tend to be positive and hopeful.

You point out with two anecdotes people who chose to pass on good material. It was good to hear how “Bullfrogs & Butterflies” became the catalyst for Sarah Bessey’s family to find Jesus. I never heard of it, but it must have been good! I have read Romans 8 and I know that it is a very good passage.

Thank you for writing both on controversial issues and on encouraging topics.

– Ralph Unger
Winnipeg, Man.