Dr. Jerry Rankin, past-president of the International Mission Board, spoke December 5, 2010 at First Baptist Church, Pell City where Dr. John Thweatt is Pastor. John posted the following on his blog the day after the message. This is most interesting and thought-provoking. You may read the full blog here.
In his sermon Dr. Rankin spoke of what God is doing worldwide in terms of the spread of the Gospel. He made an incredible statement about the house church movement in China. He said that two of the house church groups that we are working with are larger than the SBC! That means that there are at least two groups of Christians, out of a number of other house church movements, that have over 16 million people among their numbers.
After the service Tim Gold and I took the Rankins out to eat and Tim asked him about that statement. In the midst of talking to us about the house church movement and their commitment to the Gospel he shared that one of our missionaries was speaking to a group of leaders in the movement about when it would be appropriate to baptize a convert.
Our missionary shared that before you should baptize them you should ask three questions: 1) Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God, 2) Do you profess that Jesus is your personal savior, and 3) Do you commit your life to following Him. He said if they say yes to these three questions then you can baptize them.
The Chinese leaders said they needed to add a 4th question—4) If the government officials come to your home and take everything you have and kill your wife and children will you still follow Jesus? If they say yes to those four questions then you can baptize them.
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