Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the church teach that only the leaders are to perform baptisms?
There are several reasons why the leaders of the church alone are to perform baptisms. The first reason is that whenever we see examples of baptism in Scripture, the person performing the baptism is always a leader of the church. Examples include John the Baptist (who is called a prophet of the church - a new Elijah) in Matthew 3, Jesus' disciples (John 3), the eleven Apostles (Matthew 28; Acts 2), Philip the Deacon (Acts 8), and Paul (Acts 19). The second reason is that there is to be a distinction between the governmental offices in the nation, church, and home.
The national leader is appointed by the people and the church and home are to submit to his leadership as long as he does not counter the commands of God. In Rom. 13:3, Paul says: "Whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves." God raises up civil authorities for the purpose of protection of the oppressed and righteous.
God has given parents authority within the home to train and nurture children. Passages like Deuteronomy 6 and Proverbs 22 instruct parents to raise their children according to the principles and Word of God, promising them that such instruction will result in children who obey the Lord.
God has given the church Elders and Deacons to govern it and insure good order. For example, Paul tells Titus: "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you." Without leadership, the church is said to be "lacking." Lacking what? Lacking men who will oversee those things that constitute a "church" - the preaching of the Word, the administration of the sacraments (baptism and the Lord's Supper), and discipline.
The Elders are to labor in the Word on behalf of the church. They are to protect against false teaching entering or corrupting the church (discipline) and they are to protect the Gospel within the church (preaching and rightly administering the sacraments). In this way, they act as undershepherds of Christ, who is the Chief Shepherd.
1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 lay out the qualifications for appointing men to be Elders. Not only are the requirements strict, but such men are to receive the approbation of the local church, acknowledging their fitness to lead and to receive the submission of the congregation. These men are held doubly accountable for rightly leading God's people. When fathers or civil leaders seek to act as Elders without respecting the process God has instituted for appointing leaders within the Church, they mistakenly confuse leadership of the family or civil government with leadership of the Church.
