Harold E. Burchett

A Case Study

“CONFUSION AMONG TEACHERS”

The troubled man who frequently attends your church is seen, after the morning service, intensely talking with one of the teachers and leaders. He seems perplexed and is headed directly for you.

He begins, “Do you realize that there is confusion among your teachers here at the church?”

“No, what seems to be the problem?”

“Some are saying baptism is necessary to be saved and just now one tells me it is not that important.

What do you say?”

DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS

Often a troubled person can spread confusion. Unless you have grounds to believe that he has indeed uncovered a real problem, you probably should suspect that he himself is the problem.

My Analysis

For example, I would expect that both of his conflicting impressions from church teachers have been filtered through his own confusion. The first statement found its origin in his own earlier involvement in a group that required baptism plus faith for salvation. Probably a teacher in the church simply agreed that all persons should be baptized; whereas, the second one “quoted,” simply sensed where the fellow was headed in the discussion and sought to fence him off by saying baptism was not required as a means of salvation.

*My Answer to troubled man

Baptism is important. We must be baptized because Jesus orders it.

In addition, we must be baptized-not to be saved-but because we are saved and now desire to obey our Lord.

Finally, I would suggest making a relaxed, unsuspicious effort to identify the two teachers referred to 50 as to turn the episode into a training experience for them.

• It is of utmost importance in answering this type person, that you be able to answer in very brief fashion, making your points very clear and compelling.