“any thoughts on the question i posed in post #102?:
“does the typical member of the churches of Christ believe it is Biblical to be baptized by an unbaptized elder or minister? the reason i ask is if the church was “restored” in the 19th century, that means there were no Christians on earth before then. if that was the case, who was able to baptize the first member of the “restored” church of Christ?”
My guess as to a “typical member” would obviously have to be based upon the congregations of churches of Christ I have visited and members I have talked to. First, I have never heard of an unbaptized elder or minister. Second, one does not have to be baptized by an elder of minister. Third, I don’t remember any member having told me that one must be baptized by anyone in particular (though some may believe that). My own belief is that it doesn’t matter who baptizes one; the importantnt thing is that one be baptized.
thank you for your reply.
i have heard many coC ministers teach that one of the hallmarks of the coC is that it follows the NT and practices what the church did in the NT.
if that is so, wasn’t everyone baptized after Pentecost baptized by another person who was baptized?
is it Scritural to have a non-Christian baptize a Christian?
by whose authority does the non-Christian baptize?
this is the problem you run into if someone wishes to claim the church needed to be “restored” and there were no Christians on earth for over 1,000 years before the 19th century.