Baptism: How Important Is It?

Editor's note:

The essay that appeared in this location entitled, "Baptism: How Important Is It?" by Walt Lechman, is no longer hosted by ITW due to Walt's change in thinking. This is the second time Walt requested us to remove an essay due to a theological change of mind.   In Walt's first essay, he argued that baptism is not necessary for salvation. But after being influenced by those who believe "baptism" is necessary for salvation, Walt set out to inform ITW readers that he was wrong and that "baptism" was necessary. This new found position hit us at ITW in a rather odd way since we were aware that Walt felt so strongly that baptism was not necessary; and then suddenly he was arguing with the same intensity only in the opposite direction.

Anyway, after reviewing his second essay, I (Mark McFall) thought I would recommend to Walt to tone down the ridged portions of his essay; of which he heeded my input (I recommended adding phrases like: in my opinion, in my view, etc..). From there, co-editor Brian Lawson, set out to counter Walt's argument by pointing out the many complexities of Walt's new found position, showing that such things could not be known with the certainty that Walt suggested (Brian's essay can be read here: http://www.frontline-apologetics.com/baptism_opinion.htm).

Since that time, Walt has once again done a theological 180, and has asked us to remove his essay because he no longer embraces Christianity or its founder. While this shift in thinking is unfortunate, at least from my perspective, I wish Walt well as we delete this essay representing a particular chapter in Walt's walk in life.