Russell Crowe's BaptismBy Steven F. Deaton |
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A news report stated that Russell Crowe plans on being baptized soon (click here for article). He will do it when his now 1-year-old son is baptized. Is this good or bad? First, the Bible teaches baptism is for penitent believers. In Acts 8 the eunuch asked what was keeping him from be baptized, Philip said he needed to believe (Acts 8:36-38). Peter commanded the believing Jews to repent of their sins and be baptized (Acts 2:37, 38). The article indicated vaguely that Crowe believes in God. Just what he believes and how strongly he believes it is not clear. This much we do know: Crowe does not believe in Bible baptism. Since he will have his toddler son baptized, as he did his now 3-year-old son some time back. Second, Bible baptism was an urgent matter. Men did not wait until someone else was baptized, whether it was months, weeks, or days later. They were baptized right away. We see this with the eunuch. When he and Philip reached water he immediately took action (Acts 8:36-38). This is also true of the Philippian jailer who was baptized the same hour of the night—sometime after midnight (Acts 16:25-33). No delay, even for sun up. Yet, Crowe is waiting on his son’s baptism. It is understandable to some degree that Crowe and many like him do not understand the truth about Bible baptism. They have been led by false teachers parading as men of God. However, this does not free him or others from their accountability to God. Each will stand before God and give an account (2 Cor. 5:10). What Crowe and all of us need to do is simply read the Bible. It has all truth and is written so we may believe and obey (Jn. 16:13; Jude 3; 2 Pet. 1:3; Eph. 3:3, 4; Jn. 8:32). |
To everything there is a season, |
