Catholic Baptist? or Calling a Duck a Duck

I have been accused of being to Catholic for my Baptist colleagues. I guess that is what you get for studying at a Catholic University. Many a jokes have been made (at my expense) with someone looking for my ring, or my bishop’s hat. In my defense, I turn to Steven Harmon’s work Towards Baptist Catholicity. Harmon is suggesting n many ways what my friends are simply joking about, that we retrieve our deeper “catholic” roots in the Baptist community. Harmon actually goes beyond Vatican I, or the Council of Trent to the Patristic as a source of tradition. He is arguing that a resourceement of the Patristic writers in the Baptist movement will lead to a deepening of worship and theology in the local churches. I like his argument, he approach and even some of his conclusions. One of the questions I have is “why?” (even though I think I know the answer). Why do we need to change, why do churches need to develop their worship? Why do we need to look beyond scripture and the pastor for an understanding of our faith? Harmon hints as reasons, criticizing the vapid mindless worship that millions of Baptists engage in each Sunday. He hints at the weak theological identity and self understanding that many Baptist churches have, but I did not find an overall argument for change via the negative. There is a lot of positive that one can glean from such a resourceement. There is a deep and rich tradition. The positive argument is strong, but I think the negative needs to be made stronger. If one really wants to push for change, the point out the weak theology and even the heresy that is being practiced in many churches today. Make the argument that Baptist need to change to be true to Christ (if that is an argument one can make). Perhaps I am calling Baptist to offer a critical critique of the “Baptist life.” I am calling Baptists to come out and say how churches and Christians are not staying true to the faith. If something is heritical (like the prosperity gospel), then call it heretical. Let’s work for change, but not simply for the sake of change itself. Rather, lets work for change because our salvation, our faith, our life in the community depends upon it. (a little harsh, but then again isn’t such polemical writing the norm for blogs?)

An afterthought: In his book, Harmon states that one of the major reasons he couldn’t become Catholic is because they do not ordain woman. An admirable reason, but what about baptism? Does Harmon believe infant baptism is acceptable? Is believers baptism simply as secondary aspect of Baptist life? I contend (I think Brackeny does as well) that all other aspects of Baptist life can come out of the theological stance of believer’s baptism. I certainly hope Harmon is not so quick to throw the baby into the bathwater as he romantically looks across the isle at the liturgical life of the Catholic.