IMB supports my views

I received this from a freind Ben. This only helped to affirm my beliefs on this matter. Please take note of the red section

From: LandmarkSouthernBaptist@yahoogroups.com [mailto:LandmarkSouthernBaptist@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ben StrattonSent: Friday, January 20, 2006 10:06 PMTo: LSBSubject: LSB: IMB's New Policy on Baptism

Some of you have heard about the Southern Baptist International Missions Board's recent decision concerning baptism. On November 15, 2005 the IMB trustees passed the following baptism guideline by a vote of hands:

"a. Baptism is a church ordinance. Baptism must take place in a church that practices believer’s baptism by immersion alone, does not view baptism as sacramental or regenerative, and a church that embraces the doctrine of the security of the believer.
b. A candidate who has not been baptized in a Southern Baptist church or in a church which meets the standards listed above is expected to request baptism in his/her Southern Baptist church as a testimony of identification with the system of belief held by Southern Baptist churches."

IMB trustee chairman Tom Harley has said the vote was 50-15 in favor of the new policy. This new policy specifies that potential IMB missionaries must have received baptism in a church that meets these guidelines. You will notice this policy excludes virtually all non-Baptist baptisms. According to this new policy any church that practices infant baptism or sprinkling for baptism (such as a Presbyterian or Methodist church) can not administer valid baptism. Any church that believes in baptism regeneration (such as the Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and Lutherans) can not administer valid baptism. Any church that rejects the doctrine of eternal security (such as Penteocosts or Free Will Baptists) can not administer valid baptism. Even if these groups baptize by immersion, their baptisms should not be considered valid.

Personally I am thrilled that Southern Baptists are finally getting some doctrinal standards for our missionaries. Their was a time not too many generations ago, when 95% of Southern Baptists would have agreed with these new guidelines. If someone is going to be a Southern Baptist missionary, they need to have a baptism that matches the doctrines Southern Baptist believe and practice.

I welcome your feedback on this controversial issue. *** If you enjoy these messages, why not tell someone else about them. *** "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism." Ephesians 4:5Homepage: The Landmark Southern Baptist: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LandmarkSouthernBaptist