Is the Role of the Church in the Community Just to Baptize People?
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…. 1 Corinthians 1:17 NKJV
Does the church have to baptize every member of the community in order to serve its purpose? Is it possible God has some people cross our paths just because they need to be loved, regardless if they join our church or not?
Years before ever becoming, or thinking about becoming a Bible Worker myself, I found myself on a church softball team, captained by the new local Bible Worker. I failed to eat breakfast before running off to play. In the middle of the game, I began to get dizzy and lightheaded. My team was up to bat when I pretty much blacked out. I was sitting right next to the Bible Worker and told him, as the batter was striking out, “I am blacking out. I can’t even see anything right now.”
His reply? He threw my mitt in my lap and said, “That’s the third out. Let’s go take the field!” Not exactly the reply I was expecting. Needless to say, I did not go out onto the field. I managed to get myself to a nearby building where I got a drink and laid down. I had heard people who had been studying with this Bible Worker say how wonderful he was. I guess already having been baptized, I was not a potential “notch on his belt,” So he was not that wonderful to me. He never even missed me when I failed to come back to the game.
At that point in my life, I was not really that familiar with the Bible Worker concept. Therefore I had never really considered becoming one, but on my way home that day, I remember thinking to myself, that if I ever did become a Bible Worker, I would not be like that one! I also told myself that if I genuinely care about people who are about to be baptized, then I would genuinely care about people who will never be baptized. Even though I was not a Bible Worker at that point, I told myself, that as a Christian as well as being theologically sound, I also want to be relationally sound. I decided to be a genuine caring friend not matter what position I ever have in church.
Ironically I did become a Bible Worker, and when I was studying with a man in the first district I had been assigned, he finally showed up to church with his 14-year-old step-daughter. She had never been to any church. I went to the parents of teenage girls and told them that a young girl is here who has never been to church. Please have your daughters greet and befriend her. One parent who had two teen girls shrugged her shoulders and said, “My daughters already have friends.” I could not believe what I heard. The girls did not befriend her. Her step-father eventually went to another nearby Adventist church where he got baptized. I don’t know what happened to his step-daughter.
Later in another district, I was studying with a war veteran who needed a ride to the veteran’s hospital one day. Wanting to connect him with members of my church, I called several retired members and asked them to give this worthy veteran a ride. One person told me they were unavailable because, “That’s the day I water my garden.” And that was the most legitimate excuse! Not only did this veteran never come to my church, but that was also the end of our Bible studies. Do you blame him?
After studying with me a few months, a young married couple were baptized and joined my church of mostly older people. One of the elders never reached out to this young couple until he heard them say something in Sabbath School that was not theologically correct. So he took it upon himself to call them later in the day, to “reach out” and tell them that they were wrong! That was the only contact he had with them, and it was not long before they were out of the church. How long would you stay in a church where people only call to tell you that you are wrong?
In Texas I studied with a teenage boy whom I will call Scott. He found a ride to church every Sabbath, as no one else in his family came to church. Shortly after his baptism he moved to Tampa Florida. We had a going-away party for him, and I wrote in his card, “Bible Workers come and go, but friends are forever.” I did not think that much about it. Eight years later I moved to Tampa Florida. I had talked with him a few times after his move. One day, shortly after moving to Tampa, I ran across his name in my address book, and the address “Tampa Florida” jumped out at me. I called the number, only to find out that he was in jail. I arranged a visit. Not exactly the reunion I had planned with a former Bible student. We were glad to see each other and had a lot to talk about since our last visit. He explained to me what had been going on with him lately and how ended up in jail. Towards the end of our visit, he told me, “When I moved away, you wrote in my card, ‘Bible Workers come and go but friends are forever.’ I never forgot what you wrote, and now that you have come to see me after all those years, even though I am in jail, shows me you meant what you said.” Then I realized even more, that being relational is just as important as being theologically sound. I realized too, that even though he had been baptized eight years ago, my work with him was not over. Scott needed a “forever friend.” I am glad God moved me across the country to where I could reach out to him.
As a Christian my goal goes way beyond seeing people get baptized. My goal is to see them in heaven. That means being a forever friend to those who are preparing for baptism and to those who have already been baptized, as well as to those who I may never see get baptized.
Some people think they can’t give Bible studies, but if I can, anybody can. Even so, what a teenage girl needed in a church long ago was not just Bible studies, but a friend. A veteran just needed a ride to the hospital. A young couple needed someone from the church to call them just to say hello, instead of just to tell them they were wrong. A young man sitting in jail needed to know someone still cared, even though he was less than perfect.
That morning on the ball field, I needed a friend. I needed someone who cared for me regardless if I was someone about to be baptized or not. I needed what every other person needs, and that is a forever friend. Do the people in your community know that regardless if they ever get baptized or not, that they can find forever friends at your church?
How will people know that God loves them if those professing His name do not demonstrate His love?
May we all determine to let the love of God shine through us in whatever situation we find ourselves.

The need for a friend can be the most important event that occurs to the majority of people. We never can know or anticipate when or how. Yes we would be the first to call Jesus our friend, and be accurate. We relate to what we physically see and feel that has the most impact on most humans, on a daily basis with any meaning. Caring has had an impact on me that I can't stop thinking about. Three days ago a family of four crashed their Cessna 310 in Columbia California, near Yosemite national park. They burned and died. It made me think about out eternal destiny, and the plans that we make. Are we possibly in danger of a lake of fire? A horrible thought. A plea for Salvation is our only hope.
William,
A touching post. Your opening paragraph actually summarizes the post,
"God has some people cross our paths just because they need to be loved".
Our churches could use a whole lotta love. It made me sad when you mentioned how the people in your story were ignored:a teenage girl, a veteran, the young couple and a young man sitting in jail.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and for encouraging us to change our focus to being more loving.
Absolutely loved this message. Thank you William and welcome back.
Philippians 2:5 came to my mind the other day, wondering what the meaning and purpose of the text might be? I discovered that it was an admonition by the Apostle Paul regarding the manner of love that all the believers were to seek, for each other. Let this mind, the love that Jesus demonstrated, as His example. Verses 3 and 4 described the failures that are the most prevalent conflicts in the church. Philippians 2:12 is also a reference text, used Sabbath 7/30 and I have wondered how that text is understood. How to work out your own salvation , with fear and trembling? Many years ago my pastor ask the same question. I just read the rest of the chapter and find it very worth while.
Your story truly describes our behaviour as Adventists.
I think this is our main weakness as Christians nowadays. Overlooking the needs of others and still consider ourselves true Christians can be dangerous. We may never feel the need to repent as did the Pharisees until its to late.
We should know that we are called to serve not to be served! Thank you for your timely lesson.
Vusa, I don't believe that it is ever to late to repent. Or if the need is not available.
I agree with you Paul on repentance, but since we are on probation I think its closure will leave us with no chance of doing so.
I jast happy and thankfull to God that I have the access to read from you and commets of others for me to grow more to God..
Where did Bob go wrong! Isn't this the way we bring people to church? Could it be the same way we are chasing them out of church. Is it that we are busy scattering the sheep? How can we be of help!
''... Being rational is just as important as being theologically sound.''
I really appreciate this post, thank you and God bless you and your ministry
What an amazing testimony! We definitely need to genuinely love and care for people regardless of their background and faith. Years ago while acting as Chaplain and Bible teacher in an Adventist school in Sierra Leone, West Africa, there was a young British woman who came to the school to teach. I befriended her and made her comfortable, taking her to my nearby village to meet my mom and other family members. Although we were both single, I treated her like a sister and our friendship continued even after we both left the school. Some of my fellow church members were critical about our relationship as she was not an Adventist, but I kept on. A few years ago, I got a message from my friend who was now married and lived in England that she had been baptized in the Adventist Church. I was surprised, but delighted. Maybe it was the pure love she experienced working in an Adventist school as a non-Adventist that drew her to our faith. When she was in Sierra Leone, she was not interested in Bible studies, but the Holy Spirit did touch her. That is what building relationships can do.
There is a song we love to sing in church mostly after lunchbreak yet we don't put it into practice. One of the lines goes like this, "the time to be happy is now, and the place to be happy is here, and the way to be happy is to make someone happy and together have a little heaven down here."
Day by day we are becoming unfriendly. We are too choosy on who we even interact with in church. This is a challenge to us. Church members are suffering out there just because we are not their friends. How I pray that we'd change our attitude.
William, I just love this post. So practical and honest. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thank you all for sharing my passion for demonstrating God’s love to others.
Thank you all it is really touching