Rescuing the “Nancy Guthrie” in YOUR Life

(PHOTO CREDIT - FOX NEWS) For many weeks now, the disappearance and apparent abduction of Nancy Guthrie have transfixed many in our nation. The media have paid more attention to her case, no doubt, because she is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, a host of NBC’s “Today” show. Though hundreds of thousands of Americans each year are abducted or kidnapped each year, her situation has received singular attention.

I could not find an estimate of the current cost of the investigation, but it is well over $1,000,000. I say that because there is now a $1,000,000 reward offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of whoever is responsible. That does not include the on-site research, the video camera data, the meetings, the salaries, the man-hours, the DNA testing, the reporting, and so much more.

My point? There is a concerted effort to find this precious person. No matter the cost involved, no matter the time required, no matter the effort invested, she must be found. Those closest to her, and those who know her best, will not rest until she is returned or until all resources and tools have been utterly exhausted.

It may surprise you and me that so many are doing so much for just one person. Or this situation may awaken you and me to the value of just one person. We may say to ourselves, “Someone knows what happened to her! Someone can identify the person(s) responsible!”

We may take it a step further. We may resolve that, if we had personal evidence or knowledge to share, we would do so without hesitation. Our motivation would not be based on the million-dollar reward, at least not exclusively! Haha! We would want her returned and the guilty person(s) prosecuted.

Jesus implied that one soul is worth more than all the world. Note his words:

Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

So … who is the Nancy Guthrie that you know?

She – or he – was part of your church family, just as truly as Nancy Guthrie was part of her physical family. This person worshiped with you, sang with you, prayed with you, and shared the supper of the Lord with you. Perhaps you shared the same pew or Bible study group. This person and you have had the same Father, the same older brother, the same faith, the same hope, and the same love. You were bought with the same blood. You faced the same kinds of struggles. You looked forward to the same great, eternal reward.

You and she – or he – were taught to regard and treat one another as follows:

Rom 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor… 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality… 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

But now your “Nancy Guthrie” is gone, out of sight, vanished.

What happened? Is she alive? Did she move? Was she taken hostage? Did some perpetrator make off with her? Did she fall into sin?

You may realize that there were warning signs, and maybe you missed those signs. She – or he – had pulled back from ministry projects. She cut back on her attendance. When she returned, she sat alone, physically isolated. She arrived just when worship started and left before the service closed.

Who were her – or his – friends? Was she a regular participant in a Bible class? Was she discouraged … frustrated … neglected … ignored?

Here’s the next question. What’s it worth to try to find the “Nancy Guthrie” you know?

Flawed assumptions and approaches

This is her problem. She’ll come back if and when she chooses.

She never really made an effort with me. It’s a two-way street.

She just got her back up about someone or something sometime.

I’ll talk to other people about her, and we’ll make our best guesses.

I don’t know what to say or do. I don’t want to get involved.

I wonder why her close friends at church seem to be dropping out, too.

It’s the elders’ job, or the ministers’ job, to assist her.

Clear biblical instructions

Matt 18:12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Gal 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

2 Tim 2:23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

Jas 5:19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Effective steps and strategies

Pray. Pray. PRAY. Be as specific as possible, but know that only God is fully aware of what has happened, when, where, why, and how.

Ask God to help you value this soul as he does. He spared no expense. “God so loved the world that he gave his only son … (John 3:16).” Ask him to fill your heart with his love for “Nancy” and with his desire to bring her home.

Find your “Nancy Guthrie.” You don’t need the FBI, the sheriff, and the police! Your “Nancy Guthrie” is in your church app or directory!

Set as your goal, not just getting “Nancy” back to church, but ministering to her in her pain and in her concerns. Your first aim is to let her know that you care. As you often hear, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I like to add, “And they don’t know how much you care until you show how much you care.”

Do no harm. Any perceived arrogance, condescension, or prejudgment on your part will hinder or completely prevent healing and restoration.

Make contact – just to express your love and interest. You could begin with a card, follow that with a text, and then make the phone call.

Offer to meet for coffee or lunch, her choice, your treat.

Listen. Listen. LISTEN. Ask open-ended, non-judgmental questions.

Assure her – or him – of your absolute confidentiality. She will only share her concerns with you to the extent that she trusts you. Of course, you would be required to report any situations involving imminent risk of harm to her or others, any suspected child or elder abuse, and any court-ordered disclosures. This is your legal obligation.

Allow her to express her criticism, disappointment, or frustration openly. She may feel (and need to articulate) anger, grief, resentment, and/or sorrow.

Realize that she may be unhappy with the elders, the preacher, and/or the members. She may name specific individuals, not as a matter of gossip, but as a matter of her own personal distress. On the other hand, she may put most of the blame on herself.

Do not respond defensively. Instead, reply with, “Please tell me more.” “Help me understand why you feel that way.”

Paraphrase. “Let me see if I get what you are saying. Please correct me or clarify your concerns. Are you saying that (put in your own words) …?”

Say, “I’m so sorry you had that experience. That would bother me, too.”

If “Nancy’s” own personal sin, temptation, or negligence has been at the root of her troubles, encourage her to think about it and talk about it to whatever extent she is willing. Ask her to examine herself in the light of God’s word, since you are not her judge. Help her consider what steps she needs to take to make things right with God, with others, and with herself.

Do not break her confidence to anyone without her specific permission, unless of course there is a legal requirement to do so.

If it seems appropriate, pray with “Nancy” before you conclude.

Arrange a follow-up visit before you leave. It can often take multiple visits to open her – or him – enough to tell you the real heart of their struggle.

You may also ask her, “Is there another trusted Christian friend, perhaps an elder brother or sister, that you’d like to join us next time we visit?”

Conclusion

There’s a “Nancy Guthrie” in your life. You know, love, and care about her – or him. What’s happened? Who’s going on the search? Who will make sure that everything possible is done to bring her home?

You will. You must. You can – with God’s help. God bless you as you go!

Church Leadership Strategies: Pray, Plan, and Present

 

It is amazing what the shepherds of the church can inspire brothers and sisters to accomplish for the Lord when they proactively project ideas, goals, and practical steps for the coming year. Recently (January, 2026) I witnessed a group of elders doing this very thing. On the first Sunday of the year, they took both the morning and the evening services to announce and explain their plans as overseers to lead the church. Their approach was so impressive and so outstanding to me that I felt compelled to tell you about it.

This particular church has three overseers (shepherds, pastors, elders) and about 300 in attendance. These leaders called the church together, reviewed the past year, and laid out a blueprint for the next twelve months. The three men were all together in the pulpit area, and they took turns speaking to the church one by one.

Gratitude and Humility

The first shepherd began by saying that the three elders were honored, humbled, and grateful to be able to serve. The church members had received them, helped them, and encouraged them in their tasks (Heb 13:17). He thanked them for their efforts with the children and the youth, and he urged the church to keep seeking to be innocent as children. He emphasized the central focus: serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Survey and Feedback

The church had received and completed a survey, and the overseers had carefully reviewed every individual response. They appreciated feedback of all kinds. They had learned that a personal approach (shepherding) made them more effective. They asked that brothers and sisters would keep coming to them often.

Specific Opportunities

He mentioned the need for more people to serve in a particular ministry, and he commended by name the coordinator of that ministry. He said that, while they had already scheduled guest speakers for special meetings through 2028, they would also invite preachers suggested by the members to come and preach beyond that period. In other words, they had listened, and they would act on the members’ recommendations.

“Ask an Elder”

Once a quarter, any interested member would be able to attend a scheduled “ask an elder” conversation. All three elders would join, perhaps on a Zoom call or in person, to answer any questions about judgments the elders had made or about biblical doctrine and its application. If the members just wanted to talk or offer suggestions, the elders would welcome such conversations. There would be other opportunities to meet with the elders, but these quarterly events would be scheduled and announced in advance.

Online Resources

Work groups and teacher assignments would be posted to the members-only portion of the church’s website for easy reference. A digital library of the church’s teaching resource materials, would be prepared and posted online. Links to new songs for the church would be included, too, so that the members could learn them.

Commending Good Works and Missions

This first shepherd briefly reviewed the past year, including the baptisms, the new members, the current and new Bible teachers, the youth devotionals, the VBS, small-group studies, and the Bible drills. He commended the church for inviting and welcoming newcomers, with whom further Bible studies had often taken place. He noted that the congregation had given a specific amount, hundreds of thousands of dollars, to support evangelists and missionaries in many countries. He named each of these nations. In addition, several church leaders and members had traveled into other countries, sometimes into dangerous areas, to assist with mission efforts.

He kept saying, “We’re so proud of ...” with a broad smile on his face.

Restoring the Fallen

He acknowledged that several had left the congregation during the past year. He emphasized that the shepherds had done, and would continue to do, all that they could to restore erring disciples and bring them back to a right relationship with the Lord. He urged the church to pray for, and to try to influence, those who had fallen away. They were not to be treated as enemies, but as fallen brothers and sisters. He stressed that church discipline was also intended to win such brothers and sisters back to the Lord.

Training Future Preachers

He commended a second minister that the congregation for mentored and trained for some time. This man and his wife had recently left with the church’s blessing so that he could become the regular, full-time preacher in another state where there was a great need. Meanwhile, the church had taken on a new couple, to train and mentor them for the same purpose. That is, the church was regularly interning ministers so that they could be effective preachers and evangelists.

Annual Themes for Focus

This overseer listed the congregation’s annual themes from the past several years. Then he explained that the elders, with input from the deacons and others, had begun working on the new year’s theme the previous year. They chose the greatest command: to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). That theme was to provide a focus to the year while allowing all of God’s Word to be taught.

Exhortation and Expectation

He stated that the elders expected the members to be present for all services and to make themselves available to participate. This was an important expression of one’s commitment to observe and obey the greatest command: to love God. He said, “I need you. You need me. We need each other.” “God expects us to do this together, to be involved in this together.”

Plans in Print

Then, on behalf of all three shepherds, he presented and described a tri-fold brochure that each person had received that morning. One panel featured the theme. A second panel had an invitation, a photo of the building and property, and the scheduled times of study and worship.

Scripture Reading, Listening, and Memorizing

The third panel featured the Bible reading schedule for the entire church to read the whole New Testament together through the year.

In addition to reading through the New Testament, the elder exhorted each person to listen to an audio version of the New Testament twice during the year. He mentioned the various apps that would be helpful. Such would require just 3 to 4 minutes per day.

The church would have a monthly memory verse. He encouraged all who wished to participate to contact the appropriate person.

~~~~

In this post I have described just part of the pastors’ (elders’, overseers’, shepherds’) first-of-the-year message to the church. I have shared powerful evidence of what can happen when leaders pray, plan, and present dreams and goals for the next twelve months. Please let your church leaders read this article, to consider what they may choose to do.

To God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever.

 

Eight Reasons to Quit Alcohol – from the Experts

Most of my readers know that I do not drink alcohol at all and that I strongly urge the same practice for others. Often my discussions with Christians center, of course, on the scriptures. However, I have been impressed, even stunned, by the many recent warnings that have come from non-religious sources. Here’s one I recently discovered from AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons. It shows the findings of medical and scientific experts regarding the advantages of drinkers’ quitting alcohol for as little as one month.

8 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol for a Month: Improvements in sleep, blood pressure, mood and more

By Barbara Sadick, AARP. Updated January 06, 2026.

“With a reduction of alcohol consumption, you have an opportunity to experience some important health benefits, which can serve as a starting point to meet your goals,” says Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, vice president for emergency medicine addiction services at New York’s Northwell Health. But if you drink every day, you should consult with a health professional before quitting cold turkey, he adds.

In addition to the health benefits listed below, research has found that those who give up alcohol for a month — whether it’s Lent, Dry January, Sober October or any other month — tend to drink less alcohol long term. Even if you cut back, there are still benefits, according to a 2025 report in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism.

In fact, drinking hit an all-time low in 2025, according to a Gallup poll. Between 1997 and 2023, at least 60 percent of Americans reported drinking alcohol. In 2025, that dropped to 54 percent. (The previous low was 55 percent, in 1958, the poll showed.)

Here are eight things that happen to your body when you stop drinking for a month.

1. You’ll sleep better.

While it may initially make you drowsy and help you fall asleep faster, alcohol can also disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, making it harder in the long run to fall asleep when you want to, says Dr. Manassa Hany, director of the division of addiction psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, New York.

Alcohol particularly disrupts rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is crucial for cognitive function, memory consolidation and overall restorative sleep. As your body metabolizes alcohol, it can cause you to wake up more frequently throughout the night, interrupting your sleep pattern and reducing overall sleep duration so you wake up feeling less rested.

Hany says that once you stop drinking, you may initially find it more difficult to fall asleep. Your sleep, he says, will be restored gradually during the first four weeks, but after that you’ll sleep more deeply and wake up more rested.

2. You’ll be more hydrated.

As you eliminate alcohol, which causes dehydration, your body will begin to absorb more water, improving the functioning of every organ, including your skin and your brain. Gradually, as cell turnover increases, the damage alcohol may have done will begin to be reversed.

Because alcohol deprives your skin of nutrients, when you stop drinking you may notice that your skin has a healthier glow. You’ll also see fewer wrinkles, less puffiness and an elimination of red blotches. Premature skin aging will subside, and if you have dandruff or eczema, they too may disappear.  

3. You’ll have better liver function.

The liver, your body’s largest internal organ, is a filter for everything you put into it. It aids in digestion, stores minerals and vitamins, regulates blood clotting and eliminates waste. It also helps fight infection, eliminates bacteria from the blood and maintains hormone balance.

Hany says that the ethanol from which alcohol is made is a toxin and that too much can tax, damage and even destroy your liver cells by causing fat to accumulate. If the damage isn’t too great, though, a monthlong break can allow your liver to recover.

4. Inflammation will decrease.

The ethanol in alcohol inflames your liver cells and causes the liver to swell, says Dr. Mohammad Alhabbal, the medical director at AdCare Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Because your liver is connected to your pancreas through biliary ducts, he says, your pancreas will begin to overproduce enzymes and become inflamed, as will your gastrointestinal system, your esophagus and your stomach. Continual inflammation of the organs, he warns, can eventually lead to them shutting down and then shutting off.

In a month’s time, Alhabbal says, inflammation will decrease significantly, and damage can be reversed.

5. You’ll likely lose weight.

If you stop drinking alcohol, you may lose weight. Because alcohol slows down your metabolism, you can easily gain weight when drinking. When your metabolism slows, your body needs to work harder to process fats and sugars. On its own, alcohol is high in sugar and empty calories, and when you add mixers, you’re likely to substantially increase your calorie intake. A 2018 report in BMJ Open noted improvements in insulin resistance in people who abstained from alcohol for one month.

Drinking alcohol tends to decrease your inhibitions, so it’s likely you’ll also eat more junk food. Alcohol enhances the taste of salt and fat. When you stop drinking, not only will you likely consume fewer calories. You’ll also have more energy, and that may even increase your activity level.

6. Your immune system will work better.

Your immune system keeps you healthy. Drinking alcohol weakens that system, making you more vulnerable to infections and diseases. You don’t have to be a regular heavy drinker for alcohol to affect your immune system. If you have five to six drinks in a single session, you can suppress your immune system for up to 24 hours, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.

If you drink regularly, alcohol can also prevent nutrients from feeding your immune system. It also reduces the white blood cells in your body, making it more difficult to fight off disease. In a month’s time, though, your immune system will be able to recover.

7. Your blood pressure will improve.

Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure or hypertension, you might be better off if you stop drinking. According to the American Heart Association, as you age, even one drink a day could raise your blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. 

8. Your mood will improve.

Ethanol is the main ingredient in alcohol. Initially, it tends to calm you, but eventually it leads to hangovers, mood swings, exhaustion and depression. Alcohol also raises cortisol levels in your brain, which increases stress. 

Ironically, the negative emotions you may have wanted to initially suppress when you drink may become heightened. But when you stop using alcohol, you’ll find yourself feeling motivated, and your mood will stabilize. The 2025 report in Alcohol and Alcoholism showed more positive feelings, a higher sense of control and more reported happiness. 

Based in New York, Barbara Sadick is a freelance health journalist. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report and The Washington Post, among other publications.

Source: https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/stop-drinking-for-a-month-benefits/?cmp=EMC-DSM-NLC-OTH-DLY-247401-320001-9895645-NA-01082026-TheDaily-MS3-NA-BTN-C-Health&encparam=leRqPKfOz0MQKWPD6y+gVQZptAEgngkt+6lEE++pYog=

 

The “Westminster Confession of Faith,” Specifically on Baptism

Recently I participated in a Bible class encouraging us ro share the simple, New Testament gospel to those who have “subscribed” to (accepted) various manmade creeds and confessions. We may not realize just how different we are from those who submit to these documents. In order to talk with them and reach them, we must understand the nature of the writings that they accept. One such document is known as the Westminster Confession of Faith (“WCF”).

As Wikipedia notes, “In confessional churches, office-bearers (such as ministers and elders) are required to “subscribe” (or agree) to the church’s confession of faith. In Presbyterian denominations, this is the Westminster Confession of Faith, while in Confessional Lutheranism it is the Book of Concord. The degree to which subscribers are required to agree with the confession varies from denomination to denomination”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessional_subscription

The WCF has received strong, unqualified support from many. Nick Batzig of Ligonier Ministries, which R. C. Sproul founded, writes, “… church history reveals that the Christian church has long perceived a need for creedal doctrinal statements (e.g., the Nicene Creed, the Apostles’ Creed, the Athanasian Creed, etc.). During the era of the Protestant Reformation, there was an increasing need for doctrinal clarity on account of the spurious teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. The Westminster Confession of Faith has long been the most well-known and most frequently appealed to Protestant confession of the seventeenth century. There are numerous reasons why believers should commit to a diligent study of the Westminster Confession of Faith. The first is its historical background; the second, its biblical priority; the third, its doctrinal fidelity; and the fourth, its spiritual applicability. https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/why-read-westminster-confession

It’s important to remember, as we study the Bible with those from these “confessional churches,” that they may (at least to some degree) have accepted such man-made, uninspired declarations of doctrine. So, are such creedal statements as the WCF really that different from the Bible itself?

Yes, in some areas, a confession such as the WCF, the teaching is quite different from the actual words of scripture. In fact, if the WCF simply restated what the Bible itself teaches, the WCF would not be necessary. 

To illustrate the kind of contradictions I find between the WCF and the Bible, I have chosen the section from the WCF on baptism. First I will quote the entire section (with the reference), so that you can read and consider it for yourself. Then I will discuss each numbered point and respond to it. First, here is the word-for-word teaching in the WCF.

Chapter XXVIII—Of Baptism

1.  Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, (Matt. 28:19) not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church; (1 Cor. 12:13) but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, (Rom. 4:11, Col. 2:11–12) of his ingrafting into Christ, (Gal. 3:27, Rom. 6:5) of regeneration, (Tit. 3:5) of remission of sins, (Mark 1:4) and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:3–4) Which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world. (Matt. 28:19–20)

2.  The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the Gospel, lawfully called thereunto. (Matt. 3:11, John 1:33, Matt. 28:19–20)

3.  Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but Baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person. (Heb. 9:10, 19–22, Acts 2:41, Acts 16:33, Mark 7:4)

4.  Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, (Mark 16:15–16, Acts 8:37–38) but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized. (Gen. 17:7–8, Gal. 3:9, 14, Col. 2:11–12, Acts 2:38–39, Rom. 4:11–12, 1 Cor. 7:14, Matt. 28:19, Mark 10:13–16, Luke 18:15)

5.  Although it be a great sin to condemn or neglect this ordinance, (Luke 7:30, Exod. 4:24–26) yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it: (Rom. 4:11, Acts 10:2, 4, 22, 31, 45, 47) or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated. (Acts 8:13, 23)

6.  The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; (John 3:5, 8) yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in His appointed time. (Gal. 3:27, Tit. 3:5, Eph. 5:25–26, Acts 2:38, 41)

7.  The sacrament of Baptism is but once to be administered unto any person. (Tit. 3:5) [1]

Now I will review and respond to each of these numbered paragraphs one by one.

1. A “sacrament” is defined as “a sign or symbol of a spiritual reality”. This word is not found in the New Testament (“NT”), nor is baptism ever called a sign or a symbol in the Bible itself.

The WCF views baptism as a sign or seal of a prior covenant relationship that one already has with God. Because Old Testament (“OT”) circumcision was such a sign and seal for Abraham (Rom 4:11), the WCF claims that baptism fulfills the same role in the NT. The passage cited, Col 2:11-12, does not refer to baptism as a sign or seal of a previous covenant relationship with God. It simply notes that, while OT circumcision was the removal of the flesh, in baptism God by grace removes one’s personal sins.

2. The WCF is correct in noting that the element in which baptism occurs is water. However, note the scriptures that are excluded. These include “born again of water and spirit (John 3:3-5)”, the Ethiopian beginning to rejoice after his baptism (Acts 8:26-40), the mention of “washing away sins” with baptism (Acts 22:16), and “the washing of rebirth (Tit 3:5)”. These scriptures connect baptism with one’s actual, personal rebirth and reception of the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

The WCF says that one is to be baptized by “a minister of the Gospel, lawfully called thereunto”. This statement implies that those who are not "official" ("ordained") ministers are not authorized to baptize. The scriptures noted (Matt. 3:11, John 1:33, Matt. 28:19–20) do not state any such limitation or restriction.

3. The WCF dictates that dipping (immersion) in water as the mode of baptism is not necessary, but that it’s equally right simply to pour or sprinkle water on an individual. Read each of the sources that are cited in paragraph 3. Not one of these biblical texts describes baptism as a pouring or sprinkling of water.

Heb 9:10 … since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

Heb 9:19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Ac 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

Ac 16:33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

Mk 7:4 (… and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.)

There is nothing in these scriptures that authorizes pouring or sprinkling for baptism. Rather, the WCF authors drew inferences that were not actually stated in the Bible. Why? Look at history.

The practice of sprinkling or pouring water on infants was first introduced by the Roman Catholic Church. The Protestant Reformers (such as John Calvin and Martin Luther) were formerly Catholics, already accustomed to this practice. 

However, John Calvin, a recognized authority in churches influenced by the WCF, insisted that "the term baptize means to immerse, and that this was the form used by the primitive Church." See the fuller quotation and citation here:

“Whether the person baptized is to be wholly immersed, and that whether once or thrice, or whether he is only to be sprinkled with water, is not of the least consequence: churches should be at liberty to adopt either according to the diversity of climates, although it is evident that the term baptize means to immerse, and that this was the form used by the primitive Church”. (John Calvin and Henry Beveridge, Institutes of the Christian Religion, vol. 3 (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1845), 344).

So, Calvin understood that the Greek term baptize meant to immerse! He further knew that the first-century church practiced immersion as “the” form of baptism! Yet he also said that the mode of baptism was “not of the least consequence” and that “churches should be at liberty to adopt either (mode)”. Calvin in effect overruled the Bible’s clear teaching on immersion. 

Hence lies a root problem of manmade confessions such as the WCF. These confessions take the conclusions of fallible men and then write them in stone. Leaders in these confessional churches are then required to “subscribe to” (agree with) them.

Here's a significant irony. The Protestant movement, in opposition to Catholicism's human traditions, initially declared its emphtic commitment to sola scriptura (the authority of “scripture alone”). Yet the Protestants went on to create their own additional traditions and authorities! They wrote and relied upon uninspired confessions – not scripture alone – to define further their beliefs and practices.

One more thought. If the NT actually did authorize pouring and/or sprinkling for baptism, there would be no controversy. But it does not. The same is true of the next claim made by the WCF, that infants of one or more believing parents are to be baptized.

4. Read the scriptures cited in support of infant baptism. These include Gen. 17:7–8, Gal. 3:9, 14, Col. 2:11–12, Acts 2:38–39, Rom. 4:11–12, 1 Cor. 7:14, Matt. 28:19, Mark 10:13–16, and Luke 18:15. If any of these scriptures, even one, clearly taught that infants are to be baptized – and only the infant children of believing parents! – that would settle the question. There is no such scripture. For that reason, confessions such as the WCF were designed to declare and enforce beliefs and practices that were not clearly taught in the Bible.

Based on their mistaken belief that NT baptism was parallel to OT circumcision in every way except one* (see below), the WCF authors actually used Gen 17:7-8 to justify infant baptism. Since circumcision was administered to every newborn male as a sign of the covenant, they surmised that baptism fulfilled the same purpose in the NT.

In this way, they disconnected baptism from personal faith, personal repentance, and personal confession of Jesus Christ. None of these elements was to them a necessary part of baptism, because these elements were not necessary for OT circumcision.

*Obviously, OT circumcision was only for males. If NT baptism were parallel, it would logically follow that only newborn males are to be baptized. This discrepancy is not resolved or even mentioned in the WCF.

The WCF maintains that it is a “great sin” to “neglect this ordinance” (of baptism). This is based in part on Ex 4:24-26, which notes that Moses had failed to circumcise his son. Again, this is based on the alleged circumcision/baptism parallel. Ironically, for Moses not to circumcise his son was not just a “great sin;” it was a matter of life or death! The parallel with baptism – if it were accurate – would necessarily mean that baptism is also a matter of life or death.

5. However, the WCF, in the very next paragraph, denies that baptism is necessary for one to be regenerated or saved. Strangely, it cites the record of the conversion of Cornelius in Acts 10, in which God took extraordinary steps to show Peter and his companions that Cornelius and his companions had to be baptized. After the Holy Spirit fell miraculously, Peter recognizes this necessity. He says, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:47-48).

By citing Acts 8:13, 23, the WCF implies that Simon the sorcerer, though he believed and was baptized, was not actually saved at that point. Why not? After he was baptized, he sinned so as to be back in “the bondage of iniquity.” In other words, according to the WCF, if Simon had truly been regenerated, he could not have been later bound by his personal sin.

6. The sixth paragraph is hard to process, at least for me. It mentions the “efficacy” of baptism, but how can a mere “sign” or “seal” (as previously claimed) baptism have any real efficacy? Then the WCF says that this “efficacy” is not tied to the moment at which one is baptized. Yet it also says, “by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost.” So, the “efficacy” seems to be “the grace promised” to one who is baptized. In that case, the WCF connects the reception of God’s grace to baptism! Yet the WCF had just said that baptism was not necessary! So this one left me confused.

7. In the final paragraph, the WCF says that one is to be baptized only once. Read carefully the scripture cited. It is an important one.

Tit 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit …

Note the words “on the basis of” and “by”. God saves us according to his mercy to sinners, not “on the basis of” our own righteous deeds. Nothing we do pays any part of our salvation. It comes based on God’s grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

While God saved only and always “one the basis of” his mercy, note the “by”. God saves us “by” the washing of regeneration (new birth) and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” The WCF is correct in seeing this as a reference to baptism.

So, why don’t we all set aside the WCF (and other confessions and creeds) as an authoritative document and just go back to the Bible teaching about baptism? It’s simple. It’s clear. It’s from God and not man.

Acts 22:16 “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”

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^[1] The Westminster Confession of Faith (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996).