Theologically, Christianity is considered a teaching religion with its fundamentals on Lord’s revelation through the scriptures. This revelation discloses the character of God and His ways. The religion reveals Gods teaching capacity and directs the biblical institutions into the teaching mission. Integrating baptismal teaching as one of the essential elements is a command by Jesus Christ in the bible to his Disciples. (1 peter 3:15) Examining the baptism criteria in Old Testament and New Testament provide foundation for the teachers to understand it’s imperative functioning in the teaching fraternity .
Baptism refers to spiritual purification or consecration using plenty water. The rite originated in the Old Testament to symbolize cleansing from sin and commitment to God. In New Testament the practice was inaugurated by John the Baptist who was sent by Lord to be the forerunner of Lamb Jesus Christ (John 1:33). This is referred as the baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins.
While teaching the subject of baptism, it is important to spell to the audience its exact origin, purpose and intention. It is important to spell out that baptism identifies Christians to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mathew 28:19; Col 2:11-12). Second baptism is an obedience act of a believer to Gods call. It is an act of repentance from our sins and ushering to the Holy Spirit dispensation be observed in the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). Finally, baptism symbolizes public testimony on confession of the inner being or identification with Jesus Christ. In brief, Christians it identifies as one family. This will ensure that the entire domains of the learner are developed.
In Old Testament where the initial dispensation occurred, God imparted the teaching of baptism to priests, prophets, and Christians in a number of ways. The broadest meaning of baptism is to complete the salvation process. During the creation period, the Lords spirit hovered in the face of waters to reveal the power of word (Genesis 1:1-2, John 1:1-5). This shows the first Gods creation foreshadowing the new creation, a clear interpretation that when all the earth’s elements were in place, primordial waters were responsible for the life of its inhabitants.
The most common injunction to prophets of the law in Old Testament to baptism is found in deliverance of Noah and his entire generation using the ark, Mosaic law distinctively provided the difference between what is clean and unclean (Leviticus 13-15). Furthermore, Ezekiel in his teachings, mentions anointing with oil and washing with water, as a practical way through which Jerusalem could receive salvation. Likewise, the practical situation of the Naaman Commander is linked to baptism. The liberation of the Israelites from the slavery in Egypt across red sea continuous to announce the various types of baptisms experienced in Old Testament ( 1 Corinthians 10;1-2).
In New Testament through His teachings, Jesus reminds his disciples that he came tom accomplish the law and not to disapprove it in any way. His reminds his disciples to follow all that He has commanded (Mathew 28: 20). Through his gospel, He tells them to make disciples and baptize them in His name. Close examination of Peters teaching on the Pentecost day where they were in a vigil, there are several communication facts on Baptism and its precise practice (Acts 2:14-47). Peter comprehensively teaches the baptism to his audience. He provides information, evidence, and facts on Baptism (cognitive). He arouses the emotional response of the onlookers (affective) and finally, calls for repenting and baptism (behavioral). These masterfully demonstrate how peter carried out the teaching on baptism by transforming it from evangelical mode to an educational mode.
The early Christian churches were devoted members in performing the exercise. These include the Jews, Pauline Christianity, and Gnostic Christianity among others (John 3:5; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3: 21). Typically, they were performing it in river, stream, or lake and this was marked as an important landmark in Christian lives. Scriptures suggest that individuals who had attained a specific age and accepted Christ in their lives only could perform baptism. Although, the disciples of Jesus in numerous occasions baptized people the bible does not record even single occasion where Jesus baptized others .
Proper in-depth teaching on baptism through it fundamentals is believed to result into a thrilling life transforming message, with far reaching gospel impact. Baptism evangelism and education are conjoined together to form a dynamic team that is powerful and inseparable. Paul, peter and others demonstrated this in most of their writings on the subject in several situations. The test baptism learning situation is to change knowledge, skill, values and attitudes of the trainees because of experience (James 1: 22-24). All these transmit the basic obvious truth that baptism in Christianity is relayed through sequential teaching .
With the constant need for every generation to have a complete knowledge on baptism, today’s educational generations have trudge hopelessly in despair of relativism and pluralism. The popular thought on the baptism subject have replaced the absolute truth. Though Christianity is occupying about two third of the world population, there is different doctrinal understanding on the subject on the people. Denominations widely vary on their teachings towards baptism. Some denomination purely believes that baptism is mean to cleanse sins and other rituals; others believe it is exorcism from evil spirits, while the rest actually believe it as a vital step of Christian walk. This degenerative method of teaching the subject discards the true intention of baptism to Christians today.
Furthermore, the flaw in this teaching this subject to modern audience roots in different doctrinal understanding. While many teachers usually try o provide the exact emphasis on the true meaning of baptism, audience assess the effectiveness of the subject by rhetoric, enthusiasm, and volume . This makes most of the instructors to scratch their mind on the subject matter. We hope that a proper exposition of the subject will provide the intended scriptural function.
Both in education and religious context, teachers must use clear procedure of developing the baptism topic to the audience. All the domains, cognitive, affective and behavioral alteration should be the main drive, just like in the New Testament were Blind Bartimeaus, Martha, Peter and Paul had it. The great commission of making disciples by baptizing them in Christ name is all about transformation.
In summary, teaching is innovative for the doctrinal understanding of the gospel. To provide clear attention to baptism teaching on education sector, the curriculum designed should fully expose the subject content. Teachers also require enough support for effectiveness, elaborate new church models should be used with emphasis on developing the domains in accomplishing the great commission.
Phenomenological Approach
We must begin by saying that you should determine what the phenomenology of religion, and what is its status in the context of religious studies. Explaining yourself what the phenomenology of religion, we must look at the overall history of religious studies and history at the very phenomenology of religion, and how it is that phenomenology of religion was one of the five major disciplines of religious studies (Nsw 2005).
The idea of author incorporated into the science of religion, and without the knowledge and the desire of the R. Otto, it is starting to call phenomenology of religion. Such cases in the history of any science we meet quite often. For example, we can recall the case of Martin Heidegger, whom Jean Persistently called existentialist Sartre and Heidegger persistently, refused such a determination. However, in many textbooks can read that Heidegger is the existentialist philosopher. That is, despite the fact that Heidegger himself did not associate themselves to any school in philosophy, at some point the view that Heidegger - existentialist, becomes predominant. Just as Heidegger was an existentialist, R. Otto was phenomenology of religion.
It turns out that we take a view, and then begins the process of secondary reflection: first, to any destination in the phenomenology of religion, and then the period to which the development of the phenomenology of religion is this or that thinker. That is, opinion we accept as fact, and then based on this fact, someone somewhere trying to carry and "classify". Thus, an understanding of what the phenomenology of religion is based on such facts, which were originally opinions and phenomenology of religion - those whom someone once "called" as such.
The second thing to clarify is a "relationship" so-called philosophy of phenomenology and the phenomenology of religion. The phenomenology of religion as a trend as a line of research that are earlier than phenomenology (Nsw 2005).
His next step was to try to show how it is possible to apply his knowledge of the scheme to the scientific knowledge (that knowledge, which is the highest level of confidence). Accordingly, the phenomenology may well be applicable to the study of religion.
The first thing to say - it is necessary to distinguish between the phenomenology of religion, and the phenomenological approach to religious studies. Phenomenology of religion, in author’s opinion, should be considered as an auxiliary discipline, along with the sociology of religion, psychology, religion, geography, religion, etc. Among them should be allocated to the two basic disciplines - the theory of religion or religious studies and theoretical history of religion or historical study of religion.
Educational Approach
Based on what is understood as the goal of saving mission of Christ, can be considered to interpret the consequent other aspects of the Christian faith, and in particular the Sacrament of Baptism.
It should be noted immediately that the unity in thinking about the sacrifice of Christ in Christian theology there. When considering the dogmatic religious systems, we find a significant difference of opinion on the meaning of atonement for the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. These differences are not in some small details, but pass on the basics of doctrine concerning the most intimate interpersonal relationship between man and God. According to author, the extremes in the West are not random - they are the natural conclusion of the false start of the main. It is therefore necessary first to reject this fundamental principle (educational conception of life), and only then, independently, by setting out to explore the truth. Thus, in the opinion of the future patriarch, that the educational approach in interpreting the Christian doctrinal truths in Western theology and was one of the causes of dogmatic differences (Nsw 2005).
Thus, images and symbols are used, but not the educational approach is built solid relationships with God, in the West, the educational approach develops into a well-oiled system, imprinted in the minds of dogmatic and fixed councilor definitions. Therefore, comparing the Holy Fathers and the educational view of the sacrament of baptism, it is necessary to compare the system, not the individual statements that do not reflect a holistic view of the problem. Therefore, before you come directly to the doctrine of the Sacrament of Baptism, we consider what the fundamental differences in key theological concepts like original sin, sacrifice of the Cross-and the relationship of grace and free will.
Catechesis Approach
Question of catechesis today remains one of the most talked about not only within the Church but also outside it. Undeniable fact that the vast majority consider themselves as belonging to the Orthodox Church but despite this, Orthodoxy remains in teacher’s minds as something of national traditional, conventional, granted (Nsw 2005).
Naturally, in this vein, the question of baptism is most acute: baptize want to be baptized with the majority, but to do it consciously, knowing the degree of responsibility is a desired units (Nsw 2005).
In order to maintain at least a minimum catechetical activity of the majority of the dioceses of the it has been introduced mandatory catechetical talks before taking the sacrament of baptism. Naturally, most people used to build their lives, based on commodity-money relations have taken this "news" negatively, accusing the Church of formalism or even a "creepy old-fashioned" when the priest refused to perform the sacrament of baptism over the man who violate ethical standards (for example, in living fornication).
In this important and primary task is to help the catechist catechumen’s part with false hopes, and find true faith. The participants also discussed important issues of personal motivation cleric in catechesis and identifying the concept of normal church life, which, in fact, determines the timing and methods of catechesis, as well as the degree of a person's readiness to take the Sacrament of Baptism.
References
Banister, D. (2002). Word and Power Church: What Happens When a Church Seeks All God Has to Offer. Zondervan pub. pp. 1-208
Deere, J. (1996). Surprised by the Power of the Spirit: Discovering how God Speaks and Heals Today. Zondervan Pub.pp.1-302
Grudem, W. A. (1994). Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Inter-Varsity Press.pp. 1-126
John R. Rice. (1949). The Power of Pentecost or the Fullness of the Spirit. Wheaton, Illinois: Sword of the Lord Publishers. pp.1-441
Pettegrew, L. D. (2001). The New Covenant Ministry of the Holy Spirit. Kregel Academic publishers. pp.10-243
Torrey, R. A. (2006). The Baptism With the Holy Spirit. Kessinger Publishing. pp. 1-80
Nsw, S. (2005). Studies of Religion Syllabus. Studies of Religion Stage 6 Syllabus, (April), 1–53.
