New Year's Eve Baptism?

Here is an email I received from the South Carolina Baptist Convention today:

"Dear Church Leader,

New Year’s Eve falls on Sunday this year, and it’s quickly approaching. Have you planned your New Year’s Eve service? We are challenging every church in the South Carolina Baptist Convention to hold a baptismal service on December 31. What if you don’t have anyone to baptize that Sunday? We are praying that you will. But if you don’t, plan to emphasize baptism and the need to share the life transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Visit www.baptismcelebration.org to print or e-mail baptism invitation cards, read a model sermon, get ideas from several model worship services, download a church prayer guide, and view other helps."

Now, I don't want everyone to think that I am bad-mouthing the convention, but really, what is the point of this? This email states that they are 'challenging' every church in the state convention to hold a baptismal service on Dec. 31. Challenging? Just who are they challenging? Are they challenging the Spirit of God? Are they challenging His church to move in a way that may be against God's will?

Our church currently has several baptism candidates. We most certainly could talk one of them into being baptized on New Year's Eve if we wanted to do so. But what is the purpose of that?

"Hey, brother, we want you to be baptized on Dec. 31."

"Ok...why?"

"Um...I really don't know. The convention wants us to do this."

Maybe I'm missing something here. Sometimes I feel that the convention puts a little too much emphasis on baptism rather then salvation. The act of baptism is just that - it is an act. Is this some kind of final push to have good baptism numbers for 2006? Maybe they have looked at the baptisms and they are down this year. Since we all judge success in ministry by the number of baptisms (heavy sarcasm), we must make sure we get those numbers.

Anyone can see the problems associated with putting number goals on baptisms. The convention is filled with people who were baptized too early or baptized in ignorance who consequently, had to be baptized again when they realized that they were baptized the first time were not regenerate.

Baptism is a very important act. In fact it is one of the two ordinances that our convention recognizes. Because it is so important, and holy, I am going to let the baptismal candidate inform the church on when he would like to be baptized. If he is truly born-again, he will realize that the act of baptism is important and he will let us know when he feels comfortable professing his faith. And, guess what, maybe it'll be New Year's Eve. The state convention sure hopes so. Why? I have no idea.