Expert: Dean Gade - 2/13/2008

Question
Hi, I was reading through the questions and saw a question about baptizing in Jesus name.  http://en.allexperts.com/q/Lutherans-956/baptism-Jesus-name.htm
I am in a similar situation, although we already have two children and recently joined an LCMS congregation.  My wife spoke to the Pastor and he is unwilling to baptize in Jesus name, bc it is violating hundreds of years of church tradition (although that's what they they described in Acts).  What do we do?  Should we go elsewhere to baptize our daughters?  He said he would accept a baptism as valid, but he would not do it.  I'm very upset over this.  And the more research I do, it seems that there is question about the early church doing it exactly as Jesus said in Matthew, but rather did it as they did in Acts.  
Thank you, Kevin

Answer
"Traditions" can be very enslaving to each Christian as well as to whole congregations and organizations.   Jesus often chided the church leaders (Pharisee, Scribes, etc) for paying more attention to traditions of man rather than to God and His Word.

I can't give you an answer to your question.  You will have to do as your conscience leads you according to what God has said in His Word.

We are baptized into Christ and not into any denomination or tradition. The exact words used do not seem to make a great difference because we see that different words are even used for baptism in the Bible.

I would suggest that you do what gives you peace with God ....and with others.  Baptism is for our benefit and should not be the cause of strife among believers.