My wife grew up having ice cream every night; I didn't. So, marriage has been an adjustment for both of us. Over the years we have "met in the middle" so to speak and now we have ice cream in the evenings a couple of times a week. Compromise is the stuff that working marriages have are made of. Like most things with human beings, life is complicated, with a lot of things that are said without being said or actions not being performed witch say a lot. A good example of this is a statement by our current president who last January encouraged those engaged in political rhetoric to be "civil" and tone the language down a bit. Now, Labor day rolls around and members of his own party get nasty towards the "tea party" and when his speech follows this bit of not so veiled aggression, he say NOTHING. Humm, that says a lot doesn't it? Sometimes, you can say a lot by omission; here is a prime example.
WEB: Mark Chapter 16
[11] When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved. [12] After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. [13] They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either.
[14] Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen. [15] He said to them, "“Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. [16] He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
What does it mean to believe in Jesus? Is it just an acknowledgement of his existence or perhaps realizing he was a wonderful man or a great teacher? How about mentally accepting the fact that HE is God's son, or that HE is the only way to establish true fellowship with God? Good, you already believe this...great!!! However, take a close look at verse 16. Belief and disbelieve are contrasted, with results for both actions. One way results in salvation, the other leads to condemnation. Most rational persons would naturally want salvation and not condemnation. Yet, there many who refuse to accept the fact that true belief is linked to baptism. Why, because someone has told them it is unnecessary. Wrong, notice the "and" which links belief and baptism together. This makes it part of the definition and to accept otherwise is simply a willful misinterpretation of the text. Its kind of like the Baskin-Robbins sign above. It tells you who there are by what they offer - 31 flavors. Don't be deceived, if you truly believe in Jesus... do something about it... be baptized. You will be glad you did!!!