Jump Start # 4085
Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word of deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past
Baptism: Indian Style
James Mathes (1808-1892) was one of Indiana’s most productive and famous gospel preachers. He peached primarily in the Bedford, Gosport and Bloomington areas. He edited a paper entitled The Christian Record, for a period of 40 years.
Near the close of his life, he wrote his life story “for the use of his children when he is no more.”
The following section comes from Mathes’ autobiography:
“At this time (1821) the Indians were very plenty all over the country. The Delawares had sold their lands, and were preparing to go west, into what was then Arkansas Territory (now Kansas) where the government had given them lands in exchange for their lands in Indiana. We saw them almost every day, and sometimes dozens at a time would come to our camp to get something to eat, or to shoot at a mark. They were very friendly and harmless and I believe as a general thing very honest. In the fall of 1821, the large body of the nation (Delaware) with their principal chief whose name was “Silk Amos” on their way to Kansas encamped at the mouth of Indian Creek about a half mile above where Gosport now stands. Here they remained to hunt and rest for some two weeks. Their camp was only about a mile from ours, and we frequently visited each other.
One day while my father and I with several other whites were on a friendly visit to the Indian camp, the young chief “Silk Amos” proposed by signs, that we should wrestle. We were about the same size and age. I consented and in the presence of the multitude I threw him down every contest, until I had thrown him some six or eight times, without getting a single fall myself. Then his father, the old chief, proposed to my father that we should run a footrace. To this my father consented, and so informed me, and requested me to run. This I did not like so well, as I felt pretty certain that he could out run me. I had heard the other Indians speak of him, as the champion racer of the nation. I had run with several of their fast men, and had out run one of the best of them, but I rather dreaded this man. However, I consented to run with him as I was accustomed to foot racing, and could out run any one that I knew of. The day for the race was set some time ahead that the Indians might get in from their hunting excursions.
The day came, and several thousand Indians were present, and all the whites of the neighborhood who could to see the race, were on hand. The race course was two parallel paths 120 yards in length running parallel with White River, and near the north banks from the mouth of Indian Creek east and in sight of the bluff on which Gosport now stands. All things being in readiness, at the drop of the hat we started, he getting a little head at the start.
All that vast dusky crowd were silent as the grave, till we had run over half the distance, when I passed him, and even lost sight of him from my side. And I turned my head to look for him when he suddenly stopped and gave up the race. At this moment, that stable crowd, sent up the most unearthly shout that I ever heard, and which was head at our camp, for miles around. I had outrun this celebrated young chief and was therefore the lion for the time being. I was at once surrounded by the Indians who with their hands made a close inspections of all my limbs, and muscles; then taking me upon their shoulders they carried me in triumph around their camp.
The same afternoon, I was chosen to be a chief of the Delaware nations, and a committee went up to our camp to notify me of the fact and invite me down to the Indian camp to be adopted into the tribe. And as an inducement, the committee made me the following proposition: “If you will go with us and be our chief, we will make you much rich. You may select a tract of land and make your own. We will give you heap money and heap squaws.”
But this proposition I did not accept of course. And two other committees were sent up to confer with me, before they gave it up. I inquired of them what the ceremony of adoption was among them, and was informed that it consisted of the following acts:
1. The person to be adopted must declare his intention of renouncing the pale face, and of becoming an Indian.
2. He is taken down into the river, or some other place were there is much water and immersed. In this he puts off the pale face, and puts on the Indian character. He goes down into the water a pale face, but comes up an Indian. This ceremony with its significance has no doubt been borrowed from Christianity through the teaching of some of the early missionaries.” (Life of Elder James Madison Mathes, written by himself. Manuscript pg. 24-26).
It is very apparent that these Indians of well over a hundred and seventy years ago, understood some concepts about baptism that many today have denied.
Baptism requires much water. Bible baptism is an immersion or a burial (Rom 6:4 “Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into his death”; Acts 8:38 “and he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water.”)
Baptism is the transition from the old life in the new life. A believer repents and determines to end their sinful ways. They are baptized t wash away those sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16). They are raised or resurrected to a new person (Rom 6:4b “as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life”). One goes down into the water a sinner and comes up out of the water a Christian.
Baptism is necessary for entrance into Christ (Gal 3;27 “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ”). Without baptism one is not in Christ.
Roger
September, 1995