If you know your Bible, think of Naaman as an example of resisting temptation to put nationalism over baptism. Baptism in Jordan river? When he had rivers galore back in his own country? But seven times in the Jordan he dipped himself and was made whole. The body of Christ is stretched across countries not your own, even countries you despise or shun. Yet baptism is baptism into the whole, one, single body of Christ. Will national identity blind you to the whole body, with which the Lord’s Supper unites each believer? You have to make an exception to national sentiments in the case of the body of Christ. Christ and his whole body, of which he is the one head, they come as a package. Love is commanded towards all. The Lord’s Supper is void without recognising this. Why risk being blinded to it? Naaman’s servant told him, Why risk losing the healing if you shun an easy thing like this? If it were something difficult required by the prophet you would do it. Naaman gave in and was dipped seven times in the Jordan river, foreign to him, but identified with God, and he was healed. Baptism into Christ involves acceptance of foreign churches as all one in Christ, but this is what is on offer, identifying us with Christ and his Father, God, but also with his united body. It is permanent unity. But it is the salvation heaven is offering. Take it. With faith in Lord Jesus Christ.
