The Role of Water Baptism in the Discipleship Process

This article focuses on how evangelical churches in general, notably in Croatia, view the role and position of water baptism in the discipleship process. However, the relationship between baptism and discipleship will serve as an opportunity to examine other aspects of the discipleship process, primarily the link between evangelism and discipleship. Hence, in the first part of the article, we will briefly discuss and examine some key elements of the Great Commission to get a sense of it and see different interpretations and understandings of that text. Second, based on the Gospels, we will see how Jesus’ followers would understand and define discipleship based on their experience with Jesus and how that experience shaped their understanding of the Great Commission. Third, we will discuss the relationship (or, better to say, current dichotomy) between “evangelism” and “discipleship” and argue for an understanding of these two activities that is, I would suggest, more faithful to the NT texts. Finally, we will discuss the role and position of water baptism in the discipleship process. Since the purpose of this discussion is to evaluate the theology and practice of evangelicals regarding a better understanding of water baptism and, consequently, the discipleship process in general, four things are proposed: 1. Adoption of a definition of discipleship that in its core, has relationships and not a method or program or activities; 2. Revision of understanding of the relationship between “evangelism” and “discipleship”; 3. A reminder that the purpose of evangelism is to make “disciples” and not “converts”; 4. Restoration of the biblical position of water baptism as a person’s response or their saying “yes” to the gospel message.