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A summer leadership opportunity to confe estled in a ridge of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, lies a century-old hotel called The Summit. Lacking elevators and air-conditioning, The Summit was my home for two weeks this summer. I, along with 182 young adults, had gone there to attend a Christian leadership camp and learn how to deal with college professors and fellow students who may challenge our faith. The morning hours were spent in the classroom. Lectures were given by a variety of conservative professors and speakers. Topics ranged from Augustine and Pelagious to Relativism to The Biblical Christian Worldview. After digesting a heavy courseload in the morning, we’d break for lunch. Then after a mid-afternoon lecture, we were free to go do what we wanted. The majority of young adults at The Summit were nondenominational Christians. Once they learned that I was a Missouri Synod Lutheran, they were very interested in debating the subjects of Baptism and Holy Communion. Much time was spent on the hotel’s front porch discussing whether Baptism was merely a symbol or a means of grace. One of the young men that I got to know through daily discussions over Baptism finally told me one day that he believed I was going straight to hell. He said because I hadn’t personally asked Christ to dwell in my heart, I most certainly was not a Christian. When the two of us continued to argue over what Baptism is, I couldn’t use the words of Martin Luther in my response. The man would only accept the biblical references I had to support my beliefs. Luther’s Small Catechism was definitely out of the question! The debate between us grew until we were writing each other notes in class, trying to prove our point to one another. I passed him a note with Romans 6:3-5 written on it,“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ
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