Educated observers do know that words have meaning. Educated observers are also trained to cut through the crap, make reasonable interpretations, and understand that actions speak louder than words and people don't always mean precisely what they say.
My comment really has nothing to do with KeithE and Todd Wilson.
I'll be the first to admit that my exact argument is not original. Educated observers, you know, the ones who believe words have meaning and all that jazz, have already made the Alexander Campbell association.
In one of your original comments, you wrote about the folks with "high standards" for baptism. Those are the same folks who have affirmed the new IMB guidelines. Maybe when you speak of "folks with high standards" you had others in mind. But, it is those with "high standards" who have led the SBC to become make new rules regarding baptism about and beyond simple Believer's Baptism by immersion. For instance, my cousin could never be an IMB missioanry (though she was a journeyman in Botswana quite recently) because she was baptized an authentic Arminian.
Now, such a heavy emphasis on baptism does leave more than a few with the impression that perhaps baptism is not just a symbol but in fact has some type of salvific quality. Sigh all day. That doesn't mean my argument is not a serious one.
Ed wrote: "Well said Jonathan, except, I am not sure that either this board or the site itself are dominated by egalitarian folk. Aaron Weaver nor KeithE, for example, seem to consider all to be their equal.
"
Now, talk about lazy argumentation.