the church as the bride of Christ, F. LaGard Smith presents baptism as the believer's wedding ceremony with Christ. The result is a sublime view of baptism far surpassing traditional notions of dutiful obedience and magic-like ideas of baptismal regeneration. Through the wedding analogy, baptism is elevated to a personal proclamation of love and loyalty through which true spiritual conversion is given meaning and vitality. Baptism: The Believer's Wedding Ceremony is the most compelling book on the subject of baptism in recent years. More important, its sobering message about the crying need for personal faith and commitment provides the key for re-establishing a vibrant church in our time.