I find reading Karl Dahfred’s posts on Gospel work and its implications in Thai culture informative and thought-provoking, particularly when I think about how the issues raised translate back into western culture.
Here he deals with why a decision to be a Christian could be considered okay, but submitting to baptism would not.
That is because baptism is understood as being more significant and binding than a personal decision.

The objection was not uncommon. I recently received an email from an American college professor requesting advice for a Thai student of his who had recently become a Christian. The student’s Buddhist mother back in Thailand was greatly upset about her son’s decision. But she would be okay with his new faith under one condition. He didn’t get baptized.
Read the rest of the post here.