Baptism

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I'd like to hear what your policies are for when you baptize someone. Is there an age that is too young. Does a person have to go through a course before baptism? Do you baptize as soon as they say that's what they want and then go through a course? What do you do?

God bless, Scott

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2002

Answers

Scott as for me I am not a great advocate for baptizing small children,Jesus told us to consider the cost.How can a small child consider the cost.Also I find no refrence to any children being baptized.Jesus also told Nicodemus that a man must be born again,a man implies one who is of age.All conversions I read about in Acts were adults.Also there is only one place in God's word where He passed judgement on His people solely according to age.It is when the children of Israel were in the wilderness no one from age 20 and up could enter the promissed land.It seems that according to this that God judged that untill 20 years old you were not accountable.Even in this country it used to be that you had to be 21 to vote one of maturity then they changed it to 18 and the country has went down hill.I know this may not be popular with most but a child cannot make choices when they cannot comprehend all that is involved.We would not marry children but this is more important than a natural marriage.Also Peter told us in Acts 2:38 to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.One must first bring fruit of repentance there are some who were baptized and went into the water a dry sinner and came up wet sinners.Also I find no place where any one prior to baptizm stood in front of the church and said "I believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God" this is a tradition in most churches.Your public confession is out in the world to let your light show any one can make that statement in front of people who believebut it is our every day life that is our public confession when we share the Gosple to the outside world ond confess Jesus Christ to the lost.Also Philip told the ethiopian eunic when he asked "what hinders me to be baptized" he was told "If you believe with all your heart you may be baptized" that tells me the same faith that Jesus spoke of when he said if we believe with all our heart and doubt not we can say to the mountain be removed and cast into the sea it shall be done is the same faith needed to recieve salvation.One should make sure that the one wishing to be baptized is fully aware of what it really takes to be a Christian. Chuck Williams

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2002

Scott,

I don't have any specific age, but the person has to understand the decision he/she is making. For those that are in junior high or lower we take them through some material Standard publishing put out a number of years ago (the name escapes me at the moment). There are three sessions, but we usually do it in one and it takes about an hour. By the time you're done, you have no doubt whether the child knows what decision they are making or not. If I feel they are not, I'll tell the parents this away from the child's presence. I've never had it happen, but if the parent thought the child was ready and I did not, I think I'd have to go with the parent's instinct. I've always been uncomfortable making a decision concerning whether the Holy Spirit is leading someone to make a commitment or not. I would hate to discourage them when they were simply responding to a conviction God had given them.

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2002


As one who became a Christian at age 6, I have never discouraged children who wanted to become a Christian. Having said that, I will explain my position.

When a parent first comes to me and says their child is talking about it, I will ask the parent to ask the child a few questions about becoming a christian and then wait to see if the child asks more questions later. IF the child does, then I will talk to the child. If the child does not, then we know the child is not ready. When I talk to the child, I go through the scriptures with them. As I go through, I have the child read each one and we discuss the meaning of each verse. As we talk, I share a diagram and add scripture. When we are finished with our session, the child has the diagram and the scriptures. He or she is instructed to go home and reread the passages, preferably with someone and to also read the verses that are around the specific text. The child is instructed to come talk to me, when they are sure that they are ready.

From my experience, I believe that a child who is persistent in asking, and is willing to do the study that is requested of them over a period of time, is ready to receive Christ.

Aside from children, I usually will not baptize someone until I have counseled with them. The time is spent going over scriptures and sharing an understanding of life time commitment. I have often considered doing a new life in christ class, prior to baptism. As in make disciples and then baptize.

My question is format. Why do some raise their hand before dunking the person? What is the difference in baptizing them in Jesus name or in the name of the father son and holy spirit? Some people have made real issue of this.

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2002


Scott,

There have been a lot of great insights expressed already on this page. My response will attempt to address some other angles concerning this issue.

There is a fundamental theological question (unresolved in the restoration movement) that directly influences our thinking regarding the proper age for baptism. The question has to do with what we believe concerning the classic dogma of “original sin”. I must confess that my position on this issue may be categorized by some as borderline pelagian, which would be an unfair characterization. While I believe that all human beings are born in complete innocence, that does not mean that I believe that man can pull himself up by his “own boot straps”, so to speak. Both Calvinists and Arminians seem to choose to ignore the reality of the “god of this world” – i.e. the devil. It is his capacity to seduce each and every one of us that entraps us in the downward spiral of rebellion against God. God only holds us accountable for our actions when we have done them in conscious violation to His revealed will. Regardless of age, if a person realizes that he or she is a sinner before God and in need of a personal Savior, that is the right age to surrender one’s life to the Lord if one so chooses.

For example, in many parts of the world young children loose their innocence at a very tender age. Certainly they would be candidates for making a decision for Christ earlier than even most of us in this culture. My position, then, is that once a person knows that he or she is a sinner before God and desires to surrender his or her life to Christ for the forgiveness of sins, than he or she is at the right age to do so.

Regarding the “course before baptism” thing, I just don’t see in Scripture. If a person has understood the Gospel and wants to be baptized, our only response ought to be “if you believe with all your heart then you may”.

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2002


Philip Watkinson stated..."Regarding the “course before baptism” thing, I just don’t see in Scripture. If a person has understood the Gospel and wants to be baptized, our only response ought to be “if you believe with all your heart then you may”.

I simply wanted to post and say I concur with him on this.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2002



Thank you Danny :)

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2002

Bill -- Funny you should ask about the hand being raised. I think i's an antenna for ensuring the grace of God get's sent through the immerser, into the H2O, and then into the immersee.

Anyway ... I had the very same question in the middle of my very first immersion. I was a freshman at FCC. A young lady Kathy and I knew from where we worked was brought to the point of making a decision for Christ. One evening I immersed her at First Church. As I started saying the "official" immersion statement (Kathy Spangler, you are now being baptised in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, for the remission of your sins and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit ...) I noticed my left hand behind her head, and my right hand held high in the air. About half way through my statement, I wondered why it was there. I slowly lowered it, continued with the process, and have never raised it during an immersion since.

I guess I did it since I had seen my preacher do it for years and years. I asked him (Wayne Smith) why he did it, and he said it was something he had seen early, and had adpoted it.

Nothing wrong with it, I guess. But, I have chosen not to raise my hand. Just a choice.

Now, with regards to the "official" statement to make when immersing someone. In most cases I no longer offer a statement of bat\ptism or immersion. In fact, I no longer take a person's confession until we are in the H2O. Then, I will ask them who Jesus is to them. I have heard some brilliant and touching statements made that had much more impact than anything I might have offered at that time. I do still say they are being immersed in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002


Darrel Tonight our pastor had me to help baptize my dad,my dad is about 300 lb.Any way we allways baptize saying "I now baptize you in the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins".I believe this is the example that was set forth by the apostle Peter and the only way that I have found in scripture that anyone was baptized.The apostle Paul even re-baptized certian diciples in the name of the Lord.When we do this it is the same as when we pray in the name of Jesus Christ what we are stating is "by the authority of Jesus Christ" are your sins forgiven after all ther is no other name given where by we must be saved. Thank you Chuck Williams

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002

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