Where And When Were You Baptised?

I can’t say that I disagree with you in any way Faye.

That said, all Baptisms should be held as a more personal thing rather than how many or who witnesses the act. I’m following in the footsteps of Jesus and in doing so, it is an act that I make for the Father and no one else.

Still, most humans like ceremony so if for that sake I’m helping to instill a little more trust while placating the mass’s need for an act of submission to an authority for however long or short timed that might be then so be it.

Note: Which is by the bye, what most secondary or more baptisms are all about: It’s an act of submission to the authority of a particular sect or church.
There are however those who have fallen away from their faith and upon regaining it they feel the need to be re-Baptised. I see no harm in it and if it makes someone feel like they’re going the extra mile for God then go for it.

 

Were you allowed to speak and teach in both congregations?

 

I don't understand why we gotta get baptised over and over depending on which faith we are at the time. I would think once would be enough in the eyes of God. It's man that messes everything up all the time.

 

iwas baptized in a baptisimal pool in a baptist church when i was 12 ----1945 in mass.

 

Marci, I'd like to offer an answer to your question of " why we gotta get baptized over and over depending on which faith we are at the time," though I don't expect everyone here to like my views.

There are many opposing religions doing baptism and they can't all represent the one and only true God since they represent different gods and different belief systems. Here's a good example:

The God of the Bible is not the same god as the one Mormons worship. To be baptized by the LDS church is a commitment to polytheism and a whole host of beliefs contrary to Christianity or the Holy Bible. In a similar matter, Jehovah's Witnesses do not follow the triune God of the Holy Bible. Anyone being baptized by these churches are following a cult religion, not Christianity. So be it if you stay there. But if one changes their beliefs to become a Christian, then a new baptism would be warranted in order to profess one's new faith. Understand, God's commandment for baptism is a confession of repentance and faith in "him", not someone else or something different.

Another example is infant baptism exercised by the Catholic Church (and a few misguided Protestant church denominations). This is done to supposedly wipe out original sin, however there is no Biblical support for this within the Christian faith. It's a man-made church tradition that counters all scriptural references to baptism being a public confession of faith - something a baby can't do. Arguably, it does no harm, but it does not satisfy God's commandment for us to be baptized.

In short, one proper baptism in the Christian faith should be sufficient for a lifetime and multitude of churches. But there are churches posing as Christian that are not, baptizing members in a faith that does not represent God, or in a manner that does not represent Biblical baptism at all.

For the true Christian churches that require a new baptism in order to be a member of their church, I'd have a problem with that too. Once one becomes a saved Christian, they become part of God's church family - baptized or not. The baptism is a public expression of the one true faith in Christ, not a church building or organization.

 

When I was baptized, the church truly lived up to its name- a community church for people of various religions.
Long after, I heard it became Methodist-Episcopalian, and then Methodist.
But back in the day when my hometown existed as it was when I lived there, it's shown on this decorative plate:

 

When I was baptized in San Pedro in 1948, Pastor Sward just sprinkled some water on my head and said some holy stuff, and that was it. None of that dunking me in a river or stream...that's ridiculous!

Hal

 

Forgot your floaties huh?

 

I'm with you, but some religions believe that's the correct way of doing it.


Also, if I can ask- not specifically to Hal, but anyone here- over the years/decades, various people I knew said something that was presumably a quote from the Bible, naturally I can't recall it but stating a person is only supposed to be baptized once. Is that accurate?

 

I was baptized once as an infant at a Lutheran church and the second as an adult at an American Baptist Church. My mother was not too happy when I joyfully told her. I believe it hurt her but through the years she was a witness as my faith blossomed over the years.

 

Interesting info, thanks!!

From my personal experiences, infant baptism was about making the child a part of "God's community." Although I did hear of religions/churches who had the approach of "original sin."
While most people I knew throughout my life didn't butt into other people's business, one neighbor (a super lady who was also my Godfather's wife) was appalled that I wasn't baptized til I was 9 months old.

I never heard of the 'getting/being saved' concept til around 20 years ago.

It's going to drive me batty til I remember that quote I mentioned, but one person it came from was an older family member- as his parents were two different religions, varying degrees of practicing, he never knew if he'd been baptized.
Another was a somewhat unusual local- he said his first time wasn't with the right heart (he actually said he got baptized as an adult because he thought it would help him get more women!!!), and using the same quote he asked me if it would be ok to be baptized again. I didn't really know the answer.

 

I remember reading that too but I can't can't find the quote.