Baptisms

[Springs]

Here's a quick update:

The Pastor from this church called me last night to talk to me about the upcoming New Members Class. After discussing that, he asked me when was the last time that I was baptized. I told him that I was baptized as a child and then again when when I was 16.Age of accountability, if your decision and not parents/guardians, etc He asked me hold old I was now and I told him that I will be 30 next month. He then stated that he feels that it is time for me to get baptized again. I told him that I didn't agree because I was taught that once saved, always saved.Baptism does not equate that you are saved He told me that it wasn't about salvation, it was about rededication. He then stated that he has rededicated his life several times and that included getting baptized again a couple of times. I told him that with all due respect I would have to disagree with him and decline his invitation. He then went on to say, "Well, when you joined the church you agreed to submit to God and to submit to the Pastor. I want you to pray about it and then about your decision". this is correct

Correct me if I am wrong, but I do not recall reading or hearing anything about submitting to a man, Pastor or not. Even in your sincerity you are wrong. Dacontinent summed it up I have no problem with submitting to Christ, but Christ has not put it on my heart to get re-baptized. You shouldn't be forced to, but the Pastor should TEACH you what the scriptures say In addition, I do not feel the need to "rededicate" my life to Christ when I have not strayed from the path. I am not perfect, but even when I was out doing wrong I was still a Christian, I still prayed, I still read the Bible, and I still did the best that I felt that I could do and asked for forgiveness when I knew I was in the wrong. You may not have strayed from the faith, but you didn't have a "gain" in your walk. Anytime there is a going back (doing wrong) and not forward in your walk and even if you think you're staying consistent/still. Not accusing you of having been an intentionally horrible person Therefore, I do not feel that at this point in my life I need "rededicate" when it is apparent to nearly everyone who comes into contact with me that I am a Christian, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, and have never turned my back on my faith. It's not for others opinions, it about your relationship with Christ. I know you know this.

I am sure some of the clergymen on the board will disagree with my thoughts, but my position to leave this particular church alone stands. I will continue my search for another church home.

I'm just want to encourage you to continue to seek the Lord and don't let anyone tell you to seek another church based on their opinion or flesh. None of us know what the Lord is trying to work out in you. What if the Lord is telling you to join this church and your "feelings" are that you don't want to ? Whatcha gon' do ??? Stay encouraged bro, maybe seek Godly counsel from a true man or woman of God not affiliated with this church or your old one.

 

[dacontinent]

Which denomination (if any) is your church under?

Not that it really matters, but the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) serves as our covering. The way that we are setup comes mostly from my years in the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC). We just take advantage of a few lessons learned. I don't really think that we do anything out of the ordinary. I know lots of Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Word of Faith, Pentecostal, Charismatic, etc., congregations who operate the same way in receiving new members.

Please feel me on this: Ask the Lord to lead you to a place where you can be submitted; then bloom where you are planted.

Our website is just rolling out. We still have lots to add.

 

[O44DOG]

Here's a quick update:

The Pastor from this church called me last night to talk to me about the upcoming New Members Class. After discussing that, he asked me when was the last time that I was baptized. I told him that I was baptized as a child and then again when when I was 16. He asked me hold old I was now and I told him that I will be 30 next month. He then stated that he feels that it is time for me to get baptized again. I told him that I didn't agree because I was taught that once saved, always saved. He told me that it wasn't about salvation, it was about rededication. He then stated that he has rededicated his life several times and that included getting baptized again a couple of times. I told him that with all due respect I would have to disagree with him and decline his invitation. He then went on to say, "Well, when you joined the church you agreed to submit to God and to submit to the Pastor. I want you to pray about it and then about your decision".

Correct me if I am wrong, but I do not recall reading or hearing anything about submitting to a man, Pastor or not. I have no problem with submitting to Christ, but Christ has not put it on my heart to get re-baptized. In addition, I do not feel the need to "rededicate" my life to Christ when I have not strayed from the path. I am not perfect, but even when I was out doing wrong I was still a Christian, I still prayed, I still read the Bible, and I still did the best that I felt that I could do and asked for forgiveness when I knew I was in the wrong. Therefore, I do not feel that at this point in my life I need "rededicate" when it is apparent to nearly everyone who comes into contact with me that I am a Christian, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, and have never turned my back on my faith.

I am sure some of the clergymen on the board will disagree with my thoughts, but my position to leave this particular church alone stands. I will continue my search for another church home.

Let me just inform you of this. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Baptism will get you into heaven or prevent you from getting in. Baptism is a sign of faith. We get Baptised because that's what the Bible tells us to do. Requiring that you are rebaptised serves no purpose.

Now as far as your Pastor is concerned, as a Christian, you must be willing to be a humble person. God wants us to have boldness with our faith. In your description of your pastor's words, it sounds like he may be manipulative, but I don't know. A pastor is likened unto a shepard. The sheep do not control the shepard. I not saying this to be derogatory. What I'm trying to illustrate is that as a member of a church you must recognize that the pastor is the earthly head of the church. He is wrong for trying to force you to be baptised even if you were never baptised. There is a repectful way to handle the situation.

I suggest to you and all brothers and sisters that if you are at a church, and you do not believe/accept the doctrine that is being taught, you need to find another church home. I caution you about this because there are a lot of false prophets out there that make Christianity sound easy, but its not. Also, just because you don't accept it doesn't make it wrong. The only way to guard against this is to first pray, and then read and study your Bible. Is your pastor speaking the truth or are you just saying amen cause that's what you always say? Don't leave your church for the newest latest thing, and don't be afraid to join a smaller church where your work for the Lord can have an immediate impact. Don't try to blend in the crowd. Stand up and be counted among the saints. God Bless!

 

[illinijag]

Wow, I could not have stated this better than O44DOG. It concerns me that a Pastor would make such request. Again, Baptism is only at visual display of ones faith (that identifes with the death, burial and resurrection).

Please remember that A Pastor is just a man and A Man is Just, A Man at Best. These are some important scriptures you should keep in mine:

God gave us His word to Study:

2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Acts 17:11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Never Place total Trust in Man (or women), our heart by nature is bad. Although as Christians we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Flesh still remains.

Psalms 118:8. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Acts 5:29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Jeremiah 17: 5,7&9
5. Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Also, Luke 23:39-43 speaks of an awful sinner that probably never did anything religious acts such as paying tithes, teaching Sunday School, attending Sunday School, working on a church committee or some other meaningful pious act. However, he did believe in Christ and for that he was given salvation (not earned but by Grace). I doubt this guy ever THOUGHT about being baptized.

Good Day and God Bless.

 

[Dr H..]

I have been trying to restrain my comments on the subject, but if you going to comment, stick with the bible and the bible only.

99.9 % of the time people are baptized and does not understand why they were baptized. That?s why the bible gives us specific instructions. If you follow the pattern of the early church, you will observe the following order.

1. the people was first taught the Gospel of Christ = Hearing
2. then after hearing thy believed = belief
3. then they repented of their sins = repentance (a universal command)
4. they confessed = confession (of their ?wrong doings?
5. then they were baptized.

Can a person be baptized again? Yes and as many times as needed, because some people are baptized for the wrong reason.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Acts 19:1-4

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Eph. 4:5

Why are people baptized? Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

What is the age of accountability?

Is this a bible doctrine?

There is nothing in God's law that says man must fully understand sin, before it is actually sin.