Baptism: Immediately After Conversion? Wait?

[Tom Butler]

Well, let's see. Those who see no harm in delaying baptism are guilty of inventive bureaucracy, authoritarianism, line drawing; of being judgmental, Pharisaical, disturbing and liberal--with a little bit of sarcasm thrown in.

I'm just shocked! Annsi, a liberal? I'm just devastated. Ann, say it ain't so!

 

[webdog]

Tom, didn't you say one must be baptized to take communion? You would deny both baptism and communion to a new brother in Christ?

 

[Robert Snow]

My wife, before we were married, was saved at age 16. She is of Mexican heritage and her father refused to allow her to be baptized. We started dating at that time and the pastor advised for her not to be baptized behind his back but to wait and see. After six months or so, her dad relented and allowed her to be baptized. Do you think she should have ignored what he said or do you think she did the right thing?

 

[Mexdeaf]

My wife, before we were married, was saved at age 16. She is of Mexican heritage and her father refused to allow her to be baptized. We started dating at that time and the pastor advised for her not to be baptized behind his back but to wait and see. After six months or so, her dad relented and allowed her to be baptized. Do you think she should have ignored what he said or do you think she did the right thing?

She did the right thing. Baptism is a hard decision in Mexico (and even in south Texas). USA pastors who are used to "ding 'em, dunk 'em, and drop 'em" cannot comprehend.

 

[convicted1]

In the ORBs, when someone gives their hand to the church, letting the church know that God has saved them, we leave it up to them if they want to be baptized that very moment, that evening, or maybe two weeks later(or longer?).


But, in Acts 8:26-39, the Eunuch was baptized the very instant he saw the water. He asked Philip what was hindering him from being baptized. Philip told him, he confessed Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Philip then commanded the chariot to stop, and he took him, and laid the Ethiopian Eunuch in his "liquid grave". The Eunuch went on his way rejoicing, and Philip was led away in the Spirit.

 

[Iconoclast]

In the ORBs, when someone gives their hand to the church, letting the church know that God has saved them, we leave it up to them if they want to be baptized that very moment, that evening, or maybe two weeks later(or longer?).


But, in Acts 8:26-39, the Eunuch was baptized the very instant he saw the water. He asked Philip what was hindering him from being baptized. Philip told him, he confessed Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Philip then commanded the chariot to stop, and he took him, and laid the Ethiopian Eunuch in his "liquid grave". The Eunuch went on his way rejoicing, and Philip was led away in the Spirit.

Keep in mind Philip was instructed directly by God to go to the eunuch,

26And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

29Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

And all through acts apostolic sign gifts were being manifest, they could often see who actually had the Spirit by sign manifestations....which no longer happen as the Apostles are in heaven now.....but it was immediate and visible then.

44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Sometimes elders were immediatly appointed by the apostles....today we examine a person and his family living and ministering among the saints to see if he is qualified......not a novice.....
You cannot always make a direct correlation to apostolic practice

 

[Oldtimer]

How do I fit into this discussion? Short version of a long story.

Joined the church, in another demonination, as a teenager. Church gave choice to be sprinkled or immersed. Chose to be sprinkled.

Drifted away from the church for many years.

Accepted an invitation to visit a local Baptist church, less than 2 years ago. After a few months of attendance, accepted the pastor's invitation to join their church. Membership accepted via letter. A few months later, gave my testimony to the congregation, ending it with the statement that I wanted to rededicate my life to Christ and to be baptised by immersion. A little over a month later I was baptised by immersion. That was 11 months ago.

 

[freeatlast]

How do I fit into this discussion? Short version of a long story.

Joined the church, in another demonination, as a teenager. Church gave choice to be sprinkled or immersed. Chose to be sprinkled.

Drifted away from the church for many years.

Accepted an invitation to visit a local Baptist church, less than 2 years ago. After a few months of attendance, accepted the pastor's invitation to join their church. Membership accepted via letter. A few months later, gave my testimony to the congregation, ending it with the statement that I wanted to rededicate my life to Christ and to be baptised by immersion. A little over a month later I was baptised by immersion. That was 11 months ago.

Hello Oldtimer good to meet you. Actually what you are describing fits in another thread going on here better. However some of what you described is a little uncommon in most Baptist churches. Most would not have accepted your letter for membership as it was from another denomination. Most Baptist churches would have required you to be Baptized to join.
There are some other issues you mentioned but this is not the thread for them.
http://www.gerald285.com/web_media/TrueChristianityJohnMacArthhur.wma

 

[JesusFan]

Well, let's see. Those who see no harm in delaying baptism are guilty of inventive bureaucracy, authoritarianism, line drawing; of being judgmental, Pharisaical, disturbing and liberal--with a little bit of sarcasm thrown in.

I'm just shocked! Annsi, a liberal? I'm just devastated. Ann, say it ain't so!

Still think that we need to really look at the truth that book of Acts was a transistion period between Old and new Covenants, and tht some of what was done there was not normitive for going forward, as what was outlined leter on in the NT epistles would be what would be considered as norm for the Church!

Botht the Tongues and mass conversions among the jews would be fulfillment of OT prophecies, and they would know what the baptism signified...

Notice that later on, even the Apostle paul was "happy" just baptised a few among them, was much more into preaching Christ crucified and risen!

 

[JesusFan]

Keep in mind Philip was instructed directly by God to go to the eunuch,






And all through acts apostolic sign gifts were being manifest, they could often see who actually had the Spirit by sign manifestations....which no longer happen as the Apostles are in heaven now.....but it was immediate and visible then.



Sometimes elders were immediatly appointed by the apostles....today we examine a person and his family living and ministering among the saints to see if he is qualified......not a novice.....
You cannot always make a direct correlation to apostolic practice

Charasmatics/pentacostalists get theology from Acts, we get Baptism...

Could both bei n partiall error, not recognising that some things done in Acts reflect transistion between Old/New Covenants, and really need to look at the later NT Epistles for the normitive examples for the Christian faith...

NOT saying Acts was not equally inspired, just not sure if fully applicapable for today!

 

[annsni]

Remember, baptism in the early days could be deadly. The candidates took it seriously. To-day, there is no risk and we can wait to make certain the person is requesting baptism for the right reason.

Cheers,

Jim

Exactly what I said Jim but then I was accused of having liberal ideas.

 

[freeatlast]

Remember, baptism in the early days could be deadly. The candidates took it seriously. To-day, there is no risk and we can wait to make certain the person is requesting baptism for the right reason.

Cheers,

Jim

So if your life is in the balance go ahead and if not just wait? :BangHead: Now that argument has to be one for the record. Not everyone was under a death threat in the bible so show us one instance where baptism was withheld to prove conversion.

 

[Mexdeaf]

So if your life is in the balance go ahead and if not just wait? :BangHead: Now that argument has to be one for the record. Not everyone was under a death threat in the bible so show us one instance where baptism was withheld to prove conversion.

The thief on the cross. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Benjamin]

Tom, didn't you say one must be baptized to take communion? You would deny both baptism and communion to a new brother in Christ?

Apparently only until they pass the test, after the required instruction, have gone through a probationary period and have met the standards for final approval. Can't give that stuff away for free you know.

 

[Iconoclast]

Charasmatics/pentacostalists get theology from Acts, we get Baptism...

Could both bei n partiall error, not recognising that some things done in Acts reflect transistion between Old/New Covenants, and really need to look at the later NT Epistles for the normitive examples for the Christian faith...

NOT saying Acts was not equally inspired, just not sure if fully applicapable for today!

No....we both get theology and both get baptism....both fully applicable for today. We just have to understand what was going on that was, unique, and revelatory,,,,,,and what is continuous.
We have not seen much of Annanias and Sappharia acts5...happening today in such a dramatic fashion, yet it did happen and we can learn by it.
We have all the apostolic testimony...they did what they did in their time.
Our time is not identical. there is much theology in Acts...but all of it is not exactly the norm.

 

[JesusFan]

Apparently only until they pass the test, after the required instruction, have gone through a probationary period and have met the standards for final approval. Can't give that stuff away for free you know.

you forgot giving orally and in written form the biblcal references for TULIP!

 

[OldRegular]

Remember, baptism in the early days could be deadly. The candidates took it seriously. To-day, there is no risk and we can wait to make certain the person is requesting baptism for the right reason.

Cheers,

Jim

As usual Jim you "hit the nail on the head"!

Unfortunately to a lot of people being baptized is a lark. I believe some young ones run down the aisle just to get wet!

 

[JesusFan]

As usual Jim you "hit the nail on the head"!

Unfortunately to a lot of people being baptized is a lark. I believe some young ones run down the aisle just to get wet!

or because their parents and pastor tell them get it done or else!

 

[Benjamin]

you forgot giving orally and in written form the biblcal references for TULIP!

Actually, I was thinking a requirement for a 12 week program for those who suggest that they could not believe of their own free will through love of truth and have bought into that they had to be forced into belief might be a good thing. I’d call it Recognition of Theological Fatalism and the Pit Falls of Calvinism.

 

[JesusFan]

Actually, I was thinking a requirement for a 12 week program for those who suggest that they could not believe of their own free will through love of truth and have bought into that they had to be forced into belief might be a good thing. I’d call it Recognition of Theological Fatalism and the Pit Falls of Calvinism.

the advanced class after that intro is pauline Justification based upon the Divine Election of the saints in Christ, as per Romans!