Re-baptism

[AustinC]

In the scenario the OP brings up, there is no need for re-baptism as the issue isn't one of "re-salvation" that requires an expression of baptism.

However, if a person was baptized as a child because of family pressure, yet that person realizes later that they were not saved, should they be re-baptized?

My current pastor, who grew up in the church, asked to be re-baptized before he became a pastor, because he wasn't saved when he first was baptized. In the case of the first baptism he faked his conversion for family and friends so that he could avoid the pressure. It was in his late teens that he truly came to saving faith. He wanted to be honest with the church and requested to be re-baptized now that he was actually saved. He didn't want to look like he supported infant baptism where you are baptized into the covenant family of Christ, yet aren't yet saved.

 

[JamesL]

Seems most have a view of baptism that can't be found in scripture.

Buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life

Be baptized, having you sins washed away, calling on His Name.

Those are scripture, and I can't find the one that supposedly says it's only meant as a conversion follow-up, and only allowed once.

The second one, calling on His Name, is a confession that Jesus is Lord

If someone wants to be baptized every week, praise God that they want to keep publicly proclaiming their faith.

Instead of how many times, a more important issue is whether they were baptized for all the world to see, or in a bathtub behind a pulpit

 

[AustinC]

Seems most have a view of baptism that can't be found in scripture.

Buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life

Be baptized, having you sins washed away, calling on His Name.

Those are scripture, and I can't find the one that supposedly says it's only meant as a conversion follow-up, and only allowed once.

The second one, calling on His Name, is a confession that Jesus is Lord

If someone wants to be baptized every week, praise God that they want to keep publicly proclaiming their faith.

Instead of how many times, a more important issue is whether they were baptized for all the world to see, or in a bathtub behind a pulpit

How many times did the people of God go through the Red Sea (the scriptures give that passage as an illustration of baptism)? How many times did Noah and his family sealed in the ark and brought through the waters of baptism (scripture gives this as an illustration of baptism)?

 

[JamesL]

How many times did the people of God go through the Red Sea (the scriptures give that passage as an illustration of baptism)? How many times did Noah and his family sealed in the ark and brought through the waters of baptism (scripture gives this as an illustration of baptism)?

Bible 101:
Don't build elaborate doctrines out of allegorical passages

 

[AustinC]

Bible 101:
Don't build elaborate doctrines out of allegorical passages

Explain those passages that specifically connect to baptism as the Apostles themselves made the connection.

 

[Mike Stidham]

In the scenario the OP brings up, there is no need for re-baptism as the issue isn't one of "re-salvation" that requires an expression of baptism.

However, if a person was baptized as a child because of family pressure, yet that person realizes later that they were not saved, should they be re-baptized?

My current pastor, who grew up in the church, asked to be re-baptized before he became a pastor, because he wasn't saved when he first was baptized. In the case of the first baptism he faked his conversion for family and friends so that he could avoid the pressure. It was in his late teens that he truly came to saving faith. He wanted to be honest with the church and requested to be re-baptized now that he was actually saved. He didn't want to look like he supported infant baptism where you are baptized into the covenant family of Christ, yet aren't yet saved.

That's a problem I'm dealing with now. My wife was saved as a Methodist and was sprinkled. Her first husband was the son of a Christian Church pastor, so he insisted that my wife be immersed "for the forgiveness of sins", otherwise sonny boy would be "unequally yoked". Wifey had no problem with the immersion part though she was already saved.
First husband turned out to be an unrepentant pedophile, so after a lot of soul-searching she sought a divorce.
Fast forward a decade or so. We met and got married (first wife had left me a few years prior), and now I'm wanting to return to the Baptist church I left after the divorce. Given the odd circumstances of her immersion, she sees no reason why she should seek another immersion since SHE did it as a profession of faith per Baptist belief despite the Campbellite teaching of the church where she was baptized. I really have a hard time asking her to undergo immersion again for that reason.

 

[Mike Stidham]

That's a problem I'm dealing with now. My wife was saved as a Methodist and was sprinkled. Her first husband was the son of a Christian Church pastor, so he insisted that my wife be immersed "for the forgiveness of sins", otherwise sonny boy would be "unequally yoked". Wifey had no problem with the immersion part though she was already saved.
First husband turned out to be an unrepentant pedophile, so after a lot of soul-searching she sought a divorce.
Fast forward a decade or so. We met and got married (first wife had left me a few years prior), and now I'm wanting to return to the Baptist church I left after the divorce. Given the odd circumstances of her immersion, she sees no reason why she should seek another immersion since SHE did it as a profession of faith per Baptist belief despite the Campbellite teaching of the church where she was baptized. I really have a hard time asking her to undergo immersion again for that reason.

Update: We visited my old Baptist church this morning and posed the question to the new pastor. His response was "what is baptism for? A public confession of your faith before others. Doesn't matter if a non-Baptist pastor did the job; you were obedient and that works fine for me."

 

[37818]

Re-baptism, I am of the point of view, unless it an immersion to establish one's believer's baptism, it is frivolous.

 

[AustinC]

Another purpose of baptism is to establish oneself as a member of the New Covenant with God. It expresses to the church and to the world that you are bound in covenant with God. You have been freed from the bondage of sin and now been purchased in bondage to Christ as your Master and King. It is more than a confession of faith before others.

 

[Judith]

There is no such thing as being a Christian and backsliding into sin. 1John 3:9. If the person you mentioned came forward for salvation yes they should be baptized because their first attempt did not secure salvation.