Shall We Gather At The River???

[tyndale1946]

This was an old favorite in our church before a baptism, even though our pastor was baptized in the Pacific Ocean... Being baptized sure has changed. not the mode but the preparation... I was baptized in the church baptistry... I guess tradition just went out the window... Where were you baptized?... Enjoy the article... Brother Glen

Horse Troughs, Hot Tubs and Hashtags: Baptism Is Getting Wild

 

[Two Wings]

I was baptized in a Baptist church baptistry.

I was immensely privileged to baptize my sons ... in a different baptist church's baptistry.

However ... since then, we've become "Bible Baptists" ... non standard sanctuary setup ... and a water trough for a baptistry. We've had a few of 'em in a member's swimming pool.

not many (any) suits/ties, either. "established" men (married/kids, but not yet "old") will wear blazers with their wranglers/boots ... maybe a bolo?

but yes, the tenor of the service is definitely different than those on which I was raised. A "bulletin" is distributed as folks enter, but there's no "order of service" No hymnals ... which I do miss.

I've kinda been in a "limbo" state now for about 6 years. Our congregation doesn't open the doors 15 times/week, so there's not that much to "miss" ... a Sunday morning worship service; Wednesday night Bible studies. monthly "Journey groups" (our Sunday School if you will) once/month in various members' homes. We've hosted many times but haven't the last couple of years. The church is adding to its body ... and everyone needs a chance to serve.

 

[Two Wings]

oh ... I forgot to mention ...

on our place there's a creek which has been used for a community wide baptism decades ago. There are photos of these events in town ... so ... it used to be less formal even when the social construct was stricter.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

I was baptized in a church baptistry. However, I know of a Russian EC-B church in San Franciso that has had baptismal services at the Russian River 90 minutes north of their location. In Sacramento, the EC-B church I was ministering to baptised in cove in the American River,

 

[AustinC]

1 Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod;
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?

Refrain:
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

2 On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will walk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day. [Refrain]

3 Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we ev'ry burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown. [Refrain]

4 Soon we'll reach the shining river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver

~ Robert Lowry

It seems we have some sentimental chaps here at the BB.

 

[tyndale1946]

1 Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod;
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?

Refrain:
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

2 On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will walk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day. [Refrain]

3 Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we ev'ry burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown. [Refrain]

4 Soon we'll reach the shining river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver

~ Robert Lowry

It seems we have some sentimental chaps here at the BB.

Sentimentality on here goes a long way... but then again... Scripture helps... Brother Glen

Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

 

[1689Dave]

This was an old favorite in our church before a baptism, even though our pastor was baptized in the Pacific Ocean... Being baptized sure has changed. not the mode but the preparation... I was baptized in the church baptistry... I guess tradition just went out the window... Where were you baptized?... Enjoy the article... Brother Glen

Horse Troughs, Hot Tubs and Hashtags: Baptism Is Getting Wild

I was baptized in a lake. I think we air-dried and drove home without changing. It was long ago.

 

[Lodic]

I was baptized in a creek that was near the store front church that I attended. We were too small to have a baptistry, and too poor to afford the white robes you see so often. I remember that the water was cold that September day in northern Arkansas.

Most churches that I've ever attended are very traditional - baptistry up front, the person getting baptized wears a white robe, the pastor (sometimes a deacon) asks about their salvation, and dunks them under. I always enjoy the ceremony. The "wild" ways of baptism described in the article strikes me as almost disrespectful. Baptism is a sacred event, not meant to be a stage show.

 

[Marooncat79]

Baptized at 1st baptist church Williams AZ

joined Grand Canyon Baptist church, we went to Williams for baptisms

there were 5-6 of us I think

 

[Salty]

Most churches that I've ever attended are very traditional - baptistry up front,...

The First Baptist Church of Syracuse has it baptistery at the rear of the auditorium. The reasoning for that is a person enters (joins) the church thu Baptism.

 

[Van]

Our building was built with a baptistry, and we used it for a few years. But then we changed and started having our service on the beach with our whole body in ascendance. Thus the service became a far more effective public outreach. We baptized about 2 times a year, baptizing a dozen or more converts each time, with a sound system so the on-lookers could hear their testimony. That practice was curtailed by government edict. Now we are back to using a portable baptistry at the front of our stage.

 

[AustinC]

Sentimentality on here goes a long way... but then again... Scripture helps... Brother Glen

Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Out of curiosity, how do you connect these verses to that song? I don't see a river in Phillips meeting with the Ethiopian. Just wondering how your mind made the connection.

 

[AustinC]

Ya ever wonder how people do outdoor baptisms in North Dakota during December-April?

 

[Van]

Ya ever wonder how people do outdoor baptisms in North Dakota during December-April?

There is a sad story, and I do not know if it is true, of folks being baptized in freezing weather and water, and perishing from the illness that followed. And I do not know if they thought water baptism was required to be saved. But I do know false doctrine has consequences.

 

[1689Dave]

Ya ever wonder how people do outdoor baptisms in North Dakota during December-April?

In my case, we waited until summer. It took time in finding a Church. And they invited all to join in at the location on a certain date. I had a Lutheran friend who asked why Baptists don't baptize infants. I told him it was because they had too many that drowned. He like others cannot see outside of their own little box.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

There is a sad story, and I do not know if it is true, of folks being baptized in freezing weather and water, and perishing from the illness that followed. And I do not know if they thought water baptism was required to be saved. But I do know false doctrine has consequences.

The former Soviet EC-Bs I know just wait until Soring for their baptismal services. The time around Pentecost is popular.

 

[Van]

The former Soviet EC-Bs I know just wait until Soring for their baptismal services. The time around Pentecost is popular.

Thanks, but my searches for "EC-Bs" failed to find a religious group. Ditto for Soring. Can you clarify?

 

[tyndale1946]

Out of curiosity, how do you connect these verses to that song? I don't see a river in Phillips meeting with the Ethiopian. Just wondering how your mind made the connection.

Being a song leader in my church for over 35 years, I know what the song is about... Not a natural river I know that and I also know that being baptized never saved a soul, in an eternal sense... Baptism by the Holy Ghost or regeneration by the living gospel, not the written, tells us Jesus Christ is 100% Salvation... Like one preacher I heard way back in the day say... If a person IS NOT regenerated before they are immersed in the Baptismal waters, they go in a dry devil and come out a wet one... The Ethiopian eunuch knew it too or who was he worshipping at Jerusalem?... He just needed proper direction in who to follow and got it... What is interesting to me, is that after the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized we hear no more about Philip but the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.... The Ethiopian eunuch found what he was searching for and praised God and his Son Jesus Christ, for the light... Brother Glen

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Thanks, but my searches for "EC-Bs" failed to find a religious group. Ditto for Soring. Can you clarify?

you have been reading some of my past posts. EC-B stands for Evangelical Christian-Baptists, And I misspelled Spring.

 

[Van]

you have been reading some of my past posts. EC-B stands for Evangelical Christian-Baptists, And I misspelled Spring.

Thanks again, apparently I am not quite as dumb as I though, but close.