What's the hurry to join this particular church? Is it a requirement that you be a member before you can get married? Is someone putting pressure on you to join this particular church right now?
Regardless of what anyone else has to say, what is your personal conviction, especially, if you have been previously baptised by immersion?
As a teenager, I was sprinkled after accepting Christ. Was given the choice of being sprinkled or immersed. Church was another similar demonination to "Baptist".
Long period of time passed when I didn't go to church.
After we'd been attending my current church for a few weeks, the pastor invited us to join. No pressure. Simply, we'd be glad to have you as members, if you decide you'd like to be a part of our congregation.
After a few months had passed we told our pastor that we would like to become members there. Then several more weeks passed before the Sunday we actually stood before the church for approval of membership via letter. We'd been there long enough that a couple of members quiped afterwards -- "I thought you were already a member".
Now for the rest of the story and the reason for the questions.
Prior to that Sunday, we'd talked to our pastor and told him that we both had been sprinkled. Did we have to be re-baptised in order to become members. His answer was no. If we had a personal conviction that we should be re-baptised he would be honored to hold the service. Don't remember his exact words, but they were something along the line of partaking of communion. If it is done without true conviction, then going through the motions means nothing.
To make a long story short, I was re-baptised by immersion a little over 10 months of first walking into the church we attend today. My pastor allowed the Holy Spirit time to do His work.
Repeat: What's the hurry? What's your conviction?
Regardless of what anyone else has to say, what is your personal conviction, especially, if you have been previously baptised by immersion?
As a teenager, I was sprinkled after accepting Christ. Was given the choice of being sprinkled or immersed. Church was another similar demonination to "Baptist".
Long period of time passed when I didn't go to church.
After we'd been attending my current church for a few weeks, the pastor invited us to join. No pressure. Simply, we'd be glad to have you as members, if you decide you'd like to be a part of our congregation.
After a few months had passed we told our pastor that we would like to become members there. Then several more weeks passed before the Sunday we actually stood before the church for approval of membership via letter. We'd been there long enough that a couple of members quiped afterwards -- "I thought you were already a member".
Now for the rest of the story and the reason for the questions.
Prior to that Sunday, we'd talked to our pastor and told him that we both had been sprinkled. Did we have to be re-baptised in order to become members. His answer was no. If we had a personal conviction that we should be re-baptised he would be honored to hold the service. Don't remember his exact words, but they were something along the line of partaking of communion. If it is done without true conviction, then going through the motions means nothing.
To make a long story short, I was re-baptised by immersion a little over 10 months of first walking into the church we attend today. My pastor allowed the Holy Spirit time to do His work.
Repeat: What's the hurry? What's your conviction?
