the Great Commission and baptism

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Mat 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (NASB)


Act 8:36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"
Act 8:37 [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]
Act 8:38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. (NASB)



Reading these two passages made me realize that we have detracted from the process of evangelism by making much of our traditions. I don't know how many times I have been told that only an ordained minister can baptize someone. However, if we look to the Great Commission baptism is an integral part of the process. Why then do we make people wait? Why do we have them meet with the pastor, often several times, for a baptism class? Scripturally it looks like the mere profession of faith is enough. The conversion may be false but I see no place where it is up to us to determine that. Nor does Scripture say that there is a consequence for being baptized wrongly. Near as I can tell without belief the person is just wet.

Mar 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Mar 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. (NASB)



All that said, it appears to me that if you have had the honor of seeing someone saved then you should also have the honor of baptizing them. As a pastor I have been encouraging fathers to baptize their kids and friends who have been instrumental in someones conversion to baptize their friends.

I see no reason to hog this privilege.