Hey Brain!
I was planning on replying, just haven't had time yet. I don't have a computer at home right now, so it takes a while for me to reply sometimes.
I'm going to go two different routes in my response here: 1)To show the emphesis placed on baptism in the Bible and the Bibles application to our lives and 2) To show that baptism is a function of the church (so no, I probably won't suggest your wife baptize you in the bathtub

)
1) First off, I don't think baptism is to be taken lightly, and I don't believe that it was something that was ONLY for those in Christ's time. While being in the math lab here at school I can't go to deep into the meaning of different words, let's look again at the verse I used earlier:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
This command was to the Apostles, or the leaders of the new church. We know that to "make disciples" was to make followers of Christ. I think we could both agree on that this is something that we should still be doing today, and it is something that is the responsibility of the church (to teach believers). Likewise, in the same breath, Christ adds that they are to be baptized, or identified with their new faith. Christ doesn't give us any reason to believe that baptism is no longer needed after a certain point in time.
Acts 13:24
Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.
Ephesians 4:5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Everywhere in the Bible where faith, repentance, confession, and other parts of our Christian beliefs are talked about baptism seems to be closely connected.
1 Peter 3:21
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge[ 3:21 Or response] of a good conscience toward God.
1 Peter is also fairly clear that baptism is an outward sign of our faith. Now, whether or not to be rebaptized is a choice between you and God, but I think the Bible is clear that baptism isn't something that is no longer important.
2) Baptism, while not always done by the church, it is a general rule that it is done by a pastor. Why? Because we know that a pastor understands the signifigance of baptism and is able to administer baptism in a correct fashion (In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Well, I have to go to class, I'll be back afterwards though.
Bro. Adam
[ July 11, 2002, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: Brother Adam ]