What do you say when you're baptizing someone?

[JoeKan]

The title bascally says it all. I am learning from my pastor friends that there are other phrases pastors say when they are baptizing someone.
I've always used the phrase, "Based upon your profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I now baptize you in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost. Buried with Him in the likeness of His death, raised with Him in the likeness of His ressurrection to walk in the newness of life."

What say you?
Preach the Word,
Joe

 

[annsni]

In our church it's much the same.

"Upon your profession of faith and in accordance with the Lord's command, I baptize you, John Doe in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Buried in the likeness of His death and raised in the likeness of His resurrection."

 

[rbell]

I ask the candidate, "(name), Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?"
(wait for the affirmative)

Then I say, "Then in obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and upon your profession of faith, I baptize you my brother (sister), in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen."


Alternate plan:

I tell them, "Now, I'm gonna hold you under until you say 'tithe.'"

(so far I've not been allowed to use that one)

 

[Tom Bryant]

Alternate plan:

I tell them, "Now, I'm gonna hold you under until you say 'tithe.'"

(so far I've not been allowed to use that one)

Love that. :thumbs:

I ask 2 questions:
1. Have you trusted Christ as Savior?
2. Do you want to follow Him and live for Him?

then say basically what you all say.

 

[annsni]

We no longer ask questions of the baptis-ee - but we read their testimony to the church before the baptism is done - after they've entered the water.

 

[tinytim]

I ask the candidate, "(name), Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?"
(wait for the affirmative)

Then I say, "Then in obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and upon your profession of faith, I baptize you my brother (sister), in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen."


Alternate plan:

I tell them, "Now, I'm gonna hold you under until you say 'tithe.'"

(so far I've not been allowed to use that one)

I say the EXACT same thing... NOT the tithing one though...

It used to be they would hold them under while saying it..
But I say it now before I sprink.... I mean dunk them! :laugh:

 

[SBCPreacher]

I ask the candidate, "(name), Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?"
(wait for the affirmative)

Then I say, "Then in obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and upon your profession of faith, I baptize you my brother (sister), in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen."


Alternate plan:

I tell them, "Now, I'm gonna hold you under until you say 'tithe.'"

(so far I've not been allowed to use that one)

Basically the same. I do add, buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life.

What I've threatened to do is hold them under until the REALLY repent!

 

[rbell]

Three other things I have done/our church has done with regards to baptism:

1. A videoed testimony from the candidate (This is great for those who aren't good in front of folks). For those who haven't grown up in church, or for the very young, we often do "prompted" testimonies (more like "interviews."). This has been very powerful and well-received.

2. A "candle ceremony" (for lack of a better term). A large candle is already lit at the front of the stage, along with one smaller candle for each candidate, plus one extra. The candidate then designates someone who was meaningful in his conversion to come and light the candle (using a candle, they light from the large lit candle, to the one for the candidate). At the end of the baptism, we remind the congregation that there is an unlit candle--representing that there are always more people to reach with the Gospel.

3. We ask if there are any friends or family of the baptized present to stand.

(keep in mind, I'm not the senior pastor here, so I'm more advisory than policy-making )

My favorite is #1, because it's the most powerful. With #3, you need to be careful: if someone comes in and isn't really "plugged in," (no friends or family), you run the risk of no one standing up. Having said that, we've never had that happen.

 

[Dr. Bob]

"How long can you hold your breath?"

"Do you know how to swim?"

"Ever been to Glenrock?" (23 miles downstream)

We baptize in the rapid current of the North Platte and it is COLD water - think snow melt feeding it even on a hot summer day. We stand ankle deep (getting used to the water) with all candidates and have each share a detailed testimony. We pray unsaved and loved ones will witness this event.

Then go out into water about 3 feet deep and say almost verbatim what joekan, asnii and rbell said. Must be in the "Baptist Liturgy" book somewhere!!

BTW, our church allows fathers/husbands the authority of the church to baptize. So I haven't "dunked" anyone since 2003. What a joy for the dad or elder or husband to have such a role!!

And do it QUICKLY! Did I mention how cold it is??

(In winter we have a covered hot-tub and person will get in and give testimony, then with aid of myself or father/husband, immerse them WITHOUT us getting anymore than a sleeve wet!!)

 

[Dr. Timo]

I ask what is your profession of faith. The candidate says Jesus Christ is my Lord. I say their name and based on your profession of faith I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I was asked if I would hold one young wife down a little longer by her husband if he would slip me a twenty dollar bill, but I decided that was a bad idea. He was quite a card anyhow.:laugh: :jesus:

 

[michaelbowe]

I have heard a rather interesting version

After questiong the profession of faith it was said, "I baptize you in the name of your creater, redeemer, and sustainer."

Very interesting.

 

[Alcott]

What do you say when you're baptizing someone? Uh... "You're getting wet!"? "I bet my arm can hold out longer than your lungs!"? "Did somebody forget to tell you you're supposed to wear something under that silly robe?'?

Seriously... it has become a bit of a botheration to me that (in our church, at least) these 'speeches' as someone is about to be baptized are becomong longer all the time. There may be interesting circumstances about how the person made his/her decision for Christ, and if that can be told in 2 or 3 sentences-- alright. But preaching a sermonette while standing there in the water-- come on, just dip in, then ship out.

There are 2 other things on my mind right now about baptisms, and I'm now thinking about a new poll. But one I will say right now-- as recently as 20 years ago (I estimate), baptisms were solemn occasions. Now clapping for the person takes place every time (at least those I witness), and more recently there is whooping and hollering going on. A friend of mine posted a video on Facebook of her young daughter's baptism yesterday, and if baptisms in your church are still basically solemn occasions, hearing all that may freak you out. [However, it doesn't seem proper for me to post a link to that without her even knowing about it.] So-- is this the same issue as clapping during worship, which some say is praising the 'performers' [singers, speakers]? Or, is it affirming the baptizee's new life?-- in which case, we should let him/her know that we rejoice with him/her?