Conversion?

[Psalm31]

Hola All,

So here's the story...my boyfriend is Southern Baptist and I'm Non-denominational. We will be getting married sometime in the near future :clap: and he wants to convert me to SB. What if I don't agree with some things that the SB's do? How can I join the church then? I think I'm okay because I think my home church leans that way but then again I'm new to all of the doctorines and such. I couldn't tell you who believes what. And in my opinion a lot of it is unecessary. Why are Christians split so much on the little things?

Anyway, I don't know exactly what I'm looking for here but I'm just concerned. Like, I haven't been baptized yet but I know that for a SB you have to baptized before you take the Lord's Supper. I'm going feel awfully bad if I'm sitting there in church and everyone's doing it and I can't.

Help!

[ZiSunka]

Why don't you want to be baptized?

[Psalm31]

I didn't say I don't want to be baptized. It's a long story as to why I haven't yet. My old pastor just always said that it's something you should really think about before you do it. Truly understand it's meaning and all that. I haven't had the opportunity yet and don't want to just walk into church and say "I haven't been baptized. Please baptize me so I can take the Lord's Supper." That's seems kind of legalistic to me.

[Matthan]

Psalm31, thre is a far bigger question raised here by your post. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? By that I mean this. Have you ever gone off to some quiet, private place, got down on your knees, and confessed to Jesus that you are a sinner, that you realize you cannot do anything by yourself, and that you want Him to come into your life, take control, and lead you where He wants you to go?

If you have done this, or if you do it, then this is the Baptism, where the Holy Spirit enters into you and becomes your guiding light, that really matters. This is spiritual baptism. The water baptism practiced by most Baptist Churches serves other spiritual purposes, but all of them are subservient to your own spiritual baptism by God.

I am sure everyone who reads your post will be praying for you, that you find the guidance necessary to navigate this "bump" in your relationship with your guy. May God Bless!

Matthan <J><

[ZiSunka]

I didn't say I don't want to be baptized. It's a long story as to why I haven't yet. My old pastor just always said that it's something you should really think about before you do it. Truly understand it's meaning and all that. I haven't had the opportunity yet and don't want to just walk into church and say "I haven't been baptized. Please baptize me so I can take the Lord's Supper." That's seems kind of legalistic to me.

Baptism is a commandment of Christ. It is not optional. The reason that churches require a person to be baptized before they can join the church and take communion is because this is such a small thing to do, a first step of obedience to the Lord that if you are unwilling or unattentive so much that you won't even be baptized, you probably won't live out the more difficult and demanding commandments of Christ either. It's not at all legalistic to expect a new member to take this tiny step of obedience before they are admitted to all the ordinances and responsibilities of membership in the Body of Christ.

[Psalm31]

Psalm31, thre is a far bigger question raised here by your post. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? By that I mean this. Have you ever gone off to some quiet, private place, got down on your knees, and confessed to Jesus that you are a sinner, that you realize you cannot do anything by yourself, and that you want Him to come into your life, take control, and lead you where He wants you to go?

Yes! :clap: I am a child of God. But thank you for your concern.

Baptism is a commandment of Christ. It is not optional. The reason that churches require a person to be baptized before they can join the church and take communion is because this is such a small thing to do, a first step of obedience to the Lord that if you are unwilling or unattentive so much that you won't even be baptized, you probably won't live out the more difficult and demanding commandments of Christ either. It's not at all legalistic to expect a new member to take this tiny step of obedience before they are admitted to all the ordinances and responsibilities of membership in the Body of Christ.

I understand and know that baptism is a commandment. The church that I went to before didn't stress that after being saved. Why that is I don't know. No one ever approached me and told me I needed to do it. And at this church is wasn't required in order to take communion. I wish someone would have told me...:sigh: I guess all I can do now is pray and search out a new church to become a member in and get baptized there.

Thanks for your guys help. I really appreciate it.

[ZiSunka]

Yes! :clap: I am a child of God. But thank you for your concern.



I understand and know that baptism is a commandment. The church that I went to before didn't stress that after being saved. Why that is I don't know. No one ever approached me and told me I needed to do it. And at this church is wasn't required in order to take communion. I wish someone would have told me...:sigh: I guess all I can do now is pray and search out a new church to become a member in and get baptized there.

Thanks for your guys help. I really appreciate it.

Or, just go to your present pastor and tell him you haven't been baptized but want to be now. I'd be amazed if he turned you away!

[Psalm31]

Or, just go to your present pastor and tell him you haven't been baptized but want to be now. I'd be amazed if he turned you away!



Oh I'm sure he wouldn't but I left that church awhile ago. (LONG STORY) I'm in the market for a new one. Going to visit a baptist church on Sunday actually.

[SonOfThunder]

I didn't say I don't want to be baptized. It's a long story as to why I haven't yet. My old pastor just always said that it's something you should really think about before you do it. Truly understand it's meaning and all that. I haven't had the opportunity yet and don't want to just walk into church and say "I haven't been baptized. Please baptize me so I can take the Lord's Supper." That's seems kind of legalistic to me.


Hello :wave:

Thanks for sharing your story. I used to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses and now go to a Independant Baptist church. I cannot take communion as you have to be a member to partake. To be a member is linked to Baptism in the church I go to. Be Baptised = membership automatically.

So what do we do when we are faced with pressure from others, and are not sure?

I know that God sees my heart and knows my motives and desires. He also understands that men can sometimes put impossible pressure on people to conform to their 'doctrine' or 'ways'.

Have a wonderful life together :D

James

[MbiaJc]

Hola All,

So here's the story...my boyfriend is Southern Baptist and I'm Non-denominational. We will be getting married sometime in the near future :clap: and he wants to convert me to SB. What if I don't agree with some things that the SB's do? How can I join the church then? I think I'm okay because I think my home church leans that way but then again I'm new to all of the doctorines and such. I couldn't tell you who believes what. And in my opinion a lot of it is unecessary. Why are Christians split so much on the little things?

Anyway, I don't know exactly what I'm looking for here but I'm just concerned. Like, I haven't been baptized yet but I know that for a SB you have to baptized before you take the Lord's Supper. I'm going feel awfully bad if I'm sitting there in church and everyone's doing it and I can't.

Help!

Sister I hope you are not wonting to be baptized for the wrong reason. After you believe and are saved. Baptism is an act of obedience, to follow the Lord in baptism, showing the world you believe in his death beral and resurrection, which baptism simbllies.

Peter says in Acts to repent and be baptized and recieve the gift of the Holy Spirit. Which is far more important for you than taking communion, not saying taking communion is not important. But first things first.

[Psalm31]

It's becoming most importantly clear! :clap: The more and more I think about it (spent the last 30 mins walking on my treadmill thinking/praying about it) the more I am coming to realize that I don't think like my old church in this regard and that it should come with being saved. I'm not quite sure why I was talked to by my pastor...not important anymore though. It only makes sense that the two should go hand in hand.

I've also come to find that I am a Southern Baptist after looking at many websites on what all the Southern Baptists believe. After reading the faith message on SBC.org I see that the only difference between my old church and Southern Baptists' is the relationship between being baptized and church membership & communion.

[Sweet Pea]

What is the reason you haven't been baptized? I know pride keeps some people from admitting they haven't followed Christ's commandment to be baptized.

[MbiaJc]

It's becoming most importantly clear! :clap: The more and more I think about it (spent the last 30 mins walking on my treadmill thinking/praying about it) the more I am coming to realize that I don't think like my old church in this regard and that it should come with being saved. I'm not quite sure why I was talked to by my pastor...not important anymore though. It only makes sense that the two should go hand in hand.

I've also come to find that I am a Southern Baptist after looking at many websites on what all the Southern Baptists believe. After reading the faith message on SBC.org I see that the only difference between my old church and Southern Baptists' is the relationship between being baptized and church membership & communion.


:preach: Praise God from whom all blessings flow.:D

[arunma]

Psalm31, to answer your question, SBCs don't allow unbaptized Christians to partake in the Lord's Supper because the Bible pronounces terrible judgements on those who take the Lord's Supper unworthily. What does this have to do with baptism? Technically nothing. It's entirely possible for an unbaptized Christian to take the Supper worthily, and it's possible for a baptized Christian to take it unworthily. SBCs do this because they believe that baptized Christians are more likely to be true believers.

If we Baptists practiced believer's baptism the way our spiritual ancestors the anabaptists intended it, this would be true. Unfortunately, baptism has become very much a meaningless ritual in many Baptist churches. Most liturgical churches baptize infants, but recognize that the baptized infant didn't make the decision for himself. So when the child is older, he is given the opportunity to "confirm" his baptism. Sounds like a good idea, doesn't it? In theory, it is. The problem, however, is that many parents force their children to go through confirmation. So here, confirmation is turned into an empty ritual.

The idea behind believer's baptism is that since you choose to be baptized of your own free will, your baptism signifies your true faith. But again, we have the same problem. Parents force their kids to be baptized against their wills. So in reality, requiring baptism for communion eligibility is somewhat pointless. I don't want to criticize the SBC too harshly. Their intentions are good. But I personally don't think that their approach works in the end.

It's important to note that the Bible doesn't require recipients of communion to be baptized. It only requires them to believe. Indeed, I was permitted to recieve communion in my Baptist church for months before I was baptized. In fact, our pastor sometimes reminds us on communion weekends: don't trust in baptism. Being baptized doesn't give you the right to recieve communion. Only God can give you such a privilege, and it is given by means of faith in Jesus Christ.

Personally, I think it's good that you haven't let anyone force you to be baptized. But please remember that what others here have said is true. Baptism is God's commandment. He wants you to freely obey Christ Jesus and be baptized in the name of the Trinity. Don't let anyone force you. Rather, decide for yourself that it is right to obey Jesus and to follow his example.

[Psalm31]

:preach: Praise God from whom all blessings flow.:D



INDEED :clap:


Psalm31, to answer your question, SBCs don't allow unbaptized Christians to partake in the Lord's Supper because the Bible pronounces terrible judgements on those who take the Lord's Supper unworthily. What does this have to do with baptism? Technically nothing. It's entirely possible for an unbaptized Christian to take the Supper worthily, and it's possible for a baptized Christian to take it unworthily. SBCs do this because they believe that baptized Christians are more likely to be true believers.

If we Baptists practiced believer's baptism the way our spiritual ancestors the anabaptists intended it, this would be true. Unfortunately, baptism has become very much a meaningless ritual in many Baptist churches. Most liturgical churches baptize infants, but recognize that the baptized infant didn't make the decision for himself. So when the child is older, he is given the opportunity to "confirm" his baptism. Sounds like a good idea, doesn't it? In theory, it is. The problem, however, is that many parents force their children to go through confirmation. So here, confirmation is turned into an empty ritual.

The idea behind believer's baptism is that since you choose to be baptized of your own free will, your baptism signifies your true faith. But again, we have the same problem. Parents force their kids to be baptized against their wills. So in reality, requiring baptism for communion eligibility is somewhat pointless. I don't want to criticize the SBC too harshly. Their intentions are good. But I personally don't think that their approach works in the end.

It's important to note that the Bible doesn't require recipients of communion to be baptized. It only requires them to believe. Indeed, I was permitted to recieve communion in my Baptist church for months before I was baptized. In fact, our pastor sometimes reminds us on communion weekends: don't trust in baptism. Being baptized doesn't give you the right to recieve communion. Only God can give you such a privilege, and it is given by means of faith in Jesus Christ.

Personally, I think it's good that you haven't let anyone force you to be baptized. But please remember that what others here have said is true. Baptism is God's commandment. He wants you to freely obey Christ Jesus and be baptized in the name of the Trinity. Don't let anyone force you. Rather, decide for yourself that it is right to obey Jesus and to follow his example.


Thank you so much for that. I feel a lot better. And I'm ready now. I'm going to a Southern Baptist church on Sunday and I really hope I like this church. I hope really homesick for a church family.

Thank you all for your prayers and advice.

Much love!

[daveleau]

Hola All,

So here's the story...my boyfriend is Southern Baptist and I'm Non-denominational. We will be getting married sometime in the near future :clap: and he wants to convert me to SB. What if I don't agree with some things that the SB's do? How can I join the church then? I think I'm okay because I think my home church leans that way but then again I'm new to all of the doctorines and such. I couldn't tell you who believes what. And in my opinion a lot of it is unecessary. Why are Christians split so much on the little things?

Anyway, I don't know exactly what I'm looking for here but I'm just concerned. Like, I haven't been baptized yet but I know that for a SB you have to baptized before you take the Lord's Supper. I'm going feel awfully bad if I'm sitting there in church and everyone's doing it and I can't.

Help!

You do not have to be baptised before you can take the Lord's Supper in a SBC. You do not have to be baptised to be considered saved in a SBC.

Talk with your husband-to-be about this. We can help, but I'd strongly advise you to talk to him about it. Marriage is all about communication. Tell him about your reservations. Grow together by finding if this church is Scripturally sound for your family by looking into the issues you have with the SBC your husband-to-be. If they are Scripturally sound, then follow your husband and adopt them. If they are not, petition him to find another church.

NOWHERE in Scripture does it say that you must be baptised to receive the Lord's Supper. My SBC does not teach this and rightly only says that you must be Saved to partake.

Pray and ask God for guidance. Look to Scripture for how to act. Talk to your pastor and his pastor about these with candor, humility and love.

God bless,
Dave