Baptism of another denomination

[he4rty]

I know of somebody who believes in believers baptism but the denomination they belong to doesn't do it only infant baptism, so they went to the local baptist church and received believers baptism from them and then quite happily went back to there own denomination.

so two questions,

would you baptize someone from another denomination

and would the fact that they would go back to the own denomination influence your decision.

[arunma]

I know of somebody who believes in believers baptism but the denomination they belong to doesn't do it only infant baptism, so they went to the local baptist church and received believers baptism from them and then quite happily went back to there own denomination.

so two questions,

would you baptize someone from another denomination

and would the fact that they would go back to the own denomination influence your decision.

Well as someone who is very tolerant of the infant baptism crowd, I would say: yes I would baptize someone from another denomination, and no I would not be perturbed by the fact that they belong to another denomination. After all, the Bible teaches unity, not division.

[HumbleMan]

If I were in a position to baptize, I would baptize anyone who professes repentence from their sin and faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior.

And it wouldn't bother me if they went back to their church, as they were baptized as believers. There's many doctrines churches can disagree with, but repentence and faith in Christ are the two that are true throughout Church.

Also, it's not up to me to know their heart. Just like if someone was harboring sin while taking communion, what they do is going to be between them and God.

[Pepperoni]

My church is not in the habit of baptizing anyone who walks through the doors and thinks it would be a fun thing to do.

[JoyforJESUS]

If I were in a position to baptize, I would baptize anyone who professes repentence from their sin and faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior.

And it wouldn't bother me if they went back to their church, as they were baptized as believers. There's many doctrines churches can disagree with, but repentence and faith in Christ are the two that are true throughout Church.

Also, it's not up to me to know their heart. Just like if someone was harboring sin while taking communion, what they do is going to be between them and God.
As a Christian, I believe in Baptism, the age and the demonination does not have any bearing for me.

Now, lets say, that you as a Christian, are at the scene of an accident, and someone is dying. They profess they are a Christian, and not baptized.

What do you as a Christian do for this person? I say you baptize them! You can use the water from the water bottle in your car... It is the Holy words of God, that make the baptism!

[daveleau]

I know of somebody who believes in believers baptism but the denomination they belong to doesn't do it only infant baptism, so they went to the local baptist church and received believers baptism from them and then quite happily went back to there own denomination.

so two questions,

would you baptize someone from another denomination

and would the fact that they would go back to the own denomination influence your decision.


First, I wouldn't look to the future of what may or may not happen regarding their church affiliation. Church affiliation is less important than Scriptural obedience. Baptism is seen today as a joining of the church. I do not necessarily see that in Scripture, but if someone wanted to be baptized, had not been baptized after a profession of faith, and asked to be baptized, then their status afterwards has no bearing. There is no promise to a church organization in baptism. The promise is only to Christ Jesus.

If someone was baptized as a child and were not able to make a profession of faith, and were never Scripturally baptized later- then yes, I would baptize them. There is no set of rules for baptism in the Bible. But, there are a ton of examples. Each and every example- without exception- is after a profession of faith. Baptizing children does not serve this purpose, and truly is a misnomer. It should really be referred to as dedication, because that is all that is occurring. The parents are dedicating the raising of their child in the ways of Christ. Baptism only occurs after a profession of faith.

I hope this helps!

In Him,
Dave

[he4rty]

My church is not in the habit of baptizing anyone who walks through the doors and thinks it would be a fun thing to do.

but heres the thing, nobody in acts went through baptism classes, so if someone walks into church claiming, belief and repentance through Jesus then why not baptise them there and then.

[arunma]

but heres the thing, nobody in acts went through baptism classes, so if someone walks into church claiming, belief and repentance through Jesus then why not baptise them there and then.

There's a certain elder at my church who feels exactly as you do. He believes that since New Testament Christians were baptized immediately after a profession of faith, we ought to be doing the same thing. As such, he baptized his children right at home once they were old enough, and had professed faith in Christ.

Personally I'm also quite sympathetic to this view. Many churches have months and sometimes years-long catechism classes. Even my own church has a baptism class. Most evangelical churches today, including my own, teach that baptism is an opportunity to share the Gospel with others by providing your testimony. As such, they only baptize at certain times of the year. My church, for example, baptizes new believers about once or twice a month. While this teaching is not particularly unbiblical, it seems to me that this is not the primary function of baptism. After all, not many people (possibly no one) were watching when Phillip baptized the Ethiopian believer, and he isn't recorded as giving a testimony prior to baptism. Based on what the Bible teaches, it seems to me that a person ought to be baptized immediately after he professes faith in Christ.

[Pepperoni]

As a Christian, I believe in Baptism, the age and the demonination does not have any bearing for me.

Now, lets say, that you as a Christian, are at the scene of an accident, and someone is dying. They profess they are a Christian, and not baptized.

What do you as a Christian do for this person? I say you baptize them! You can use the water from the water bottle in your car... It is the Holy words of God, that make the baptism!
Why? For what purpose? Salvation?

but heres the thing, nobody in acts went through baptism classes, so if someone walks into church claiming, belief and repentance through Jesus then why not baptise them there and then.
My church doesn't do that because baptism is not spur-of-the-moment, to-be-taken-lightly sort of thing. I think the "waiting period"--if you will--is to weed out those who might not fully understand the concept of baptism and what it really means (and doesn't mean). Not that that's a fool-proof method, I suppose as long as you have the right answers . . . but that could happen anyway and may even have happened in New Testament times.

My 14-year-old was recently baptized and she was not required to take classes of any sort but she did have to meet with the deacons and also the pastor a couple weeks beforehand. I think that's fine. I think it would have been irresponsible for Pastor to baptize her without having a discussion with her first.

[JimfromOhio]

I have been "immersed" 5 times. :swoon:

2 times by Baptist Churches (legalists who did'nt believe the previous baptist church was a "true" baptist church" :doh:)

1 time by Anabaptist Church (immersed 3 times as Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Since Anabaptists are not really the same as Baptists however their teachings are almost similar.

After being baptized so much so I studied further and learned a great deal.

[JPPT1974]

but heres the thing, nobody in acts went through baptism classes, so if someone walks into church claiming, belief and repentance through Jesus then why not baptise them there and then.

Good way of putting it!

[he4rty]

Why? For what purpose? Salvation?


My church doesn't do that because baptism is not spur-of-the-moment, to-be-taken-lightly sort of thing. I think the "waiting period"--if you will--is to weed out those who might not fully understand the concept of baptism and what it really means (and doesn't mean). Not that that's a fool-proof method, I suppose as long as you have the right answers . . . but that could happen anyway and may even have happened in New Testament times.

My 14-year-old was recently baptized and she was not required to take classes of any sort but she did have to meet with the deacons and also the pastor a couple weeks beforehand. I think that's fine. I think it would have been irresponsible for Pastor to baptize her without having a discussion with her first.

I'll agree with you to a point but whats to stop somebody who claims faith in jesus being taken to one side and quietly spoken with first.
After all baptism is the start of your journey not the end.

[CooL_Genesis]

but heres the thing, nobody in acts went through baptism classes, so if someone walks into church claiming, belief and repentance through Jesus then why not baptise them there and then.

Come to think of it, I don't believe anyone in Acts went through seminary either... hehe! The Holy Spirit of God doesn't need a school or to be able to use someone who goes to one... HE is the University! Hallelujah! May ALL of our learning and wisdom come from the Spirit! Amen!

In peace and grace,

-Genesis

[JuJube]

Come to think of it, I don't believe anyone in Acts went through seminary either... hehe! The Holy Spirit of God doesn't need a school or to be able to use someone who goes to one... HE is the University! Hallelujah! May ALL of our learning and wisdom come from the Spirit! Amen!

In peace and grace,

-Genesis
THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[Joykins]

but heres the thing, nobody in acts went through baptism classes, so if someone walks into church claiming, belief and repentance through Jesus then why not baptise them there and then.

One day I will have to tell the story of my brother's baptism--in a swimming pool, not too many minutes after his Bible Study Leader found out he had not yet been baptized.

From my perspective the story begins one snowy day when my van ran out of gas a mile from my home.... *cue music*

I think the New Testament examples show both waiting for baptism and immediate baptism. The early apostles immediately baptized those who believed at their preaching. Jesus apparently waited until he was ready to begin his ministry.

[Hisbygrace]

I know of somebody who believes in believers baptism but the denomination they belong to doesn't do it only infant baptism, so they went to the local baptist church and received believers baptism from them and then quite happily went back to there own denomination.

so two questions,

would you baptize someone from another denomination

and would the fact that they would go back to the own denomination influence your decision.

Yes if they desired it. No it would not influence my decision to know they were going back to their denomination.

[Phileoeklogos]

I have been "immersed" 5 times. :swoon:


Jim, have you ever thought of investing in some SCUBA gear? Just joking around, the sad fact of the matter is that there are folks that have been baptized so many times that 5 times just sounds like a warm up event.

As far as baptizing someone from another denomination, I'd do it as long as they understood why they should be baptized, ..........


BTW, what denom only does infant baptism? Never heard of that.

[Joykins]

Jim, have you ever thought of investing in some SCUBA gear? Just joking around, the sad fact of the matter is that there are folks that have been baptized so many times that 5 times just sounds like a warm up event.

As far as baptizing someone from another denomination, I'd do it as long as they understood why they should be baptized, ..........

Read closely ... he's been *immersed* 5 times but only baptized 3 times ;)

I've been baptized, as a believer, once, but with 3 (triune) immersions. I feel that there would never be a need to have it done again.

[Edial]

I know of somebody who believes in believers baptism but the denomination they belong to doesn't do it only infant baptism, so they went to the local baptist church and received believers baptism from them and then quite happily went back to there own denomination.

so two questions,

would you baptize someone from another denomination

and would the fact that they would go back to the own denomination influence your decision.
All of denominations associate baptism with their respective church membership.

I would say it is a rarity to see someone baptizing someone else outside of their own church.

In 2000 years all denominations aquired various traditional aspects concerning baptism.

It becomes a part of a church service, there is a "waiting period" before baptism, one needs to complete a membership class, water is being heated in the pool, ...

Local church regulations became constraining in expressing the need and desire for baptism.

As far as I am concerned, ... If a person calls Pastor in church and states that he/she knows that someone became a believer and has a distinct desire to be baptized ... that Pastor should get in his car, drive over there, talk to him and baptize that believer in a bathtub. ...

Traditional aspects, such as paperwork, membership, interviews, classes - that could be done later.

Thanks, :)
Ed

[RayTX]

While I attended seminary a pastor friend told me of his neighboring Methodist church who had a member who was quite headstrong about being immersed and not sprinkled. He filled the baptistry and the Methodists came one Sunday afternoon as the Methodist minister immersed (baptized) him.