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Topic: Re-Baptism? (Read 688 times)

melancholymuse
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Re: Re-Baptism?
« Reply #15 on Feb 13, 2006, 6:35pm »

I have wondered about that myself....but there is no biblical precendent to go by in this matter, so I don't know what to make of it.

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Libby
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Re: Re-Baptism?
« Reply #16 on Feb 13, 2006, 7:18pm »

Quote:

Does anyone here feel they were baptized for the wrong reasons by the wts and so should be baptized again?

Sincerely, Sandie J

The WTS seems to view baptism as a dedication:

Quote:

To become a friend of God, you must obtain a good knowledge of Bible truth (1 Timothy 2:3, 4), put faith in the things you have learned (Hebrews 11:6), repent of your sins (Acts 17:30, 31), and turn around in your course of life. (Acts 3:19) Then your love for God should move you to dedicate yourself to him. This means that in a personal, private prayer you tell him that you are giving yourself to him to do his will.-Matthew 16:24; 22:37.

After you have made your dedication to God, you should be baptized. (Matthew 28:19, 20) Baptism lets everyone know that you have dedicated yourself to Jehovah.

11 Baptism is rich in symbolic meaning. As you are submerged, or "buried," beneath the water, it is as though you have died to your former course of life. When you come up out of the water, it is as if you are emerging to a new life, one that is governed by God's will and not your own. Of course, that does not mean that you will make no more mistakes, for all of us are imperfect and therefore sin daily. However, as a dedicated, baptized servant of Jehovah, you will have entered into a special relationship with him. Because of your repentance and your humble submission to baptism, Jehovah is willing to forgive your sins on the basis of Jesus' ransom sacrifice. Baptism thus leads to a clean conscience before God.-1 Peter 3:21.

The part about death, burial and resurrection is from Romans 6:1-7 (I think) and that is how I view it too, so I did not feel it was for the wrong reasons.

Love, Libby

ps Sandie, I haven't forgotten I was going to post that information about how the WTS first taught that re-baptism wasn't necessary and then changed their minds -- I just haven't been able to find it again! Still searching though!

« Last Edit: Feb 13, 2006, 7:20pm by Libby »

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masterof82
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Re: Re-Baptism?
« Reply #17 on Apr 22, 2006, 8:58pm »

Quote:

The amount of water to be used is never specified; I guess we just thought that because of the WTS\'s stand on it, but complete immersion in water is never mentioned. In fact, baptize itself comes from the word meaning "to dip" with reference to dipping water out of a container.

Actually, the Bible uses the Greek word \"baptisma\", meaning \"immersion, submersion\" - http://www.searchgodsword.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=908. The sense of dipping is included (because obviously people must come back up from the water at some point). \"Immersion\", according to Websters dictionary, means \"to plunge into something that surrounds or covers\". So the Faithful Slave\'s view of baptism, is based upon accurate knowledge.

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masterof82
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Re: Re-Baptism?
« Reply #18 on Apr 22, 2006, 8:58pm »

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Libby
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Re: Re-Baptism?
« Reply #19 on Apr 22, 2006, 9:30pm »

Quote:

So the Faithful Slave\'s view of baptism, is based upon accurate knowledge.

As is the Baptists' too, then.

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masterof82
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Re: Re-Baptism?
« Reply #20 on Apr 22, 2006, 11:02pm »

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[quote author=masterof82 board=baptism thread=1137684950 post=1145757520]As is the Baptists\' too, then.

We weren\'t talking about them. You made the Faithful Slave specifically sound like they were making up things without reason. Truth is, if you don\'t know why, then it would be your fault to believe it and not their fault to teach it. So how else would I respond but to explain why they teach the belief?

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archangel
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Re: Re-Baptism?
« Reply #21 on Jul 22, 2006, 4:00pm »

Quote:

So I'm wondering, if complete immersion wasn't necessary, why did they all do it that way in the bible? Sounds like it would be a major inconvenience if it weren't necessary?

Tami,

Its not clear that in every case complete immersion was used. For example, and I am partially arguing from silence here, which is never satisfactory, the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 simply says 'there is water here'. We are not told it is a great amount. Surely in this case it is the conversion that was important and the intention on the part of both Eunuch and Philip the Deacon to recognize the validity of of that conversion by baptism. This is unclear, but in general, immersion was the Biblical pattern.

Agape

Mike

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jonalfred
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Re: Re-Baptism?
« Reply #22 on Jul 12, 2007, 12:16am »

Hi all...

I'm enjoying this discussion on baptism... Tami... as to your quesitons..

Quote:

If someone was baptized for the wrong reasons the first time, should they be re-baptized under the right reasons? Two examples of why this question could come up:

1 -- A person is raised catholic and was baptized as an infant. The person reaches adulthood and chooses to be a different denomination. Should this person be re-baptized?

infant baptism is somewhat meaningless to the infant... but may perhaps mean something to the parents. I discovered in my personal effects a few years back a certificate of baptism for myself from April of 1960... I was a little less than 6 months old at the time... I have discussed this with my mother... at the time she was 'taking no chances" and was perhaps (in her own mind at the time) saving me from the possible fires of hell. She has long since gave up such fearful hopes...

but then again, I appreciate the thought that she cared enough about me to express it in some way...

I was baptized at age 19 in symbolization of the consecration I made to the Lord to do His will to the best of my ability for the remainder of my life... I think any person who has come on their own to the Lord, should do so, especially if their only previous experience with baptism was as an infant.

We do practice in our congregation here what we call "child blessings"... that is, much like what Jesus did for the children... and though at one time these were called "child consecration services" by Charles Russell... the thought was never that the child was consecrating... but that the consecrated parents were dedicating the fruit of their union to the Lord for His good purposes. (a nice thought I think)

Quote:

2 -- Someone gets baptized, not because he chooses to, but because everyone else feels he should and so under the pressure he does. Should he get re-baptized if later he feels more ready for it?

Yes... since it is clear here that the one baptized did not make the decision... did not have their heart in it... and did it to please men and not God.

there is a third scenario... and Libby talked about it early in this thread as to her own experience.... my wife had the same experience... she was baptized around age 12 or 13 in the Methodist by a minister who was a bit ahead of his time (or of his denomination) and she understood it at that time to be a giving of herself to the Lord... not to the Methodist Church...

After we were married I was baptized in May and she followed and was baptized in July of that same year... as she has stated, more of a reminder and statement to her brethren that she was rededicating herself to the Lord after what felt to her like a hiatus from Him... and after learning so much more about His plan... especially as to the truth on Hell (the grave and death state) and the (lack of) a Trinity...etc. however, I would view this as necessary only in regards to the thinking of the candidate... we do not require those who come into our midst from some of the denominations to be re-baptized if they are personally comfortable with what they have already done... that is their business alone... some choose to be rebaptized simply because the symbol they formerly underwent was improper... was a sprinkling or pouring over the head from a cup... and they want the proper symbol... others want a fresh beginning.

Quote:

Is re-baptism ever necessary?

yes and no... the real baptism is absolutely necessary...i.e., the thing the symbol represents... I don't think we can judge a person because they have not been actually dipped in water... I know a sister who was not ever baptized... she has a real phobia of water... a real and actual fear of being submerged... I leave that to her and the Lord...

peace

jon

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melancholymuse
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Re: Re-Baptism?
« Reply #23 on Jul 20, 2007, 12:54am »

My apologies for taking so long to reply.
I am here every couple of days or so, I just like to give others a chance to reply. I wasn't ignoring you.

Anyway...

I previously stated:
SIf someone gets baptized, not because he chooses to, but because everyone else feels he should and so under the pressure he does. Should he get re-baptized if later he feels more ready for it?

And you replied:
Yes... since it is clear here that the one baptized did not make the decision... did not have their heart in it... and did it to please men and not God.

Your point is very succinct: If a person gets baptized due to other people's belief, instead of his/her own readiness, then it's not legitimate. A person must be ready in his/her own heart in order for it to be "real". Anything else is just pretense, correct?

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Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6, ASV)

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