Can't find a church - need to get baptized

carrwinn · Feb 28, 2018

Hi . Have you ever spoken with Jehovah's Witnesses?
( Matthew 28:19,20; Isaiah 43:10)
There are always invitations extended to the local Kingdom Hall (s).

Andreas89 said:
I am a believer that one needs to be baptized to be saved. I am not asking for a debate on this particular topic.

I also can't seem to find someone to baptize me. I know that there doesn't appear to be any directions as to who can baptize and who can't, besides the examples of who was doing the baptism in the Bible, and even then it doesn't seem to mention that only they were permitted to do so. 1 Corinthians 5:11 gives some directives on what type of so called brothers to not associate with, so if any so called brother had these attributes, I would not want them to be performing the baptism.

The churches I've been to I have noticed that they are falling away from scripture. I believe the "once saved always saved" doctrine is a false doctrine leading people to destruction, which is the doctrine taught in an independent fundamental baptist church I attended. Many churches have women speaking and singing in them, a violation of the command given in 1 Corinthians 14:34. I have also researched and come across the occult, and am familiar with the telltale hand signs that supposed freemasons, or other members of secretive organizations do. I might have read/seen somewhere that they believe these hand signs are casting spells on people, a form of witchcraft or some kind of magick. Of all the last 3 churches I've relatively recently attended, each pastor has performed at least 1 of these hand signs. Now I know I can't draw any definitive conclusions from this, without confirmation from them directly, especially since it is possible they are doing them naively and without knowing their significance. However, I am suspicious, and would not be surprised if a majority of churches have been infiltrated. Matthew 7:15, 2 Timothy 3:13 state that this type of infiltration will take place. Especially in combination with the fact that each pastor has been preaching things, that in my opinion, are completely unbiblical.

I thought about an Orthodox church, but I noticed they have a lot of images in their churches, which seems to be a violation of Exodus 20:4.

I'm really having a hard time finding a righteous Christian to baptize me. I thought about going in to the church again to speak to the people attending, and potentially find someone to baptize me, but if I suspect the pastors are intentionally deceiving (or are deceived themselves and resultantly deceiving) and potentially performing witchcraft, why would I want to even be a part of such a place? 1 Thessalonians 5:22

What do I do to find someone to baptize me? Do I put up a craigslit/kijiji ad? And in the same vein, where do I find Christian fellowship? I'm thinking in this day and age, and with my experience of the churches, I may have to resort to the internet for fellowship.

gideon123 · Feb 28, 2018

I think that your allegation that Pastors are making secret Satanic hand signals is absurd. Sorry ... But I have to call it like I see it.

I would like to get a video of you when you are shopping in the supermarket, or talking to people in the street. I bet that the video would show that you have your hands raised sometimes. And I am sure I could isolate your random hand movements, and using your own criteria, I could also prove that you are involved in secret Satanic practices.

Christianity is about allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives away from superstition. It is not about creating a whole new form of superstition ... you do not escape darkness when your mind is constantly dwelling on darkness.

Radagast · Feb 28, 2018

carrwinn said:
Hi . Have you ever spoken with Jehovah's Witnesses?

Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christians, and they do not perform Christian baptisms.

Open Heart · Feb 28, 2018

2Timothy2:15 said:
Hmmm not so sure about that. There is a Catholic Church in my area that has an enormous statue of mary. People gather there, pray, kneel down, place flowers and all sorts of things....sounds like worship to me.

Google Maps: Report Inappropriate Image

It sounds like worship to you because culturally as a protestant you have no other frame of reference -- the only time that Protestants ever pray, kneel, etc., is when they are worshiping.

That is not true for others. If you ask any Catholic if Mary is a goddess, they will tell you certainly not! The Catholic Church absolutely teaches it is sinful idolatry to worship Mary or any of the Saints as if they are a deity. So what then is going on?

Veneration. Veneration is honor, respect, reverence. It may look on the outside the same as the worship one gives to God, but in the heart it falls far short of that.

And if you are not worshiping Mary as a deity, then it is not idolatry. My goodness, in the Bible we are told about people following Peter around everywhere he went, even waiting all day for him to pass by so that his shadow would pass over them. This is veneration. Same with Paul. They would take his handkerchiefs and aprons to be used for healing. This is classic veneration of the relics of a saint for healing. Nothing wrong with it at all.

Open Heart · Feb 28, 2018

JESUS=G.O.A.T said:
I would recommend a church that baptizes in the name of Jesus according to the scripture. There’s nothing like being buried under that name. It also helps too if they submerge you under water as the biblical way of baptism shows it should be done. Also I will keep in prayers.

The problem with churches that currently baptize "in the name of Jesus" is that unlike those that did so in the Bible, these modern Jesus only churches are Modalist, believing that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the same person. Sorry, but Jesus is not the Father, and no one should be baptized in such a church.

Radagast · Feb 28, 2018

Open Heart said:
The problem with churches that currently baptize "in the name of Jesus" is that unlike those that did so in the Bible, these modern Jesus only churches are Modalist, believing that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the same person. Sorry, but Jesus is not the Father, and no one should be baptized in such a church.

You can't be baptised in such a church. If people are not baptising in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), then they are not baptising. They are just making people wet.

2Timothy2:15 · Feb 28, 2018

Open Heart said:
It sounds like worship to you because culturally as a protestant you have no other frame of reference -- the only time that Protestants ever pray, kneel, etc., is when they are worshiping.

I was raised Catholic so your theory is entirely off.

Andreas89 · Mar 5, 2018

The rebukes in this thread have caused me to re-evaluate my position. I have had a change of heart. I no longer have a long list of self-imposed requirements for baptism. I simply want to be baptized according to how it was done in Acts, and I am now of the belief that anyone can perform a baptism. However, for safety precautions, I will seek for a pastor to do it in a controlled fashion. The pastor of one church wants me to wait until Easter to get baptized in front of the church, while I was more eager to get it done immediately, that day, or as soon as possible, regardless of whether or not it's in front of the church. He was not willing to do it that way. He was concerned that I may be just passing by, and potentially not return later. If I recall correctly he also was of the opinion that baptism is a form of joining the community (to which I can agree), and to which a public show of this baptism is important. I can understand where he's coming from, the community of the church is important to him and he wants to build up members in the church, it did however, still make me feel sad. Acts 22:16, James 4:14 are my reasons for seeking a baptism ASAP. He gave me information regarding another church which he said might be willing to baptize me as soon as possible, so I will be giving them a call tomorrow. My thoughts on the hand signs have also changed dramatically. I am no longer suspicious and judgemental. Who am I to judge something I do not understand and of whose conspiracy may have no basis in reality? Further, I also now desire to possibly attend more than one church, depending on their schedules, rather than condemn them, and isolate myself. While I may not concur with all their teachings, I certainly do not know it all, and feel that I could learn something regardless. Thank you all.

Open Heart · Mar 6, 2018

Andreas89 said:
The rebukes in this thread have caused me to re-evaluate my position. I have had a change of heart. I no longer have a long list of self-imposed requirements for baptism. I simply want to be baptized according to how it was done in Acts, and I am now of the belief that anyone can perform a baptism. However, for safety precautions, I will seek for a pastor to do it in a controlled fashion. The pastor of one church wants me to wait until Easter to get baptized in front of the church, while I was more eager to get it done immediately, that day, or as soon as possible, regardless of whether or not it's in front of the church. He was not willing to do it that way. He was concerned that I may be just passing by, and potentially not return later. If I recall correctly he also was of the opinion that baptism is a form of joining the community (to which I can agree), and to which a public show of this baptism is important. I can understand where he's coming from, the community of the church is important to him and he wants to build up members in the church, it did however, still make me feel sad. Acts 22:16, James 4:14 are my reasons for seeking a baptism ASAP. He gave me information regarding another church which he said might be willing to baptize me as soon as possible, so I will be giving them a call tomorrow. My thoughts on the hand signs have also changed dramatically. I am no longer suspicious and judgemental. Who am I to judge something I do not understand and of whose conspiracy may have no basis in reality? Further, I also now desire to possibly attend more than one church, depending on their schedules, rather than condemn them, and isolate myself. While I may not concur with all their teachings, I certainly do not know it all, and feel that I could learn something regardless. Thank you all.

Sounds like you are on the right path. I'm so happy to hear that you are being baptized. Have a blessed Easter.

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith · Mar 6, 2018

Albion said:
What does that "understanding" of the occult amount to?

The idea that ministers are making hand signs that are satanic or whatever during the worship service is certainly unprovable. But it does remind me of the websites that show secret occultish hand grips being given by various world leaders to each other. These consist, without exception, of extending the right hand and clasping the right hand of the other person with the fingers held together.

False Ministries (2): Occult Hand Signs - Part 1
False Ministries (2): Occult Hand Signs - Part 2

Daniel Champeny
Act Of Mercy
THE EARTH IS FLAT!!

Albion · Mar 6, 2018

From that link:

"Please think about this …, how could it be accidental when all these preachers from all orientations have the same habit of throwing the same hand signs, repeatedly, and sometimes for more than 5 seconds, or even for more than 10 seconds?"

My own personal favorite among Occultish signs is the one given and received by pastors and others. It is executed in this way--raise the right arm and then vigorously wave the hand several times, from side to side. This sign is usually given upon parting from the other Luciferian who then returns the sign in kind, thus acknowledging the membership the two men share as initiates in their conspiratorial brotherhood.

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith · Mar 6, 2018

Albion said:
From that link:

"Please think about this …, how could it be accidental when all these preachers from all orientations have the same habit of throwing the same hand signs, repeatedly, and sometimes for more than 5 seconds, or even for more than 10 seconds?"

My own personal favorite among Occultish signs is the one given and received by pastors and others. It is executed in this way--raise the right arm and then vigorously wave the hand several times, from side to side. This sign is usually given upon parting from the other Luciferian who then returns the sign in kind, thus acknowledging the membership the two men share as initiates in their conspiratorial brotherhood.

You're trying to make light of something that is Deadly Serious.

JESUS=G.O.A.T · Mar 6, 2018

Open Heart said:
The problem with churches that currently baptize "in the name of Jesus" is that unlike those that did so in the Bible, these modern Jesus only churches are Modalist, believing that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the same person. Sorry, but Jesus is not the Father, and no one should be baptized in such a church.

What does what one believe have to do with the mode of baptism? In the bible they baptizd in JESUS name besides you don't have to be a member of where you're baptized at. Can just get a baptism there and go somewhere else. Lots of people who get baptized don't become members of the church they are baptized at it's common enough.

JESUS=G.O.A.T · Mar 6, 2018

Radagast said:
You can't be baptised in such a church. If people are not baptising in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), then they are not baptising. They are just making people wet.

what is the name of the son.

Open Heart · Mar 10, 2018

JESUS=G.O.A.T said:
What does what one believe have to do with the mode of baptism? In the bible they baptizd in JESUS name besides you don't have to be a member of where you're baptized at. Can just get a baptism there and go somewhere else. Lots of people who get baptized don't become members of the church they are baptized at it's common enough.

It is important that the baptism be Christian. The apostles baptized in the name of Jesus, but they didn't mean a Modalist sort of Jesus when they said it. Today, if you are baptized "in the name of Jesus" you are being baptized into a Modalist church rather than a Christian church. If you are wanting to become a Christian, you do NOT want that.

JESUS=G.O.A.T · Mar 10, 2018

Open Heart said:
It is important that the baptism be Christian. The apostles baptized in the name of Jesus, but they didn't mean a Modalist sort of Jesus when they said it. Today, if you are baptized "in the name of Jesus" you are being baptized into a Modalist church rather than a Christian church. If you are wanting to become a Christian, you do NOT want that.

Is the trinity really that far off from modalism though? I’ve studied both and the only difference is that one believes in 3 distinct persons inside God so God is more of a what based off the trinity, 3 distinct persons who hold the office of God. While for modalism God is a who who manifest himself in different modes or forms. We are gonna have to agree to disagree I believe As long as you follow acts 2:38 you’re good. But eh agree to disagree sure knowing who God is helps a lot... but to say

Albion · Mar 10, 2018

But these differences are of great importance to Christians because they go to the very fundamental issue of who our God is. Notice how many denominations, either Catholic or Protestant, do NOT affirm the conventional Trinitarian POV. It's almost none...and they're labelled "cults" for it.

JESUS=G.O.A.T · Mar 10, 2018

Albion said:
But these differences are of great importance to Christians because they go to the very fundamental issue of who our God is. Notice how many denominations, either Catholic or Protestant, do NOT affirm the conventional Trinitarian POV. It's almost none...and they're labelled "cults" for it.

That’s what I’m saying as far as who God is it’s important but as far as salvation goes could say not so much.

Albion · Mar 10, 2018

JESUS=G.O.A.T said:
That’s what I’m saying as far as who God is it’s important but as far as salvation goes could say not so much.

Possibly so. However, the subject wasnt salvation but baptism.

JESUS=G.O.A.T · Mar 10, 2018

Albion said:
Possibly so. However, the subject wasnt salvation but baptism.

Yes... which is what me and the other person were taking about. I said get baptized in any church that baptized in Jesus name. People suggested expect a modalism church I said as long as they baptize in Jesus name you’re good. They said no

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