1 baptism

[CrystalBrooke]

hello all its been a while since ive been in here....but i would like to ask a question, bc i never really understood it when i was Baptist. i had always heard that being Baptised once was enough, which i believe....but my family has always said that if you convert to a different denomination, you must be baptised into it. I dont really understand why, they are a christians too, i was baptised in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit...i dont see why my family thinks that you must be baptised everytime you switch a denom. and since my family is baptist i thought you guys could help me.

thanks in advance

 

[Gold Dragon]

I am a baptist who agrees with you. I wouldn't get baptised again if I switched denominations.

 

[SumTinWong]

Me neither. I was Baptized once, and that was enough.

 

[rural_preacher]

I agree. When we are baptized we are identifying ourselves with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. It is a picture of being placed into the body of Christ...not a denomination.

However, if someone told me they were baptized as an infant but then later in life they received Jesus Christ as Savior (born again), I would encourage them to walk through the waters of baptism to identify themselves publicly as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. That has nothing to do with denominationalism though.

 

[jcright]

Part of that may depend on how much of a separatist the church is. The other thing to consider is when and how. If you were baptized as a baby, then you should be baptized as an adult who is willing to repent of their sins and declare Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

i personally was not baptised as an infant, i was 7...anyways...i was just wondering if you knew where they got this idea from?

 

[jcright]

i personally was not baptised as an infant, i was 7...anyways...i was just wondering if you knew where they got this idea from?

Unless they are complete separatists, then I don't know. Aside from infant baptism, I would think that you should not have to be baptized between denominations. However, I don't necessarily see it as a bad idea (providing it's done willingly). Physical Baptism doesn't save anyway, so it doesn't really matter how many times you go through it. I can see where you might want to do it again if you go to a new church (even if it is the same denom) because you want everyone to know that you do accept Jesus and that you approve of the church and are willing to make that church your new family. Not necessary, but it would be good for the congregation so that they know.

 

[BT]

Hi Crys

 

[SumTinWong]

i personally was not baptised as an infant, i was 7...anyways...i was just wondering if you knew where they got this idea from?

I honestly would ask your folks, why they feel this way, as it is new to me. I know some feel that you should be baptized as an adult instead of a child, and may ask you if you want to make the choice yourself as an adult, but otherwise, I don't believe they would have "made" someone do it.

At our church it is your choice, but Cathoic, Orthodox, or whatever, all baptisms are considered equal.

 

[Gold Dragon]

I guess a better question for Baptists would be if you required someone coming from a different denomination to be rebaptized.

1. Baptised as an infant?
2. Baptised by sprinkling?

3. Baptised by immersion as a
a. Roman Catholic?
b. Eastern Orthodox?
c. Anglican/Episcopal?
d. Lutheran?
e. Reformed?
d. Presbyterian?
f. Methodist?
g. Anabaptist?
h. Church of Christ?
i. 7th Day Adventist?
j. United Church of Christ?
k. Pentecostal?
l. Word-of-Faith?
m. Oneness Pentecostal?
n. Mormon?
o. Jehovah's Witness?

 

[CrystalBrooke]

Hi Crys

you remembered me even tho i changed my name?! ive missed you!! btw...now at school more ppl are calling my Crys more than ever lol

 

[BT]

I guess a better question for Baptists would be if you required someone coming from a different denomination to be rebaptized.

1. Baptised as an infant? - Yes
2. Baptised by sprinkling? -Yes

3. Baptised by immersion as a
a. Roman Catholic? - Yes
b. Eastern Orthodox? - Yes
c. Anglican/Episcopal? - Yes
d. Lutheran? - Yes
e. Reformed? - Depends (there are many "reformed" churches)
d. Presbyterian? - Yes
f. Methodist? - not sure
g. Anabaptist? - no
h. Church of Christ? - depends
i. 7th Day Adventist? - Yes
j. United Church of Christ? - not sure
k. Pentecostal? - No
l. Word-of-Faith? - depends (mabey Yes)
m. Oneness Pentecostal? Yes
n. Mormon? - Yes (though they have likely been baptised 100 times already)
o. Jehovah's Witness? - Yes


I'm editing this to clarify... Would I require them to be rebaptised? Perhaps not in every situation.. Would I suggest they get rebaptised... refer to the list...

Just wanted to clarify between requirement and suggestion...

 

[CrystalBrooke]

2. Baptised by sprinkling?

how would that effect anything?

 

[SumTinWong]

I guess a better question for Baptists would be if you required someone coming from a different denomination to be rebaptized.

1. Baptised as an infant? NO but they would be asked if they would like to make the choice on their own.
2. Baptised by sprinkling? NO

3. Baptised by immersion as a
a. Roman Catholic? NO
b. Eastern Orthodox? NO
c. Anglican/Episcopal? NO
d. Lutheran? NO
e. Reformed? NO
d. Presbyterian? NO
f. Methodist? NO
g. Anabaptist? NO
h. Church of Christ? NO
i. 7th Day Adventist? Don't know enough about them.
j. United Church of Christ? Don't know enough about them.
k. Pentecostal? NO
l. Word-of-Faith? NO
m. Oneness Pentecostal? Don't know enough about them.
n. Mormon? Yes they are not from Christian religion
o. Jehovah's Witness? Yes they are not from Christian religion

 

[SumTinWong]

how would that effect anything?

Many Baptists are literal in trying to recreate the Baptism that Jesus himself had. Which in those days they believe was dunking, not sprinkling.

 

[John 15:13]

Baptism is public confession. I won't argue that it does something to you inside but the true change takes place when you get your real heart back. It is the change that takes place when you become a believer by confessing to God that you are a sinner and that you desire to be reconciled to Him and that Jesus is the only way.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

thank you everybody i guess i'll just ask my mom...or even better my uncle, who is a preacher...if i find out i'll come back and tell you since you know as much about it as i do lol

 

[Gold Dragon]

e. Reformed? - Depends (there are many "reformed" churches)

Thanks for pointing this ambiguity out BT.

By Reformed, I was referring to churches that originated from the Swiss Reformed tradition of John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli.

 

[ZiSunka]

hello all its been a while since ive been in here....but i would like to ask a question, bc i never really understood it when i was Baptist. i had always heard that being Baptised once was enough, which i believe....but my family has always said that if you convert to a different denomination, you must be baptised into it. I dont really understand why, they are a christians too, i was baptised in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit...i dont see why my family thinks that you must be baptised everytime you switch a denom. and since my family is baptist i thought you guys could help me.

thanks in advance

Being baptized once IS enough if it is a valid baptism. Protestants becoming catholic are re-baptized because catholics don't accept the baptism of protestants, and catholics becoming protestant are re-baptized because protestants don't accept the baptism of catholics. There are a few exceptions, but basically this is the reason. I have switched denominations many times, but I have only been baptized as an adult once because most denoms accept each other's baptisms as valid.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

Most Catholics do accept baptism of a Protestant, as long as you're baptised in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit it is valid, but there are usually some ppl that may not...but i asked them in OBOB and they said my baptism was perfectly valid for them.