A Question On Baptism

[Sean611]

I have a question that relates to baptism. A cousin of mine recently left the Jehovah's Witness cult, thanks be to God!

He has asked me if he needs to be re-baptized and the situation is so unique to anything I've heard, I honestly do not know the answer. First of all, he was baptized in the Methodist Church as a child. When he joined the Watchtower cult, he was required to write a letter to his Methodist parish and inform them that he was rejecting his baptism and he wished his name to be taken off the books. He was then baptized into the Jehovah's Witness organization, which is not done using the trinitarian formula.

I understand that one baptism is good for all time, but this situation is so muddy I wasn't sure what to tell him.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!!

 

[Albion]

I have a question that relates to baptism. A cousin of mine recently left the Jehovah's Witness cult, thanks be to God!

He has asked me if he needs to be re-baptized and the situation is so unique to anything I've heard, I honestly do not know the answer. First of all, he was baptized in the Methodist Church as a child. When he joined the Watchtower cult, he was required to write a letter to his Methodist parish and inform them that he was rejecting his baptism and he wished his name to be taken off the books. He was then baptized into the Jehovah's Witness organization, which is not done using the trinitarian formula.

I understand that one baptism is good for all time, but this situation is so muddy I wasn't sure what to tell him.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!!

It's a special case, all right, and tricky to answer off the cuff. I would say, however, that the Methodist baptism cannot be repeated and is valid, despite the letter that was written later on.

We believe that it's God who ordains the sacrament. It does not become whatever it is because of Man's ideas about it. IOW, this baptism would be in about the same category as any infant baptism where the person being baptized does not come to the sacrament with full comprehension and permission, but yet it does what we believe the sacrament does and is indelible.

A person who's been baptized can renounce the faith of, course, but that doesn't negate the baptism. What your cousin is doing now is renouncing the JW "baptism," which wasn't a valid baptism, both because it was an impermissible re-baptism and not done in the name of the Triune God either.

 

[PaladinValer]

I have a question that relates to baptism. A cousin of mine recently left the Jehovah's Witness cult, thanks be to God!

I personally wouldn't call it a "cult", but this is, indeed, most excellent news that he has left that heretical group and wishes to become a Christian (again?)!

He has asked me if he needs to be re-baptized and the situation is so unique to anything I've heard, I honestly do not know the answer. First of all, he was baptized in the Methodist Church as a child. When he joined the Watchtower cult, he was required to write a letter to his Methodist parish and inform them that he was rejecting his baptism and he wished his name to be taken off the books. He was then baptized into the Jehovah's Witness organization, which is not done using the trinitarian formula.

He is baptized; his rejection of it doesn't change God's work initially done. It was sinful, but then again, we sin all the time and that doesn't invalidate our baptisms.

The next step for your cousin will be to receive Confirmation. And given your posts here, I would heartily recommend you volunteer yourself to teach and guide him. Be sure to notify the bishop who will confirm to include the Holy Chrism.

I understand that one baptism is good for all time, but this situation is so muddy I wasn't sure what to tell him.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!!

See my above. The baptism done under the auspices of the Methodists is perfectly valid and no amount of rejection of it changes what God did. Remember always: Sacraments are God's works; the minister may pour the water or dunk the person but it is God's work that works the grace.

Your cousin has a valid baptism; he just needs to reclaim it by Holy Reconciliation and confirm it by Confirmation with Holy Chrismation.

 

[Sean611]

I personally wouldn't call it a "cult", but this is, indeed, most excellent news that he has left that heretical group and wishes to become a Christian (again?)!

I spent the first 17 years of my life in the Watchtower cult, I can assure you that it is indeed a cult. It may not be to the level of a Jim Jones cult, but it is a cult nevertheless and dangerous. What they present to a person at the front door and the reality of living a life that pleases the elders and the men in Brooklyn are quite different from one another. Some will say that those who left are just bitter and they exaggerate, but I can assure anyone reading this that a majority of the awful stories you may have read about them are most likely very true.

Thanks, it is great news!! He is indeed interested in Christianity and becoming a Christian again.

He is baptized; his rejection of it doesn't change God's work initially done. It was sinful, but then again, we sin all the time and that doesn't invalidate our baptisms.

Indeed, that is what I was thinking and I appreciate you and Albion for affirming it.

The next step for your cousin will be to receive Confirmation. And given your posts here, I would heartily recommend you volunteer yourself to teach and guide him. Be sure to notify the bishop who will confirm to include the Holy Chrism.

I'm taking it slow with him, but he is indeed interested in Anglicanism. I appreciate your endorsement of me, I will certainly try my best.

See my above. The baptism done under the auspices of the Methodists is perfectly valid and no amount of rejection of it changes what God did. Remember always: Sacraments are God's works; the minister may pour the water or dunk the person but it is God's work that works the grace.

Your cousin has a valid baptism; he just needs to reclaim it by Holy Reconciliation and confirm it by Confirmation with Holy Chrismation.

Indeed, I want to thank you and Albion for your help!