Baptism belief(s)?

[PaleHorse]

Hello all,
First I want to apologize for my ignorance regarding many Messianic doctrines; while our faiths are pretty close on many points the subject of baptism has never come up between me and some other Messianics I used to chat with.

My question(s) is:
Do Messianics believe in baptism? If so, is there a particular method of baptism you adhere to? For instance, in my church our baptisms are done by immersion. And lastly, if you practice baptism by immersion do you have an opinion on if the water must be moving (like a river perhaps) or can a pool suffice?

I thank you in advance for any information you can offer.

Shalom

 

[Wags]

Hello all,
First I want to apologize for my ignorance regarding many Messianic doctrines; while our faiths are pretty close on many points the subject of baptism has never come up between me and some other Messianics I used to chat with.

My question(s) is:
Do Messianics believe in baptism? If so, is there a particular method of baptism you adhere to? For instance, in my church our baptisms are done by immersion. And lastly, if you practice baptism by immersion do you have an opinion on if the water must be moving (like a river perhaps) or can a pool suffice?

I thank you in advance for any information you can offer.

Shalom

Unlike the SDA church, Messianic judaism is a congregational movement, so there isn't anything like the GC to forumlate practice for everyone who calls themselves messianic.

Baptism or Mikvah was/is traditionally done in mayim hayim (living water) which would mean moving water or as some rabbis have described it - a place where fish live naturally (not an aquarium). It also involves full immersion. However, unlike the tradional protestant baptism with the pastor being in the pool holding his hand over the canidates head, there are witness(es) that stand on the bank/shore. Partially to be a witness and partially to make sure there is full immersion.

 

[PaleHorse]

Unlike the SDA church, Messianic judaism is a congregational movement, so there isn't anything like the GC to forumlate practice for everyone who calls themselves messianic.

Baptism or Mikvah was/is traditionally done in mayim hayim (living water) which would mean moving water or as some rabbis have described it - a place where fish live naturally (not an aquarium). It also involves full immersion. However, unlike the tradional protestant baptism with the pastor being in the pool holding his hand over the canidates head, there are witness(es) that stand on the bank/shore. Partially to be a witness and partially to make sure there is full immersion.

Thank you for your answer, this helps me out a lot. You see, I too believe that baptisms should be done in living water but I didn't have any solid scriptural reason (other than examples in the NT) that supported my view. Your answer has helped more than you know.

Thank you very very much!

May I use your answer in my forum? I'd like to open a discussion about baptism (with living water/mayim hayim being my main point) and provide this information in it.

 

[Wags]

Sure you can use my answer if you'd like. But I would suggest you google "Mikvah" so that you get all points of view on it. (There is an old saying - "two Jews, three opinions" )

Read the story of Na'aman - although his case wasn't about baptism per say, he was told to go dip himself in the Jordon river 7 times...

 

[PaleHorse]

Sure you can use my answer if you'd like. But I would suggest you google "Mikvah" so that you get all points of view on it. (There is an old saying - "two Jews, three opinions" )

Hahaha! (that was funny)

I will do that (Googling mikvah) - and I again thank you for your time.

Peace

 

[DavidHaCohen]

Hi!
For more information on the mikveh and the roots of Christian baptism, check out the Jewish Encyclopedia:

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=222&letter=B&search=immersion

Hope this helps somehow

Dave

 

[PaleHorse]

Hi!
For more information on the mikveh and the roots of Christian baptism, check out the Jewish Encyclopedia:

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=222&letter=B&search=immersion

Hope this helps somehow

Dave

I am sure it will. Thank you for the link!

 

[P_G]

Just to chime in a bit as a pastor of a messianic congregation

I absolutely agree that the baptism or Mikvah must be done in living or open water (running) And though I will be in the water with the person being baptized it is so that the confession of faith might be heard and also for some obvious safety reasons (We typically baptize in the Deleware river and it can be pretty fast moving)

Our congregation holds to this being a lasting ordinance of the faith from the begining. I think that the difference between how Messianics view Baptism and how the western church see's it is that the western church sees Baptism as a soley "New Testement" event or ordinance. The messianic see's it as something that that was given to the people from a very early time for the submission to G-d and obedience to him.

PG

 

[PaleHorse]

Just to chime in a bit as a pastor of a messianic congregation

I absolutely agree that the baptism or Mikvah must be done in living or open water (running) And though I will be in the water with the person being baptized it is so that the confession of faith might be heard and also for some obvious safety reasons (We typically baptize in the Deleware river and it can be pretty fast moving)

Our congregation holds to this being a lasting ordinance of the faith from the begining. I think that the difference between how Messianics view Baptism and how the western church see's it is that the western church sees Baptism as a soley "New Testement" event or ordinance. The messianic see's it as something that that was given to the people from a very early time for the submission to G-d and obedience to him.

PG

I would have to agree with you though I hadn't really considered it before; we are told in the New Testement that the children of Israel were baptized during the Exodus when the waters were parted to aid in their escape from Pharaoh.

Thank you for adding this consideration! All of your answers have been very helpful.

 

[debi b]

Talk of mayim chaim brings this to mind:

Jeremiah 2:13 YHWH identifies himself as mayim chaim.

Yeshua said during the Festival of Sukkot:
Jhn 7:38
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water (mayim chaim)."