Can You Get Baptized in a Swimming Pool?

[KnightForChrist82]

When you are baptized, does it have to be in front of the church your a member of or can it be in something as simple as a swimming pool?

The reason I ask, one of my best friends is a minister/preacher, and he has offered time and time again to baptize me in his swimming pool. I was over there some time ago, and I told him I wanted to be baptized again, because when I did it when I was younger, I had no idea what I was doing, and he was like "Well we can go out to the pool now!" and I was like "well let me pray about it first, because I feel I should probably do it within my church."

I didnt get a chance to attend church this past Sunday to ask my pastor.

But I feel strongly I should do it at my church though. We are of different faiths, but wanted to get some opinons from people that are Baptists like me. Thanks in advance!

 

[Webers_Home]

.
Candace's treasurer underwent baptism out in the boonies where no church existed (Act 8:27-39). However, in your case I would highly recommend a church service since you will never feel right about it if you don't; in other words: never settle for something less than what your conscience can stand.

†. Rom 14:5 . . One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

C.L.I.F.F.
/

 

[GrampaJeff]

I agree with Webers. If it doesn't agree with your convictions, then a swimming pool is probably not the best place. However, if performed in the right Christian "context", there is nothing scripturally wrong with a baptism performed in a swimming pool.
Many may disagree here because of a traditional viewpoint, but then to say it's biblically wrong, we may be touching a little on legalism. A subject for another forum.

In Christ, Jeff

 

[Dogperson]

I think it would be OK if you felt it was OK in your heart. But since you really feel led to do it within your own church, that would probably be best as you will feel better about it & will possibly get more of a blessing from the experience because you are following your heart.
After all, a baptismal is really sort of a pool, if you think of a pool as just being a receptacle for water. Also, I grew up way out in the country & never saw a church with a baptismal until I was a grown woman, so all the churches in my area baptized in rivers in the old-fashioned way. I'm sure that when churches began doing it indoors in baptismals that there were people who didn't like them & wanted to keep to the old ways. This is only my opinion, but if you'd felt led by the Spirit to be baptized right then & there by this preacher, it probably would have been OK. Remember the Ethiopian in Acts who said something to the effect of, "Here is water. What prevents me from being baptized?"
Best of luck to you in whatever you decide.

 

[nobdysfool]

I agree with Webers. If it doesn't agree with your convictions, then a swimming pool is probably not the best place. However, if performed in the right Christian "context", there is nothing scripturally wrong with a baptism performed in a swimming pool.
Many may disagree here because of a traditional viewpoint, but then to say it's biblically wrong, we may be touching a little on legalism. A subject for another forum.

In Christ, Jeff

While technically, water is water, if you don't feel comfortable doing it in a swimming pool, then don't. if you believe that God sanctions only the baptistry in your own church for the purpose, then you will wrestle with your conscience until you do it "right".

My only concern in that is it sounds as though you're trying to please God by your own actions. I don't believe He is as concerned with where or how you get baptized, as he is that you DO get baptized. John baptized in the River Jordan. It was just a river, nothing holy or sanctified about the location.

 

[mlqurgw]

While technically, water is water, if you don't feel comfortable doing it in a swimming pool, then don't. if you believe that God sanctions only the baptistry in your own church for the purpose, then you will wrestle with your conscience until you do it "right".

My only concern in that is it sounds as though you're trying to please God by your own actions. I don't believe He is as concerned with where or how you get baptized, as he is that you DO get baptized. John baptized in the River Jordan. It was just a river, nothing holy or sanctified about the location.

I agree. I would be a little concerned that being baptized in a church holds so much weight with anyone. Baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God and a public declaration of our faith but it doesn't matter where we are baptized. If you feel more comfortable doing it in the church then do so but just make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons. Baptism isn't a sacrament through which we receive the grace of God or the blessings of God. It is a symbolic ordinance by which we identify ourselves with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It confers nothing on us any more than the bread and wine do. Both are symbols in a physical world of something that is spiritual. The water isn't sacred or holy any more than the bread and wine are sacred or holy. They are just water, bread and wine. I would advise you to not be baptized until you understand what it means and what it is. Baptism doesn't save so there is no great urgency in it.

 

[KnightForChrist82]

Thanks everyone for your input.

I do understand what baptism means now as an adult, and I believe baptism is not what saves you. I do believe we should do it in obedience to Him.

The idea of just going out to my friends back yard and getting dunked I guess just sounded so simple to me, that I wanted to get some other opinions from some fellow Baptists, and make sure I wasn't missing any scripture that pointed out if it mattered where, because I am still reading reading the Bible completely for the first time this year.

Personally, I would rather get baptized in church. I would like to show the congregation my act of obiedence and express it.

Thanks again everyone, God bless!

 

[jpcedotal]

Isn't it an old Methodist joke that still water baptisms are just dunking people in everyone else's sin?

I am a Baptist and I have been baptized in a church "what-u-ma-call-it", but I have been giving this some thought and prayer and I think I am going to rededicate my life to Christ and get baptized again. ..this time in a stream or river.

Just seems right...more cleansing, to me.

 

[Vince53]

I was baptized in a creek. But I'm a little suspicious about your friend's eagerness to baptize you without your pastor knowing about it.

 

[sealacamp]

When you are baptized, does it have to be in front of the church your a member of or can it be in something as simple as a swimming pool?

I don't think it matters one way or the other. God looks in our hearts not our "rituals" and what is in our hearts is what matters so much more than what we do. Not that baptism is unimportant, however it is more important to be right on the inside that to look right on the outside.

Sealacamp

 

[JCFantasy23]

Thanks everyone for your input.

I do understand what baptism means now as an adult, and I believe baptism is not what saves you. I do believe we should do it in obedience to Him.

The idea of just going out to my friends back yard and getting dunked I guess just sounded so simple to me, that I wanted to get some other opinions from some fellow Baptists, and make sure I wasn't missing any scripture that pointed out if it mattered where, because I am still reading reading the Bible completely for the first time this year.

Personally, I would rather get baptized in church. I would like to show the congregation my act of obiedence and express it.

Thanks again everyone, God bless!

I agree with those who say do what feels right to you. Sounds like you are wanting a special, beautiful experience

 

[JCFantasy23]

I was baptized in a creek. But I'm a little suspicious about your friend's eagerness to baptize you without your pastor knowing about it.

It does seem a little strange how eager he is about it, but who knows? The OP has already been baptised so it's not because the person believes he can only be saved through baptism and wants to 'hurry up and get it done'. Perhaps he's just in the mood to baptise someone, or he just always wanted to baptise someone in his pool?

The creek would be neat to be baptized at, was the water cold?

 

[shelovesChrist]

God understands your heart. I used to be so afraid that I would do it "wrong" but God knows your intentions. I'm getting baptized soon and I simply can't wait. I'm excited and just know that God will be there as He was for Jesus. He was proud of Jesus being baptized and He will be proud of us too.

Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Phillip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Phillip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Phillip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

 

[shelovesChrist]

God understands your heart. I used to be so afraid that I would do it "wrong" but God knows your intentions. I'm getting baptized soon and I simply can't wait. I'm excited and just know that God will be there as He was for Jesus. He was proud of Jesus being baptized and He will be proud of us too.

Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Phillip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Phillip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Phillip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

 

[shelovesChrist]

God understands your heart. I used to be so afraid that I would do it "wrong" but God knows your intentions. I'm getting baptized soon and I simply can't wait. I'm excited and just know that God will be there as He was for Jesus. He was proud of Jesus being baptized and He will be proud of us too.

Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Phillip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Phillip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Phillip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

 

[powermadd400ex]

i think the power is in the word and the Holy Spirit, not in how/who is baptizing.

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

I saw this post and will add that in Orange Beach, Alabama at least one Baptist church does baptisms in the Gulf (ocean). It's a very big church right on the beach. Very beautiful indeed!

Jeff

 

[Robissaved]

When you are baptized, does it have to be in front of the church your a member of or can it be in something as simple as a swimming pool?

The reason I ask, one of my best friends is a minister/preacher, and he has offered time and time again to baptize me in his swimming pool. I was over there some time ago, and I told him I wanted to be baptized again, because when I did it when I was younger, I had no idea what I was doing, and he was like "Well we can go out to the pool now!" and I was like "well let me pray about it first, because I feel I should probably do it within my church."

I didnt get a chance to attend church this past Sunday to ask my pastor.

But I feel strongly I should do it at my church though. We are of different faiths, but wanted to get some opinons from people that are Baptists like me. Thanks in advance!

The profession of faith is the same as if it took place anywhere else. Baptism is simply a public display of a change that has already taken place within ones heart. I was Baptized in the ocean and it holds a special place in my memory though I was very young, I am encouraged when I see someone who gets Baptized, I think that is its intent, that all our faiths may be stronger in Christ through the witnessing of others commiting there lives to him. What a blessing it would be if we were able to see someone Baptized every day of the week!!

 

[wpbarrett]

Charles Stanley baptized a young girl in a swimming pool or hot tub on a cruise ship. I've seen him preach about it. God can turn a tub into the Jordan River if he wishes to.

God's Grace, Bill

 

[KnightForChrist82]

Well today is my baptism and my pastor of my church will be baptizing me. We are all being baptized at a church member's house in a hot tub lol. Which is kinda funny because I was worried if being baptized in the back yard of a friend in a pool, but now my church is doing is at a church member's jaccuzzi. I am so excited though!

Thanks everyone for your input.