Getting baptised a second time for a new church

[Sune]

Hi all, I moved overseas half a year ago and began attending a local Baptist church. I was baptised as a baby, and don't particularly strongly about the infant baptism/believer baptism debate. In order to be a full member of my new church I have asked to be baptised there, however, I feel slightly uneasy as my grasp of the local language is not very strong so I understand little of the sermons, and the doctrines of the church. However what I do understand is sound, and the congregation and atmosphere of the church is one of the most Christlike I have ever seen (tiny congregation!)... I initially chose the church because the Baptist denomination seemed to be the closest to my own beliefs (Calvinist).
Should I reconsider the baptism? I long to be a full member and join in communion.

 

[Sabertooth]

Baptist do not recognize infant baptism. From that perspective, it will be your first relevant baptism.

(FYI, some people who recommit after backsliding opt to get baptized again. It isn't really required, but I don't think that it offends God for them to do so.)

 

[tturt]

Maybe it's not being baptized that's causing "...slightly uneasy..."

Encourage you to ask the Lord.

Otherwise, I would just get baptized.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Hi all, I moved overseas half a year ago and began attending a local Baptist church. I was baptised as a baby, and don't particularly strongly about the infant baptism/believer baptism debate. In order to be a full member of my new church I have asked to be baptised there, however, I feel slightly uneasy as my grasp of the local language is not very strong so I understand little of the sermons, and the doctrines of the church. However what I do understand is sound, and the congregation and atmosphere of the church is one of the most Christlike I have ever seen (tiny congregation!)... I initially chose the church because the Baptist denomination seemed to be the closest to my own beliefs (Calvinist).
Should I reconsider the baptism? I long to be a full member and join in communion.

Baptism as a baby is not the same as believer's baptism, which is knowing exactly what you are doing and why. It will be your statement to the world that you are committed to Christ. Go with it. You will be glad you did.

 

[RDKirk]

Hi all, I moved overseas half a year ago and began attending a local Baptist church. I was baptised as a baby, and don't particularly strongly about the infant baptism/believer baptism debate. In order to be a full member of my new church I have asked to be baptised there, however, I feel slightly uneasy as my grasp of the local language is not very strong so I understand little of the sermons, and the doctrines of the church. However what I do understand is sound, and the congregation and atmosphere of the church is one of the most Christlike I have ever seen (tiny congregation!)... I initially chose the church because the Baptist denomination seemed to be the closest to my own beliefs (Calvinist).
Should I reconsider the baptism? I long to be a full member and join in communion.

I believe this is a situation like Timothy's circumcision in Acts 16. The early church had decreed in Acts 15 that proselytized gentiles like Timothy were not required to be circumcised. However, to remove any reason to criticize Timothy's ministry by the legal-minded Jerusalem Christians, Paul circumcised Timothy anyway.

There are certain things God prohibits and certain things He commands. Then there are those things that are basically neutral in the spiritual sense—those things that in and of themselves have no moral import or spiritual significance. Paul talks about them in Romans 14.

Those Jewish Christians who wanted to cling to some of the antiquated practices were considered by Paul to be weaker brothers, and Paul said we don’t do anything to cause the weaker brother to stumble. We want to be sensitive to the weaker brother.

Re-baptism is one of those cases. We can consider those legal-minded people as being weaker in that respect (as Paul discusses in Romans 14), and give room for their weakness when doing so is no harm to our own faith.

If the Holy Spirit is urging you to be a full member in unhindered communion with that congregation, and they believe in adult baptism, then go ahead and let them baptize you.

 

[Thera]

Hi all, I moved overseas half a year ago and began attending a local Baptist church. I was baptised as a baby, and don't particularly strongly about the infant baptism/believer baptism debate. In order to be a full member of my new church I have asked to be baptised there, however, I feel slightly uneasy as my grasp of the local language is not very strong so I understand little of the sermons, and the doctrines of the church. However what I do understand is sound, and the congregation and atmosphere of the church is one of the most Christlike I have ever seen (tiny congregation!)... I initially chose the church because the Baptist denomination seemed to be the closest to my own beliefs (Calvinist).
Should I reconsider the baptism? I long to be a full member and join in communion.

My understanding of infant baptism is that it doesn't involve full immersion, and so isn't technically a baptism according to the original meaning of the word. On this basis alone, you could submit to the church's request to be baptised.

I believe this is a situation like Timothy's circumcision in Acts 16. The early church had decreed in Acts 15 that proselytized gentiles like Timothy were not required to be circumcised. However, to remove any reason to criticize Timothy's ministry by the legal-minded Jerusalem Christians, Paul circumcised Timothy anyway.

I'm of the same view, but if the sign were still circumcision rather than baptism, it's not like one could be circumcised a second time if the church didn't accept the first.

 

[A_JAY]

.

 

[PloverWing]

In my church's tradition, we do not rebaptize someone who has already been baptized. However, I think RDKirk's answer is a good one. If you have found a good congregation that is helping you to flourish spiritually, and the only thing that stands in the way of membership is the ritual of immersion, then go ahead, out of sensitivity to your weaker brothers. It will allow you to be in full fellowship with this church that you have found.

 

[A_JAY]

I do agree with RDKIRK on all points.

I would recommend that you check out their theology before you join, noting if there is anything "quirky" in their beliefs.