Is it possible to be baptised into Christianity without PROFESSING belief?

[nathanielfirst]

I know people like Lutherans, Catholics insist on a lot of doctrinal instruction, answering questions, believing a catechism, is there anywheres you can just go get baptised, what you believe is between you and God, no questioning? I'm knowledgeable about the Bible, but my conclusions are a bit unorthodox, not terribly. It has to do with the nature of the trinity among other things, so I do not want to answer lots of questions, 'Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?' etc., I am not anything close to unitarian, I do believe in the definite importance of the Bible as a holy book. My problem is a desire to be baptized without lying to someone about what I think. Who does this some type of revivalist or baptist?

 

[Albion]

I know people like Lutherans, Catholics insist on a lot of doctrinal instruction, answering questions, believing a catechism, is there anywheres you can just go get baptised, what you believe is between you and God, no questioning? I'm knowledgeable about the Bible, but my conclusions are a bit unorthodox, not terribly. It has to do with the nature of the trinity among other things, so I do not want to answer lots of questions, 'Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?' etc., I am not anything close to unitarian, I do believe in the definite importance of the Bible as a holy book. My problem is a desire to be baptized without lying to someone about what I think. Who does this some type of revivalist or baptist?

Truth be told, there are not a lot of questions that must be answered by the candidate for baptism. In my church (which is very decidedly Trinitarian), what the adult candidate is actually asked to affirm is his renunciation of Satan, his acceptance of Christ, and his acceptance of the Apostles' Creed. The answer to your question, therefore, in a technical sense at least, seems to be "yes."

Many churches, such as those you mentioned, do have a lot of instruction in the faith, yet the baptismal ceremony itself is remarkably simple on that score. Most of the really specific doctrinal stuff is done in preparation for Confirmation, not Baptism.

You seem to be saying that you don't believe in the Trinity but not in the opposite of that, either (Unitarianism); however, there probably is a Christian church which believes close to what you believe, and I'd recommend consulting them about your desire to be baptised. I can think of several well-known and mainline denominations that have a very loose or imprecise statement about the Trinity as part of their creed.

BTW Christian churches generally consider each other's baptisms to be valid wiithout sorting through and evaluating the particular doctrines espoused by the church doing the baptism. Even if some other churches had doubts about your baptism, the church administering it to you would consider its own baptism valid--obviously--which I assume is all the reassurance you would need.

 

[Mobiosity]

I know people like Lutherans, Catholics insist on a lot of doctrinal instruction, answering questions, believing a catechism, is there anywheres you can just go get baptised, what you believe is between you and God, no questioning? I'm knowledgeable about the Bible, but my conclusions are a bit unorthodox, not terribly. It has to do with the nature of the trinity among other things, so I do not want to answer lots of questions, 'Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?' etc., I am not anything close to unitarian, I do believe in the definite importance of the Bible as a holy book. My problem is a desire to be baptized without lying to someone about what I think. Who does this some type of revivalist or baptist?

If you can't find a denomination to your liking, create your own.
Maybe you can find someone who agrees with your belief and you can baptize each other.

 

[heron]

Questions -- sometimes churches require a year- or month-long class, or require membership involved.

All the non-denominational churches I have been to, ask for one meeting or less beforehand. The pastor does most of the talking. The attempt to explain baptism and salvation, and also where they will stand in the event. The churches that do immersion baptisms will remind people to bring a change of clothes.

I have been to pond and swimming pool baptisms, where they openly ask anyone who wants to come, without questions. Some of these are very beautiful.

 

[nathanielfirst]

thanks for the advice!

You seem to be saying that you don't believe in the Trinity but not in the opposite of that, either (Unitarianism); however, there probably is a Christian church which believes close to what you believe, and I'd recommend consulting them about your desire to be baptised. I can think of several well-known and mainline denominations that have a very loose or imprecise statement about the Trinity as part of their creed.

the direction I am coming from is to read the bible and believe only what is in the bible, there are plenty of protestant denominations that preach something similar, however I believe they also add stuff.
as far as the trinity, me, I think based on what I've read, that there isn't enough evidence to say whether it exists or not... undecided. So you see, I can't be baptised into something that REQUIRES me to state belief in that. from my understanding unitarians might accept that but they are usually fairly socially liberal... and based on what I've read, that wouldn't really fly.
you seem fairly knowledgable about this. Which denominations would you be referring to?

 

[freak_conformist]

What is the point of getting baptised then? Being baptised without believing in what you are getting baptised for is like taking a bath. In public. With your cloths on, yuck.
Truely, the only thing you have to believe is that Jesus Christ died for your sins, if you're having a hard time with that then you should have a talk with your pastor or an elder.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I know people like Lutherans, Catholics insist on a lot of doctrinal instruction, answering questions, believing a catechism, is there anywheres you can just go get baptised, what you believe is between you and God, no questioning? I'm knowledgeable about the Bible, but my conclusions are a bit unorthodox, not terribly. It has to do with the nature of the trinity among other things, so I do not want to answer lots of questions, 'Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?' etc., I am not anything close to unitarian, I do believe in the definite importance of the Bible as a holy book. My problem is a desire to be baptized without lying to someone about what I think. Who does this some type of revivalist or baptist?

I'm confused on what you believe exactly. If we knew a bit more it may be easier to pinpoint. I know with most Lutheran churches there is generally a class before becoming a member, and you must get baptized, but I am not sure if you have to believe in everything they do or not before they will baptize you.

One suggestion is if you know a pastor or someone who does, ask him to give you a private baptism.

 

[heron]

people like Lutherans, Catholics insist on a lot of doctrinal instruction, answering questions, believing a catechism

This is what he's talking about, not strange conflicts in doctrine. He just wants a simple baptism.

 

[Albion]

thanks for the advice!



the direction I am coming from is to read the bible and believe only what is in the bible, there are plenty of protestant denominations that preach something similar, however I believe they also add stuff.

I am pretty sure that you'd find that each of them doesn't believe that it's added anything. So, what you are speaking of is a difference of interpretation of the same data--the Bible.

as far as the trinity, me, I think based on what I've read, that there isn't enough evidence to say whether it exists or not... undecided. So you see, I can't be baptised into something that REQUIRES me to state belief in that.

I understand but, as I was saying before, there are Christian churches which are NOT Trinitarian (although most are), and these would seem to be reasonable candidates for your baptism. The United Pentecostal Church, some of the Quakers, and the United Church of Christ come to mind as examples.

from my understanding unitarians might accept that but they are usually fairly socially liberal... and based on what I've read, that wouldn't really fly.

I agree there. You are not wanting a church that is sooooo far out of the mainstream on almost all issues that it goes far beyond your own reservations. But there are others that are not on the level of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

you seem fairly knowledgable about this. Which denominations would you be referring to?

I guess we already covered that above, didn't we? That's what I get for answering a post as I'm reading it rather than reading the whole thing through first!

My suggestion would be to inquire with those churches I named above after taking a closer look at each one's overall style and belief system, etc. The United Pentecostal Church is absolutely anti-Trinitarian, but you might have reservations with other of its beliefs. The other two are not specifically anti-Trinitarian but are accepting of those who do not buy into the particular definition that we call Trinitarian, considering it open to question or personal interpretation--which I think is close to what you've told us you are after.

 

[Aibrean]

Lutherans, Catholics insist on a lot of doctrinal instruction, answering questions, believing a catechism

Um..my baptism at a Lutheran church (as an adult) did not involve much. I wasn't ever a catechumen because I wasn't raised in the Lutheran church. I did have a class in learning about the Lutheran church in order to become a member. The questions for baptism were VERY simple and really, should be asked.

P is pastor and B is the baptized adult. In the case of infant baptism, the congregation speaks on behalf of the child.

P: The Lord preserve your coming in and going out now and forevermore.

P: Name, do you renounce the devil?

B: I renounce.

P: And all his works?

B: I renounce.

P: And all his ways?

B: I renounce.

P: Do you believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?

B: I believe.

P: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead?

B: I believe.

P: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?

B: I believe.

P: Do you desire to be baptized?

B: I do.

P: Name, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Minister anoints the baptized on the forehead saying:

P: The almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you a rebirth through water and the Holy Spirit and has forgiven you all your sin, strengthen you with his grace to life everlasting.

C: Amen.

A white robe may be put on the baptized while the Minister says:

P: Receive this white garment to show that Christ has taken away and borne your sin and put on you his perfect righteousness. So shall you in faith ever stand before him.

A white candle may be lit from the Paschal Candle and given to the baptized while the Minister says:

P: Receive also this burning torch. Live always by the light of Christ, and be ever watchful for his coming, that you may meet him with joy and enter with him into the marriage feast of the Lamb in his kingdom that shall have no end. Peace † be with you.

 

[Trust--N--Him]

heaven is real, believe and then get baptized!!!!