Response to Irene

[foadle]

Irene, I hope you don't mind my starting this thread but I did not want to detract from the glory given to God in your thread so thought it best to start this one so that if people do disagree and decide to argue (hope they won't but I see the potential) then your thread still praises our God.
In relation to your baptising of your son:
Honey YOU WERE IN CHURCH. We are the church. Jesus said where two or three are gathered in His name there He is in the midst of us (Matt 18:20). Now that sounds pretty much like church to me. Church is the gathering of people to worship and glorify God and to do as He has asked us on the earth. And what has He asked us but that as part of our job we baptize. So proud of you because church (in the traditional sense) is there to equip the brethren that we (the true church) can effectively take the anointing of God out there to the world. We are all called to be Marketplace kings and priest.
God bless and keep you and your son.

 

[irenemcg]

Yep exactly we are the church.

Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

So I did as the commission says!

 

[foadle]

You did and so often we minimalise that because we don't recognise it for what it is
Go in peace

 

[DianeL]

I have a story to share........

A friend of mine relocated to another province and started attending a small apostolic church.

While having fellowship with the pastor and his wife, they spoke about a man who presented himself at the church, said he needed Jesus and asked to be water baptised.

The history of this man is mental illness and this small community was regarded as 'odd' and 'creepy'.

This man came to the church in a very disheleved and dirty state and the pastor told him to go home and clean up then come back.

My friend was telling me this as she is a new believer and was asking me why the pastor sent him away and didn't discern the opportunity to baptise him.

This man took his life a few weeks later.

On the phone, my friend and I both mourned for this man that we never knew.

My friend is a mental health & addiction registered nurse manager. I worked many years in administration in the mental health & addiction program.

It's most likely why I was crying when I read Irene's praise post, I'm praying that if someone, anyone, presents themselves in that way at my local church, they aren't told the same thing.

I have a tub and it's empty most of the time just waiting

 

[he4rty]

I do attend a Baptist church and for me the biggest stumbling block I have come across is the requirement for baptismal classes, why we can't just have the pool full every Sunday ready I don't know?

 

[lismore]

why we can't just have the pool full every Sunday ready I don't know?

Religion.

 

[irenemcg]

I have a story to share........

A friend of mine relocated to another province and started attending a small apostolic church.

While having fellowship with the pastor and his wife, they spoke about a man who presented himself at the church, said he needed Jesus and asked to be water baptised.

The history of this man is mental illness and this small community was regarded as 'odd' and 'creepy'.

This man came to the church in a very disheleved and dirty state and the pastor told him to go home and clean up then come back.

My friend was telling me this as she is a new believer and was asking me why the pastor sent him away and didn't discern the opportunity to baptise him.

This man took his life a few weeks later.

On the phone, my friend and I both mourned for this man that we never knew.

My friend is a mental health & addiction registered nurse manager. I worked many years in administration in the mental health & addiction program.

It's most likely why I was crying when I read Irene's praise post, I'm praying that if someone, anyone, presents themselves in that way at my local church, they aren't told the same thing.

I have a tub and it's empty most of the time just waiting

Sad so sad, I have worked with many with mental health problems both in Nursing and in the Salt and Light Ministry as well as having experienced seeing my own sons problems. Fortunately my church would not turn someone away because they are dirty looking if they are looking for Jesus but they might not baptize him straight away. But someone would talk to him about salvation and there would be follow up.

 

[foadle]

I believe that people should understand what baptism is about. Paul explained it to the eunuch before he batised him. However this is not a long process. 2-3min at most is all it really needs making sure the person understands that it is a dieing to self and a rising to life in Christ Jesus. A friend of mine her son was deaf and mute. At two he was asking to be baptised but she refused but for six months he kept on her about it and so she spoke to her pastor. He was baptised and delivered that same moment!