should I be re-baptised?

[RJHarmony84]

I was baptised in the church that I used to go to, and it really meant nothing to me...When I asked my church elders if I could be baptised, I thought it would be that week, or maybe the next week...I was really serious in wanting to, and i'd been thinking about it for weeks before, but they insisted that I take a 6-month long therepy mentorship with an elder to prepare me. By the time it was over, I was so sick of the whole thing that the only reason I did it was to get them off my back. It really hurt, and I left the church partly because i couldn't get over the feeling of being cheated. Now I just feel sad, 'cause I hear people talk about how wonderful their baptisms were and mine was a total flop. I heard that you can be baptised more than once, and that lots of people do that...Should I be re-baptised?

 

[TheThirdLink]

I got baptized two days after I got saved. Baptism really isn't necessary for Salvation, especially a second time around, but if you want to do it, go ahead. There were many times I had to reconfess my faith to God in order to be sure I was saved.

 

[Caelum]

A second baptism will do nothing for you...if anything, its making you doubt the power of baptism to begin with. Some people have 238219301 page testimonies about how when they were born again they fell to their knees and had the weight of the world taken off their shoulders, blah blah blah. That's awesome, and I wish I could relate, however my journey with Jesus is much different, its not like anyone elses, nor is yours. Look for wonderful experiences in every day life, share them with Jesus and dont dread on what you might have thought you missed out on. Move on, you can't embrace the future if you're still living in the regrets of past.

 

[Serapha]

I was baptised in the church that I used to go to, and it really meant nothing to me...When I asked my church elders if I could be baptised, I thought it would be that week, or maybe the next week...I was really serious in wanting to, and i'd been thinking about it for weeks before, but they insisted that I take a 6-month long therepy mentorship with an elder to prepare me. By the time it was over, I was so sick of the whole thing that the only reason I did it was to get them off my back. It really hurt, and I left the church partly because i couldn't get over the feeling of being cheated. Now I just feel sad, 'cause I hear people talk about how wonderful their baptisms were and mine was a total flop. I heard that you can be baptised more than once, and that lots of people do that...Should I be re-baptised?

Hi there!



I say "go for it". Baptism is YOUR outward expression....


I want to get baptized again because I don't remember what the minister said when I was baptized, and it's become important to me, but the minister of my home church won't baptize me a second time.

I thought I would like to be baptized in the "Jordon"... but the last time I was there, I saw a rat swimming down the river. I lost my enthusiasm to be baptized there ....

<big cheesy grin>

In seriousness, it appears that your baptism was "ritual" and a fulfillment of obligation within the denomination, and not a "believer's baptism" in simple "belief".



"I baptize you, my brother, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, buried with Christ in baptism, rasied to walk in the newness of life"

If it is important to you, then do it. Some denominations require that their members be united to the church through baptism. Maybe you could be that lucky?


~serapha~

 

[NJA]

RJH - onto what were you baptised ?
If it wasn't because you wanted to live the New Life of Jesus then it wasn't unto Jesus !
In the bible people only got baptised when they understood and believed Jesus was going to do something, the apostles linked it with receiving the Holy Spirit (that new Life). Without that it's a ritual that does you no good.

The following passages should help you:-
Acts 2v37-39, 8v36-37, 10v44-48, 19v1-6

 

[rogsr]

Hello,
I was baptized when I was 4 months old. Did that really count? I was saved while crying alone on my back porch, God baptised me with my own tears. I much prefer an intimate God moment to a church moment. Run to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you, and then ask Him to come into your life, then tell Him how much you need Him and how much you love Him and want to love Him. Do this with all of your heart and you'll be good to go.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

If you were baptized with faith and full knowledge of what was going on, then it is valid. No need to be rebaptized, I would advise against it. As for studying before baptism, I think that's a great idea, but yours definately took too long. Notice however that a valid baptism is the point at which you are saved, do not call that into question.

As for you rogsr, I would advise getting baptized, for real. I can go grab some babies and toss them in a lake, but if they don't have faith in Christ and full knowledge of whats being done, then it simply is the equivalent of taking a bath.

 

[rogsr]

bizlebin,
You misunderstood my post. I was comenting on how useless it is to "baptize" unaware newborns. Then I described what I feel was my true baptism, the moments when Jesus came into my life.

 

[Karl - Liberal Backslider]

bizlebin,
You misunderstood my post. I was comenting on how useless it is to "baptize" unaware newborns. Then I described what I feel was my true baptism, the moments when Jesus came into my life.

Although by your faith icon you belong to a church that does so.

I long ago concluded that both the paedobaptist and anti-paedobaptist positions end up with their nonsenses. I favour the paedobaptist option, because when the little Backslider is born this August, we will be bringing him up as a Christian. Consequently it makes sense that he go through the Christian initiation rite at the beginning of this upbringing; but then, I'm an unashamed sacramentalist.

Back to the OPer - rebaptism? No. Again, I'm a sacramentalist - your existing baptism is valid. You may need to own it for yourself to make it efficacious. But you don't need to have it done again. A renewal of baptismal vows is always an option, and can even be done with water.

 

[BarbB]

Although by your faith icon you belong to a church that does so.

I long ago concluded that both the paedobaptist and anti-paedobaptist positions end up with their nonsenses. I favour the paedobaptist option, because when the little Backslider is born this August, we will be bringing him up as a Christian. Consequently it makes sense that he go through the Christian initiation rite at the beginning of this upbringing; but then, I'm an unashamed sacramentalist.

Back to the OPer - rebaptism? No. Again, I'm a sacramentalist - your existing baptism is valid. You may need to own it for yourself to make it efficacious. But you don't need to have it done again. A renewal of baptismal vows is always an option, and can even be done with water.

I can't help it, Backslider! I'm laughing out loud at the phrase:

when the little Backslider is born this August

I was baptised as an infant and was a very new Christian when I had the opportunity to be re-baptised in the Jordan so not wanting to "invalidate" my infant baptism I didn't do it. What a mistake! I shoulda done it! Except now I'm thinking about the rat that Serapha saw!

Anyway, I was rebaptised by immersion in April and am very glad that I did. It was my outward sign that I have accepted Jesus into my heart and that my life is very different!

btw, my church dedicates infants to Christ and then baptises them whenever they accept Jesus as their savior!

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Dedication to God was usually a lifelong thing. It seems more of a useless gesture in the case of your church. With all the change in governments and freedom, I doubt there are many, if any, infant dedications that blossom into a true OT-like follower of God. What is the purpose of this infant dedication exactly newlamb?

 

[TheThirdLink]

Dedication to God was usually a lifelong thing. It seems more of a useless gesture in the case of your church. With all the change in governments and freedom, I doubt there are many, if any, infant dedications that blossom into a true OT-like follower of God. What is the purpose of this infant dedication exactly newlamb?

Excuse me sir, but what is a sacramentalist? I have never heard of such.

 

[thereselittleflower]

I am a "sacramentalist" too.

This means that we believe God works through the physical to bring to pass the spiritual . .

Sacrements are vehicles of God's Divine Sanctifying Grace . .

Baptism is a Sacrament, which, when received, infuses the soul with God's Divine Sanctifying Grace. . . and as being a Sacrament, can only be received once. . .

If one has received baptism, a valid baptism, done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, any other baptism is useless as a Sacrametn ..

The Nicene Creed states

I beleive in ONE baptism for the remission (forgivness) of sins ..


Wether one understands its sacramental nature or not, it is still sacramental unless one purposefully intends for it not to be, . . in other words, they do not intend to do what Christ commanded . ..


My question to the OP would be, what church were you baptized into .. you speak about elders, and that is an unusal term for most Churches today . .


My response would be, if your first baptism was invalid, you most certainly SHOULD be baptized again . in the TRINITARIAN formula .. not just in the name of Christ, or something else . .

But if your first Baptism WAS valid . .ie it was using the Trinitarian formula, and you didn't intend to NOT do what you understood Christ wanted you to do, then no . .

I guess my other question would be what was in your heart when you got baptized . . could you have cared less? Were you actually rejecting the baptism you were receiving. intending not to be a Christian?


Peace in Him!

 

[BarbB]

Dedication to God was usually a lifelong thing. It seems more of a useless gesture in the case of your church. With all the change in governments and freedom, I doubt there are many, if any, infant dedications that blossom into a true OT-like follower of God. What is the purpose of this infant dedication exactly newlamb?

Dedication is used by parents and church to promise that the infant will be brought up in Christian beliefs, in a Christian home and with Christian support until such time as he/she can affirm that he/she has accepted Jesus. The words are basically the same as baptism, but allows for individual decision. This is used by Church of God, Assembly of God and many others. Baptist, I think.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Oh, I see. I was under the impression this was an OT style dedication Well, thats one dedication that we could use more of!

 

[mythbuster]

True Bible story.

Acts 8:36, A certain African man was leaving Jerusalem and on the way he was reading Isaiah 53, wondereing what does this mean? Philip was there and explained Isaiah 53, and he announced Jesus as the gospel to him. The certain African man then sees some water and says " Look! Water! What prevents me from getting baptized?"

And so he did.

Moral: All you need to be baptized is water and a member of the body to put you in and take you out.

Listen to Serapha

 

[rogsr]

mythbuster,
What if there is no water when you repent and no one to baptize you?

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Find water

 

[mythbuster]

mythbuster,
What if there is no water when you repent and no one to baptize you?

roger

Then get baptized later, find some christians and get baptized.

M.

 

[Kas]

I was baptised in the church that I used to go to, and it really meant nothing to me...When I asked my church elders if I could be baptised, I thought it would be that week, or maybe the next week...I was really serious in wanting to, and i'd been thinking about it for weeks before, but they insisted that I take a 6-month long therepy mentorship with an elder to prepare me. By the time it was over, I was so sick of the whole thing that the only reason I did it was to get them off my back. It really hurt, and I left the church partly because i couldn't get over the feeling of being cheated. Now I just feel sad, 'cause I hear people talk about how wonderful their baptisms were and mine was a total flop. I heard that you can be baptised more than once, and that lots of people do that...Should I be re-baptised?

No man, (Kas gives a wave) Baptism is a sacrament from our Lord, it is not about our personal feelings its about a grace given from GOD! I don't want to sound harsh but get over it! Move on, buut please don't fall into this 'for me' culture which so trivulises a sacrament of the Lord.

Remember the Nicene creed!

'we believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins'

Christ said that unless you are baptised by water and the spirit you can not enter the kingdom of GOD, so it is effiecient means of grace!

Peace,
Kas.