I’m just about as much of a bible-thumpin’, right-wing “fundy” as you’ll find but I think I”m going to have to go with Mary Ann on this one.

But these discussions (and the research referred to in the post) seem to be missing a crucial element. And it is this: how many pastors (or staff) actually sit down with a potential new member and talk about that person’s spiritual history all the way back. I suspect that rarely happens. My personal experience is that in 57 years, no one has ever asked me anything about my baptism or spiritual journey. The same is true for my husband. With others I’ve discussed this topic with, I’ve yet to meet anyone who (coming from another Baptist church) has been asked anything–ever. The usual practice seems to be a person walks down an aisle, shakes a pastors hand, fills out a card, and instantly becomes a member. No questions asked. Not about salvation, repentance, baptism, their spiritual journey, sin issues, spiritual gifts, personal theology, what they believe about the Bible, nothing. If there ever was a “don’t ask, don’t tell” arrangement, this is it.

I’m assuming most of you making these 100 comments are pastors and I believe you are likely the ones who would ask key questions of potential new members. May your tribe increase! But I strongly suspect in a large majority of churches, no one is asked anything about anyone’s original baptism by immersion.

I’m also curious about another thing. What do you know about the baptism history of the people in your current and past congregations, those who were there when you arrived? Are you sure all of them have been biblically baptized, or did some slip throuh the cracks under the tenure of a previous pastor?

Let’s say several pastors ago, several joined from a church that didn’t believe in eternal security and no one require their rebaptism. Would you take a “baptism audit” at your arrival and make sure these people were told they hadn’t been properly baptized and would need to be baptized again to continue as members?

Has anyone done this? Why or why not? Too uncomfortable? But this is exactly what some missionary candidates experience.

What I’m trying to say is that perhaps someone needs to do some good research to find out just how many churches actually ask anything about baptism of those seeking membership by transfer of membership. If very few are ever even asked to explain their baptism, this is a very empty controversy.

Blessings on you all!

Mary Ann

Of course before you get your dander up concerning us mean, belligerent, BI guys understand that I am not upset because you disagree with me.

Blessings,
Tim

These are not people baptized into Christ (and part of a local church) who are then rebaptized because of their flawed soteriological understanding.

They are men who were disciples of John who took the final step to believing in Christ and became Christians. Paul then baptized them as Christians for the first time.

That passage does not support BI re-baptism of genuine believers.

The reason your answer to above referenced question raised a question in my mind, is that some believe that the proper authority and right belief system equals a “Baptist Church” being the only qualified unit to baptize, which in some Baptist circles seems to account for rebaptism in order to qualify for induction into that particular body. I would say that there are a great many Baptist’s that do no practice baptism in that manner (because it goes beyond scripture), but I can testify to the fact that there are many who would be quicker to associate baptism with a particular body quicker than they would to associate baptism with Christ, which misses the point of baptism altogether (in fact, that was the problem with these 12 disciples,..they were following the good news of the Messiah, but only knew of John’s baptism).

It seems to me that the Acts 19:2 passage is a clear testimony that the baptism of those twelve disciples (which these men were followers of the Messiah) is only associated to Christ, and the baptism into Christ that they “now” understand corroborates all other instances of baptism in the NT.

That may be exactly what you are saying.

Blessings,
Chris

The question from Brother Alan was, Why can’t baptism by immersion count if the person has genuinely been born again? Please, help me understand where I have misused that passage pertaining to his question.

Blessings,
Tim

You are, I think, consistently misusing the Acfts 19 passage. It is very clear that these men had only received the Baptism of John the Baptist. Text makes that very clear.

These men were baptized after they believed in JEsus. They only received Christian baptism once.

You are stretching that passage well beyond scriptural limits to make a point.