I’m getting baptized on Sunday.
I’ve only told a few people. It’s not that I’m embarrassed or ashamed, I just haven’t felt the need to advertise it.
This will be my fifth or sixth time getting baptized. But it will be the first time that I experience baptism in “hope” and not in fear. Heck, this will be the first time getting baptized in regular clothes. At my old church I had to wear one those blue plastic smocks with nothing on underneath. Weird, right?
In Amy Grant’s book “Mosaic,” she tells the story about getting baptized again as an adult in the Brazos River by a preacher friend of hers. Her story inspired me to consider doing the same.
Well, on Sunday that will happen.
Looking forward to getting clean. Or at least wet.
Happy Weekend.
Have you been Baptized? What was the experience like for you?
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well I was baptized when I was born and I’m glad that I was… that’s not the point…
To watch a child/adult be baptized is a beautiful reminder to me as a congregant that I have the responsibility to that person as their sister in Christ and it is a wonderful reminder of the promise that those people surrounding me made to me (literally, considering I am still a part of the church I was born in), when I was baptized. To know that they/we promise to raise that child in the knowledge of God’s love through word and deed. To be reminded “That I am not my own. But belong body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.”
I had asked Jess when this was awhile back when I saw you mention it to someone on twitter (wow that made me sound like a stalker…)
Anyway… I’ve been keeping you in my prayers as always, but extra special with this. I hope the day is full of joy and hope, and leaves you with a renewed sense of trust in Him. What a beautiful example of faith you are giving your son.
I hope you have a very blessed day Matthew. This time will be different also because you have Elias watching. I hope is everything and more…:) xxx.
that’s wonderful man. Hope its a great day for you guys
I actually got baptized at the same time as my younger brother. I was the prodigal son coming home after years of my brother and family praying for me and it was a cool “welcome home” for us.
My husband and I were baptized together when we were 36. I had been away from the church for 15 years and my husband was a new Christian. I feel it helped me renew my faith. I felt a strong need to be baptized then..almost like God was constantly whispering in my ear. It was a decision I made out of love and hope…not fear or necessity. We did our baptism in the community swimming pool with believers and non believers watching. It was a celebration and I will never forget that day. I hope yours is just as special
God Bless,
Rochelle
Since God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, I’m glad you’re doing it again. Hope and joy should be the feelings you experience coming up out of that water!
I was baptised when I was 12 and it was a wonderful experience for me. I’ll never forget it.
Happy Baptism Day 😉
Mlpinky
Canadian single mom of three
I’ll be honest – I’m really struggling with this idea of multiple baptisms. I also struggled with whether to even mention this to you or not… Can you explain to me (other than that you felt you were in a state of fear at the other times) why you feel this is necessary? Is not the power of God more important than the frame of mind of the believer?
I am of the belief that one baptism is enough and I feel that multiple baptisms may cast doubt on the promises of God. Perhaps you can shed some more light on this for me…?
I was baptized as an infant, but am now very interested in belonging to a church where we’ve been lurking that would require another baptism. I vascillate between thinking my first baptism wasn’t good enough (as well as my confirmation in 8th grade where I indeed made my choice to follow Christ), and thinking that it would be awesome to be baptized again. I guess I’m asking for some of the same answers as ~robin~
I was baptized 22 years ago, when I was 15, after I gave my life to Christ. It was around Easter, so that time of year is doubly special to me.
I trust it will be a special day for you, as well. It is such a blessing to me to watch others be baptized and hear their testimonies. It always brings tears to my eyes.
I am very happy for Matthew. I’m sure this will be a great day. I’m also sure that this was something he came to after much prayer. I think it is wonderful, and I congratulate you.
There are many different ways Christians understand baptism. In my tradition (Anglican), we would not baptize Matthew again because we believe that Baptism is a Sacrament. If it was done in the name of the Trinity, then it is “good” for the entire Universal Church forever more.
That said, there are many great Christian traditions that allow, encourage, or ever command more than one baptism (depending on the circumstances). I think a Christian should prayerfully consider the options, do some reading, engage in some conversation, and make a choice. Just like Matthew has done. So whether we personally would be baptized again, or go to a church that would do it, we should all be glad for him today.
Matthew, I can totally understand why you want to be baptized again, though I hope that you will perhaps consider the following, and that you will think carefully about your motivation in being rebaptized (ie. what you feel this baptism will accomplish that past ones didn’t)
I guess my reservation with repeated baptisms is that, as ~robin~ said, it does seem to limit God’s role in the event.
I was baptized as a teenager, and shortly after I was spiritually attacked and spent several years away from the Lord, and looking back I can see that I obviously wasn’t prepared emotionally, theologically, etc., but I still firmly believe that God worked through my baptism and other life events to bring me back to him. My concern is that a year from now, you may find yourself wanting to be baptized again if you later realize that you weren’t in the “right” frame of mind for this one. Ultimately, no one is ever fully spirtually mature or aware of all the implications when they are baptized, but that doesn’t mean that Christ can’t honor the decision, or that you need to be baptized over and over until you got it right. If there is evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life, this is the measure of your being formed into Christ’s image. I think we North Americans have gone way too far in identifying our salvation and evangelism with merely “saying the prayer” and forgetting about what follows, obedience, sanctification, and a changed life.
When we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Bible tells us we die to our old selves and become new creations. That sounds like ‘one time thing’ sort of language.
The only rebaptism we see in the bible is in Acts 19:1-5, and in this case it was because their baptism had been done without the Holy Spirit.
In response to Candace Jean, I believe that adult baptism is the ideal form, but since I married a woman who grew up in an infant baptism tradition, we were both forced to research what we believe. As a result, I’m no longer antagonistic towards infant baptism, though I still feel that adult baptism is more scriptually sound. I no longer look at it as wrong versus right, but rather good versus better. I have to be honest that any church tradition (I’m guessing Baptist in your case) that requires rebaptism if you have already been baptized in the name of the Trinity is essentially asking you to be baptized into membership and their doctrine, and not so much the Godhead.
I’m sure it will come as no surprise that my own baptism story is sort of humorous. It started with my little brother in swim trunks and goggles swimming around in some fungus water…
If I get my thank you notes done, I’ll come back and tell you all about it.
I was 16, and it was the week before Palm Sunday. It was that day that I officially proclaimed to the world (or at least those who were there and the people I told afterward) that I belong to Jesus Christ. It was a good day. 🙂
Congrats 🙂
i forgot to tell you we actually make you wear a smock. well, really just you…i think it would freak pete out. muahaha. :)see you tomorrow
Awww-too cool!! I didn’t get baptized until 2008…I put it off from accepting Him in 2003-cause I knew I was having brain surgery again-knew if I survived-great-if not-my belief in Him-relationship with Him was enough to get me to His Kingdom-just accepting He is my Lord and Savior-and died on the cross for me-does it-as it did for the man next to Him-as He went to Paradise with Him. No baptism. But I proclaimed my pure relationship and love when it grew and grew-at our church in January of 2008-greatest feeling ever. And amazing how everything grows from there! May you feel His love and spirit through you tomorrow-and be thrilled that you did it! Hope you have a great testimony announcement going!! My ears will ring! God bless you! brilliant to do that with that love and peace you have now!
God Bless!
Hetty Siebens
http://twitter.com/hetty4christ
Wishing you the best. I was baptized at nine in my family’s home church by my godfather surrounded by family. Not long after my grandmother had died. I remember very clearly my Aunt hugging me the day I gave my life to Christ and seeing my grandmother in my aunts eyes (they were sisters). I thought then and still do today that she had been waiting for that day and in some small way was a part of it all.
I’ve been baptized twice for the same reason as you. I really appreciate how open you are about your journey and that it is still ongoing 🙂
Praise the Lord brother!
Hi Matthew,
So how did your baptism go?? 🙂
I’m going to my BFF’s one for this Sunday. I can’t wait. And she is Baptist so it will be full water immersion. YAHOO! I was merely sprinkled at 9 🙁
Heather @ http://www.writejourney.wordpress.com