From: jmb5b@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (John M. Bozeman)
Subject: Re: Water Baptism
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 05:27:23 GMT

In article <CHRISTIA%92041108523945@ASUACAD.BITNET> Kerry Stephenson <KSTE@PURCCVM.BITNET> writes:
>List Folk:
>
>As I have observed great variation on this issue in studying denominational
>differences in "doctrine," I am somewhat curious about practice.  Therefore,
>I have a question (well, several related questions, actually):
>
>1.  What is your (your church's) belief about how baptism should be performed?
>    (immersion/sprinkling/other--I know there is at least one "other," but I
>    can't recall what it is right now.)
(Being new to this list, Hi! I'm just jumping in, so sorry 'bout the
uick intro).  
Anyway, about bptism.  I consider myself a nondeminational Charismatic, but
at home I belong to a United Methodist Church, and at school I go to  
nondenominational Charismatic church (I go to whatever Church God leads
me to, regardless of denomination).  My opinion on baptism (based on
prayer, study of Scripture, and examination of various church doctrines)
is that the method (i.e. immersion, sprinkling, etc.) is not as 
important as the act itself.  While I like the concept of immersion, and
would probably get immersed if I was baptized today, I was baptized bysprinkling about two months after I became a Christian almost five years ago.  I think
that, since the method was not detailed anywhere in the Bible, varied
methods are valid.  It is the act of baptism that is important, rather
than the specific method.
 The United Methodist Church, or at least my congregation at home, baptizes by
sprinkling most often, but also by pouring (water poured on person's head
from a pitcher) and, when the person reuests it, immersion.  My nondenominational church baptizes by immersion in a washtub.  I have seen and heard of many types of baptismal ceremonies, and they all seem eually valid to me.

>2.  What is your (your church's) belief about WHEN baptism is appropriate (at
>    what age or upon what evidence of faith?)

Personally, I believe in believer's baptism, since there doesn't seem to be any
biblical evidence of infant baptism, and since baptism in the Bible usually
ccompanies or quickly follows conversion.  IMO, baptism is a symbol
of the believer's reception into the Church/Body of Christ, and of the
person's spiritual rebirth and cleansing from sin.  My use of the word
"symbol" is for lack of a better term, since I believe baptism to be more than
symbolic, as it involves "burying" the old self.  Profession of faith by
someone of reasonable age (adults and older children) who demonstrate
a basic understanding of the elements of slvation (undertanding meaning
acceptence of Christ'a salvation) seems to be the essential criterium for
baptism.     
My Methodist church baptizes infants and young children, having the parents
make a profession of fith and a promise to raise the child in accordance with Christian principles, but I think I prefer the pentecostal concept of
"baby dedication" to infant baptism, considering the Bible never records
any incidents of infant baptism, and I think baptism should follow, rather than precede, conversion. 

>3.  Does your denomination baptize into the particular church/denomination
>    or into the body of Christ (the first requiring re-baptism upon a change
>    of denominations)?
Every church I've witnessed a baptism at baptizes the person into the
community of believers, rather than the given denomination.  This 
seems, IMO, to be the best, most biblically-supported practice.

>4.  What is the baptismal ceremony like in your denomination/church/tradition/
>    whatever?  (i.e., are special clothes worn, is there a formulaic speech,
>    are guests expected to be present, etc.)
This really varies, but most of the ceremonies have been seen as celebrations
to which guests are brought.  The Methodist church ceremony is much more formal
than the nondeminational one, what with a formal order of events and 
such, while the nondeminational service is basically profession of faith followed by dunking in the washtub and lots of jubilant singing.


Glad to oblige. BTW, I've just been reading about 700 messages on this list,
and I think it's great.  I look forward to joining in future conversations.

Love in Christ,
Michelle Carpick





Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU