The Baptism Service.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Part 1 – Baptist Church

The Baptism Service:

In this service you are encouraged to give a brief word of testimony, so that believers can be encouraged in their faith and unbelievers can hear the good news of Jesus. This is not mandatory, but they would ask you to seriously consider telling people what Jesus has meant to you since you have come to know Him.

If you are being dunked, the pastor will ask you to step into the water. You will be asked the Baptism questions, and then you will be gently lowered into the water and raised again. The pastor will stand on one side of you and another person on the other side.

People who watch your baptism will be encouraged to clap and cheer as you are baptised. This is a celebration time, a joyous occasion. They will probably sing a hymn or Scripture song to rejoice in your baptism.

Here is an outline of the baptismal ceremony at a Baptist church:

Elder: " (Name) , do you admit that you are a sinner and in need of a saviour?
Candidate: "I do."

Elder: " (Name) , do you now promise with the power of the Holy Spirit to try to live as a follower of Jesus?"
Candidate: "I do."

Elder: " (Name) , who is your saviour?"
Candidate: "Jesus is my Saviour."

Elder: " (Name) , who is your Lord?"
Candidate: "Jesus is Lord."

Elder: " (Name) , I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Clapping, cheering, and joyous praise.

The word ‘baptise’ means to dip or immerse. Baptism by immersion is seen as a powerful symbol of what happens when a person makes a commitment to Christ. It is a way for the candidate to say publicly ‘my old life is over, buried, and I now have a new life in Christ.’ The pool becomes a ‘grave’ in which someone is ‘buried’ and from which they rise to a new life.

Symbolic Actions:

-Dipping or immersing a person in water (a sign of washing away sins, and becoming a member of the church.)

-Wearing a white ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Symbolic Actions:

-Dipping or immersing a person in water (a sign of washing away sins, and becoming a member of the church.)

-Wearing a white garment

-Giving a lighted candle (a sign of the light of Christ.)

Part 2- Baptism Should Only Take Place When A Person Is Old Enough To Confirm His Or Her Faith

First of all, it is in the bible that newborn children should be baptised, ‘Genesis: 17:13: He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.’ This could be seen as a form of baptism, so therefore the bible is implying that newborn children should be baptised. To back my point up it also says that if one is circumcised, they should praise God, ‘Romans: 2:28-29: For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.’ This could be seen as a form of baptism but on the other hand Infants were not baptized in ancient Jewish convert mikvah baptisms and we conclude from the absence of mention of infant baptisms in the New Testament that they were not practiced.

Absolutely nothing is mentioned about infant baptisms. But for the sake of reminding, let’s look at it again: "Sprinkling" began in ancient church history for the purpose of baptising infants. However, all the conditions for baptism exclude infants. A person must acknowledge and confess his sins and understand the message of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection to be eligible for salvation. Since infants are incapable of being taught, repenting, or believing, they could not qualify for baptism. So why do we continue to use this technique today? I state that it is derived from ancient church ritualism. This is something, which was added to the original form of opinion thereby being nullified by the original written word of God. A child is sealed unto God by the faith his or her parents have shown until the coming of age when they are able to make their own decisions.

"Sprinkling" therefore is neither right or honoured anywhere in the Word of God. It is a man-made ritual. Would you say your child is innocent and not a sinner? If you think he is innocent, think again. A parent doesn't have to teach his or her child to tell a lie. He will do it on his own when confronted with a situation that will spare him or herself punishment or gain something desired. It is in our nature to sin. We are born sinners. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden in Genesis: 3:1-24 that sin nature was inherently passed down through our lineage. This is the reason Jesus commands that we be born again of the Spirit, with a new nature:

John: 3:5-6: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

You can sprinkle all the water you want on your child's head, but until he comes of age where he is able to make his own decisions concerning his faith and his beliefs, your just wetting his little head. Once again your child is sealed unto God by your faith until he or she becomes old enough to make that decision.

Proverbs: 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Philippians: 2:10-11: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So I have come to the conclusion that Baptism SHOULD only take place when a person is old enough to confirm his or her faith.

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