Water Baptism

[dalebert]

this has been brought up to me this week and i am asking jude2 what they think

[Pastor Bill]

I said sure with or without permission. (although I would really like to be notified, I know there isn't always time or an easy way of doing that)

The main reason I say yes is that I don't feel anyone who is seeking God should be turned away. I have been on the receiving end of this as a young child being told to wait till I was older, and seen the hurt in the eyes of young family members when they were told no, and had their salvation questioned by those who don't even go to church (their parents).

"But they may not fully understand it" - so what I could say the same for most new Christians, I didn't understand it when I was baptised at 18 as much as I do now, and frankly I probably don't understand now what I will 10 or 20 years farther down the road.

"But shouldn't they have time to see if it sticks?" - No, we aren't saved by our works, only by His grace, rejecting them now, turning them away from something they feel God is leading them to do is bad enough, but then to teach them their salvation isn't good enough till their works prove it? I don't think so.

"As a parent I want to be there" - That's wonderful, I want to be there for everything with my kids too, but that doesn't mean I want them to refrain from following God's leading when I'm not their to witness. Besides, there is an easy solution, go work at Camp! Then you can not only witness it, you can probably do it yourself, or at least help!

[Pastor Bill]

A little about what happened to me (as mentioned above)

I grew up in the Methodist church (sprinkling babies), but we did not attend church when I was first born. As I grew up I began to understand baptism, and asked Mom about when I was baptised, and found out I hadn't been.

I asked to be, and our pastor said no, that since we hadn't done it as an infant, I should wait till I was older. I came back the next week and asked again (I was older ) and was told to wait till I completed confirmation classes, which would be in 5th-6th grade.

We moved, and my next pastor didn't make me wait. So I was sprinkled in the 4th grade (later in life I wanted to be fully submersed and was baptised down at the river while attending a Baptist Church just before leaving for College, but that's a whole other story!)

[Ilovebigcats]

My answer wasn't there. I would say as long as they know what it is all about. If they are jsut doing it to cool off then that ain't cool. If they understand what it is then cool! Go for it! No permission needed. It is a personal thing.

[Poimen]

I said they didn't need my permission (granting they have legitmatly been converted, etc.) -- but it wouold be nice to be notified so that I could be there.

[darylscook]

Mississippi Youth Camps have a place on the application that says:

If My child desires to be baptized (a place to choose to give or not give) permission for him/her to be baptized.

I will say one of the hardest things about being a director is telling a camper that he or she cannot be baptized b/c the parents chose to not give permission.

Pastor Daryl

[rough_rider]

Mississippi Youth Camps have a place on the application that says:

If My child desires to be baptized (a place to choose to give or not give) permission for him/her to be baptized.

I will say one of the hardest things about being a director is telling a camper that he or she cannot be baptized b/c the parents chose to not give permission.

Pastor Daryl

So doesn't Ohio's application... If the child got saved and or has not been baptized and opportunity is there for them to do so, then do so... I agree with Wendy, if it's just to cool off then, no way.

[Pastor Bill]

Now I have seen a couple say as long as it's for the right reasons or as long as they were legitimately converted.

How do you judge these things, and is it our place to do that?

I would rather baptize 5 who were doing it for the wrong reasons than turn one soul away that was truely seeking/following God.

[rough_rider]

Now I have seen a couple say as long as it's for the right reasons or as long as they were legitimately converted.

How do you judge these things, and is it our place to do that?

I would rather baptize 5 who were doing it for the wrong reasons than turn one soul away that was truely seeking/following God.

If my child did it just to cool off and you baptized them, yes we would have a problem. How do you know if they truly got saved? Just ask them, and if the answer is yes then dunk away.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

[Pastor Bill]

If your child came forward and asked to be baptized just to cool off, then I think your child would need a talking to.

Of course it would be explained the purpose, what I was curious is do people want more than just the child's testimony and asking to be required (I have known some who did)

[dolfan]

Now I have seen a couple say as long as it's for the right reasons or as long as they were legitimately converted.

How do you judge these things, and is it our place to do that?

I would rather baptize 5 who were doing it for the wrong reasons than turn one soul away that was truely seeking/following God.

Never baptized anyone, but I'm with you. It'd be real hard, like Daryl said, to turn somebody away. I might do it anyway if the kid was, say, 10 or older. If the momma/daddy are believers, they'd have to forgive me! (Sometimes it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission.) If they're not, then I'd be a little less likely to do it .... a little. Just being honest.

[Brenda]

If the child wants to be baptised then go ahead as long as the child knows and understands why he is being baptised.

I don't need to know when they are. I will rejoice when they tell me all about it!