Baptism

Post by **_Freelancer** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:37 pm

It has been weighing on my mind for sometime now to get baptised. I do not attend a church, most of my local churches are dispontational in nature with a lot of non church related activities within them. For instance my daughter worked for a local coffee shop and on Sunday she would work the kiosk they rented inside the church.

The director of my department at work has asked me to attend some functions at his church,Calvary Chapel, the usuall pancake breakfasts, speaker events, retreats etc, which I politly declined. Though we haven't gotten into too many discusions, I did make it evident on one occasion that I did not believe in the rapture as the mainstream church does and that I avoided church because I don't like how comercial most churches are today and that I don't want to be limited in what I have to believe or not believe according to a certain Churches doctrine.

The subject came up about baptism the other day and he mentioned that they had done some over the weekend and that I should come to see his church.

While I have attended a Calvary chapel before in California, and liked it at the time, my view of things have changed and I think I have a better understanding of the spiritual aspect of Christs message and think it would probably be at odds with many in the Calvary community that still hold to dispensational beliefs.

I know that to be baptised it doesn't have to be in a "Church" or be performed in any certain manner. I believe I listened to one of Greggs lectures where he stated that according to the early Church Fathers, one would do the best with what they had, to paraphrase. If you only have a cup of water then use a cup of water, if all you have is warm water then use warm water. The idea being, that it is not the ritual but the spiritual significance the beliver is making in the act of being baptised.

That being said, I don't know where to get baptised. If I take up my Directors offer and get Baptised at the Calvary Chaple, I have this forboding feeling that they are going to expect me to be a member of their congregation.

What if I don't become one? Is that rude? I'm sure they would think so.

What other alternatives are there. It's not like there is a guy in camel hair eating locusts and honey by the nearby river.

How much do my personal beliefs regarding dispensationalism and an alternative view of the bible effect where I worship. I'm sure not all members of a given Church all see eye to eye on all matters but at the same time there are most likely trends within an individual church. That is to say that most Seventh Day adventists in given Church probably see things more alike than not as with most other denominations. Teaching in the various denominations probably goes along with those beliefs.

The Calvary I attended for a time in California was said to be non-denominational and held to the Word of God as their guide. I would dare say every Church would make a claim that their denomination is back by the word of God so I don't know how much weight that lends to a particular group.

To carry on this long winded post; Lets say that God held a certain Church at fault for what ever reason. Would one really want to get baptised in a Church that would at sometime receive a judgement from God? Not that i think that I would be judged by what church I was attending, I would hope that I would see the problems there, having been given understanding from the Lord as it were.

Steve Gregg has probably given more to me in terms of scriptual knowledege than any other pastor or teacher. So really the Church I have attended most is his.

So...... Does it matter where I get baptised? Man I probably could have asked that in just a couple of sentences huh? Just wanted to let you know where I was coming from.

Post by **_mattrose** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:22 am

Surely there are a number of Christians that you consider your 'church family' and see on a regular basis? If not, you need to find such a group whether it be at an institutional church, via a small group, or whatever. If so, why can't you be baptized by one of them? Or, if you're ever near Steve, maybe he'd baptize you. Do you feel that the baptizer must be ordained by an institutional church or something?

Post by **_Freelancer** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:25 pm

Surely there are a number of Christians that you consider your 'church family' and see on a regular basis?

No, not really. My wife and her family are Catholic and don't really discuss the bible much. I moved from California a few years ago and haven't really met that many people. Socially my wife has a very large family and that is who we mostly hang out with.

Do you feel that the baptizer must be ordained by an institutional church or something?

Not at all, but not knowing anyone in the area, I'm not sure where else to turn.

if you're ever near Steve, maybe he'd baptize you.

Unfortunately he is not.

There are some of us that do not have a strong Christian fellowship life. Not making excuses but I'm either at home with a new baby a two year old and a teenager or I'm at work, where there are a couple people that I fellowship with. Most of my understanding of scripture has come through the internet at places like Steve's site and a couple other good ones.

Thanks for the reply

Post by **_livingink** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:39 pm

Would one of your co-workers whom you fellowship with be willing to baptize you? I assume you meant you have some sort of Christian fellowship with them.

Post by **_Freelancer** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:46 pm

That's something to consider. THanks

Post by **_Allyn** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:55 pm

I personally baptized all of my children on seperate occassions and all in front of family members only. You are not baptized into a denomination or local church but into the body of Christ and any saint is able to baptize if that saint is led to do so. Some people certainly are not called of God to baptize but that in itself does not disqualify them. I go along, then with the two other respondants to your post.