Question about Baptism

Our church will baptize someone who is saved but doesn't want local membership. We give them a certificate of baptism to take with them.

Diane

 

What does getting baptized have to do with becoming a member of ABC Baptist Church? Is there a reference in the bible of someone getting baptized and automatically having their name added to the membership roll of a local church?

 

Acts 2 - They were saved, baptized, and added to the church. Baptism is the rite of initiation into the NT church.

 

Donna, why would she want her to get baptized anyway. Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?

 

Changes my answer big time!

Diane

 

Our previous pastor had a young woman that I had been witnessing to come in and talk with him. She was living with a man she wasn't married to and he told her he would not baptize her until she moved out, even tho she claimed she had professed Christ.

Her sister took her to see the disputed movie a few weeks back and she came BACK to the church and spoke with another minister, moved out of the boyfriends house, accepted Christ and was baptized. She's been in church every week since even tho she had to fight with her work because she works all night Saturday nights and has to leave work early to shower and get to church! Get this! The boyfriend is also attending church now, with her.

Diane

 

Amen Diane, That is the proper way of doing it.
Donna, Just witness to your cousin and tell her the truth. That is your only responsiblity.

 

Looks like the problem solves itself, just for the record, I am in agreement with PastorGreg on this one.

Freelance baptism causes more problems than anything, always good to know the whole story.

No comment on the movie thingy

An example, my sister was living in similar relatinship, she was 'saved' in a local 'free-will' church. She did not 'ask' for baptism, but the pastor called her and told her when he would baptize her. She called me and asked me what to do. I told her she must present herself to a church for believer's baptism. I dealt with the live in boyfriend (she had two children with him) first and I had been for years only to hurt feelings on her part.

She agreed this time and said she had already moved him out, he never supported nor helped support the children. She accepted baptism from the church, but was never recieved there very well because she had not presented herself but the pastor 'presented' her. Now she is in W. Va. in a Church of God, her baptism was invalid, imho.

However, John Gill also believed baptism rested in the minister as an ordinance. I may be wrong, but I just don't see it, that is if the commission is truly given to the church, then the authority to baptize is also found in the body, imho.

Amen PastorGreg, a lesson, an erroneous Baptist minister administered freelance baptism to Alexander Campbell, we know what that resulted in, don't we?

donna, in my understanding, your quote above is a statement of truth.
Is baptismal regeneration acceptable to Baptists?

Bro. Dallas

 

I agree donna, although some ordained preachers and some baptists do believe the authority to baptize is found in the ordained ministry. this makes their 'baptism' valid for any one receiving it where ever they may be.

In some cases, this may not be bad, but in our day and time, especially since about 1810, it is a problem. It also supports an idea of a universal invisible church (a RC doctrine and serves to deteriorate Biblical church discipline), I mean, if I belong to a 'universal invisible' church then what right does a local visible body have to call me into question and hold me accountable for my lifestyle? Right?

And besides, my wife is not universal, nor invisible, why would the bride of Christ be? Also, every woman is not my wife simply because each has an appearance of the characteristics present in my wife.

But, that may be just me. I agree with the way you advised your friend, imho, very sound advice.

God Bless
Bro. Dallas