Featured Should I get Re-Baptized?

1. I would ask them why they think it is questionable...although if being baptized in a baptist church is their policy it may not matter.

2. If you truly believe your first Baptism was as a believer, and valid, you should tell them that and see what they say. Would they want to baptize you again knowing full well that you don't believe it's necessary?

3. You should read this letter by John Piper...it is one of the most helpful things I have ever read regarding Lordship Salvation.

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource...d-concerning-the-so-called-lordship-salvation

I would be interested to know what you think of it.

4. Ultimately it will be your decision.

 

Ask for a private ceremony with only the baptizer, you and another witness.

 

Some Baptist churches in my area will not take letters of recommendations from other Baptist churches but require you to be re-baptized. Not all Baptist believe exactly the same.

 

Tell them you will meet them halfway if they will run a little hot water in the tub.:laugh:

 

Depends on the reason for the re-baptism.

Is it truly because you were not born again when you were first baptized? (And keep in mind that one can "believe" in Jesus and still not be born again) If so then absolutely you should be re-baptized. That, in fact is what I will be doing in two weeks from Sunday.:godisgood:

Or is it because they believe in some "baptist bride" theology with a "baptist-only" baptism requirement? If so then I wouldn't be re-baptized and I'd find a new church.

 

Done.

A core element of Baptist beliefs is "believer's baptism". Since you had believer's baptism there is no need to get re-baptized.

Have you given this church a reason for them to think you weren't saved when you were baptized as a child? If not, why do they keep insisting you get re-baptized? Are they opening questioning your salvation? (Talk about a deal breaker for joining their church!)

 

To be a valid baptism, it must meet the following criteria:
1. Proper subject
2. Proper design
3. Proper mode
4. Proper administrator.

Most of us can agree on the first three.
Proper subject--a professing believer
Proper design--to picture the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Proper mode--Immersion.

The proper administrator is a bit stickier. The quick answer is a true New Testament church. But that begs the question, how do we define a NT church? And, what erroneous doctrines and practices would disqualify?

Local congregations will decide for themselves. My own church will accept as valid, the baptism of churches of like faith and order. By definition, that would include most Baptist churches, but not all. Free-Will Baptist and General Baptists, for example. We have accepted the baptism of some congregations who do not identify themselves as Baptist, but whose doctrines and practices are similar.

Obviously we would not accept the baptism of someone who had been sprinkled (wrong mode); nor would we accept the baptism of a group which holds to baptismal regeneration (wrong design) (RCC or Church of Christ, for instance).

I can remember many years ago when my congregation would not accept any baptism from an IFB church (not like order, that is, not Southern Baptist). We changed that policy eventually.

We still would require anyone to be baptized who came out of the Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran or Cumberland Presbyterian churches.

The fact is, many Baptist churches hold that they are not true New Testament churches, and that's why their baptisms are in-valid.

Bottom line, it's not what you think about your baptism. It's what that congregation thinks. Wanna join them? Let 'em dunk you. Otherwise, find a church that recognizes your baptism.