I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but I can't seem to find it. Which denominations believe immersion must take place in running water (like a stream or creek) rather than in a pool or baptistry?
Running water for baptism?
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by abcgrad94, Dec 16, 2010.
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me assisting in a baptism in running water. I'm in the green shirt
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another from the same baptism
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Thanks, Salty. I must need new contacts!
Old Union, ya'll look like you're trying to drown that poor feller.:laugh: -
The Old man had been coming to church for years. He finally came forward and told the church what the Lord had done for him. It was a gloriorus day in the Lord.:godisgood:
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Old Union Brother...
Those pictures are great!
Was there singing on the shore?
Baptizing in running water (living water) goes back to the 1st/2nd century, according to chapter 7 of the Didache (an early Christian writing).
Thank you for sharing another early Christian tradition preserved by the Old Regular Baptists.
...Bob -
Heard one preacher say one time, "just leave the faucet on and take the plug out of the bottom of the baptistry."
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It's great to be able to baptize in a creek or river. I have done so. But, to even suggest this as being necessary is absurd and extra-biblical.
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Makes sense to baptize people in water that won't kill them. In the 1st century world, running water was the safest water.
The examples of the earliest church buildings (including the temple of Israel) show some form of baptistery, most with 3 steps leading in and 3 steps leading out the other side. Evidently, those who came directly after the start of the church had no qualms about baptizing indoors.
I am more intrigued, however, about the "public" aspect of baptism. We have, essentially, privatized baptism so that only those members who are present during a baptismal service know that some person is now a baptized member of the congregation. That allows that person to walk around the world however they wish, blending in with the crowd. That was not always the case in the very early days of the church, when public baptism also meant that the believer would be tested in their faith in radical ways almost immediately.
Here is an interesting article from the Catholic Encyclopedia (if only they would seriously consider how much they have altered their practice from the founding of the church!):
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02276b.htm
A link to their baptismal archeology thread:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02274a.htm -
Union, I'm not knocking what you have done nor have I suggested that you say it is necessary. But, I have run into folks from time to time who will not baptize in a baptistry. It has to been in a creek, etc., or nothing else.
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And here's a YouTube video of the Ball Branch Old Regular Baptist baptism in Knott County, Kentucky.
And if the first one does not grab you, how about this YouTube video of Proffit's Grove and Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Churches celebrating a joint outdoor baptism in Watauga County, North Carolina.
If you want more running water, how about this YouTube video of a Amazon River baptism in Barrio Florido, near Iquitos, Peru. 13 people were baptized in the Amazon River, including 11 members of the Yagua tribe and 2 members of Flamingo Road Church in Lima, Peru.
And certainly not least, this YouTube of a group from the Philippines who have traveled to the Jordan River, Israel for baptism.
...Bob -
So if you don't have a baptistry, so you wait for spring to baptize those who are saved in winter? Or do the new converts risk pnuemonia in the cold water? (serious question folks)
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Some will wait till spring, others want to right then. And if they are a willin.. Ima willin to!!!
This place is about 10 miles from our church.. I have always wanted to baptize someone here, but haven't got the chance yet:
Maybe one day!~ I LOVE outdoor baptisms... -
We baptize year round in the creek even break ice if necessary.
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Your pic is gorgeous btw. -
I have a question and it's probably dumb but reading this thread about baptizing in running water made me think of all the baptisms performed by John the baptist in the muddy Jordan. It wasn't and isn't a very clean river and is muddy and shallow with a lot of stagnant areas. Would it have been considered "running" water?
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