Baptism is
neither
necessary
nor
sufficient
condition
for
salvation.
Baptism is
neither
necessary
nor
sufficient
condition
for the
infilling of
the Holy
spirit.
It is a rite
of
initiation
into
discipleship
to Jesus
Christ and
to the
family we
call
church. It
is sign and
a seal of
the new
covenant.
It is a mark
which says
this person
belongs to
Christ. It
is an acted
out prayer
by the
community-
the family
we call
Church.
It has
spiritual
meaning and
impact to
the receiver
in his own
interpretation
but it is
not magic
beyond the
magic of
faith. It is
a witness
and
testimony to
the church
and to the
world. Such
open
statement of
faith is
often
necessary
for the
growth of
person into
Christian
Maturity and
saves him
from the
sinful
world.
Child
baptism has
no meaning
to the child
when he or
she is
baptized.
It can have
positive or
negative
meaning when
he or she
desires at
any time
when he or
she
matures. It
is therefore
equivalent
to a call
for
salvation
from the
parents.
The person
may accept
the parent’s
altar call
offer and be
saved or
reject and
be
condemned.
It is a
prayer said
in faith
claiming the
child’s
redemption
by the
parents. We
rely on
god’s grace
to work in
the life of
the children
while they
are still
innocent and
able to
understand
the love of
God. The
church is
bound by the
election to
bring the
children
into the
knowledge
and nurture
of the faith
in Jesus. It
has meaning
for the
community in
realizing
the child’s
new
position.
In this it
is an
initiation
rite. In
baptizing
the infant
the church
as a whole
and
especially
the God
parents
commit
themselves
as
evangelists
to the child
vowing to
make them
disciples in
the name of
the Lord.
Bible does
not define
any specific
mode of
baptism.
Only
indication
is that it
involved
water.
History or
practice
does not
support
total
immersion
only as a
form of
baptism
ever. Jesus
was not
baptized by
total
immersion –
at least in
the way we
find it
today.
Historically
total
immersion is
a product of
Anabaptist
period. I
personally
believe that
if the
external
modes and
order etc
were so
important
for our
salvation,
Our Lord
would never
have left
them so
vague and
undefined.
In most
cases water
baptism is
not
considered
as "the
baptism" at
all. It is
only a
visible sign
connected to
particular
local church
"as a proof
to the
people".
If baptism
is symbol
and a seal
or an
initiation
into
discipleship
we may use
any
culturally
interpretable
symbol. What
Anunayanam
- symbol of
the sacred
of thread –
as used by
Brahmins has
all the
meanings of
it. We could
use many
other
permanent
visible
symbols
which could
remain as a
constant
reminder of
our
commitment
(as the
circumcision
did) like a
ring or
cross or
special robe
etc. These
are much
better
because they
also provide
intensification
by constant
reminder.
Sikhs have
five marks
why don't we
use some
similar
method?
Salvation
Army in the
concept of
an Army
discipline
uses the
flag
ceremony as
baptism.
If we want
to change,
What is your
suggestion?
Is there
anything
wrong in
getting
baptized
again?
Nothing. It
is only a
statement
that the
faith of our
fathers were
not good
enough.
That is why
the Nicene
creed is
interpreted
today
literally as
"Baptism
indicating
the
remission of
sin is to be
once only"
as a rite of
passage.
But if it is
required to
confirm your
faith and
assurance of
salvation
there is
nothing lost
in
rebaptism.
Repeated
baptism at
every stage
of growth as
a "rite of
transition"
is a
culturally
acceptable
method. In
the modern
culture
where
families
fall apart,
reaffirmation
of marriage
contract as
a full
marriage
ceremony is
rampant.
Following
this
reasoning,
if you need
to renew
your
covenant
with God
every now
and then,
there is
nothing
wrong in
rebaptism.
Baptism was
actually
ordained as
a rite of
initiation.
Communion
Table is a
rite of
Intensification
(similar to
the
festivals
and
sacrifices
of the Old
Testament).
There were
rites of
transitions
which
required
elaborate
baptisms (of
immersion,
washing,
sprinkling,
annointing
etc.) which
the churches
uses
whenever a
transition
occurs like
the
ordination
of elders,
deacons and
pastors etc.
Why do we
want to use
baptism? But
why not? If
it helps to
save –
praise God –
let us do
it.
Most
traditional
churches
that confess
the Nicene
Creed
however will
not accept
you.
(However the
declaration
"I believe
in one
baptism" was
the result
of the Roman
Period when
a person
under
persecution
left the
church and
later wanted
to come back
into the
church. The
question
then was
whether they
should be
rebaptised
or not. The
decision of
the Nicean
council was
that this is
unnecessary.
In that
sense it is
not really a
prohibition
of a second
baptism)
You may be
alienated
from your
church. But
some people
really need
it. They
really need
the personal
assertion
and
statement
through a
more
exhibitionistic
baptism.
The more
ceremonial
better.
They cannot
rely on the
word, they
need
something
visible
especially
if they were
on the wrong
path all or
most of
their
lives. Prodigal
Son needed
the washing
and the
ring.
Luke
15:31-32 "
`My son,'
the father
said, `you
are always
with me, and
everything I
have is
yours. But
we had to
celebrate
and be glad,
because this
brother of
yours was
dead and is
alive again;
he was lost
and is
found.' "
But there
are others
who were
born in a
Christian
home,
brought up
in Christian
heritage and
faith that
they have no
specific
event called
second
birth. They
must have
erred away
from their
father’s
faith. But
returned to
it with
renewed
strength
based on
lives
experience
and
evidences. A
baptism do
not harm
them, but it
has no
relevance to
them. Such
erring and
return are
common in
every
believer’s
life. If we
are to
follow the
Jewish
tradition,
mikvah was a
daily
routine
ritual
purification
for them as
in the
Indian
Brahminical
tradition.
One goes
through the
ritual
immersion
every day
probably
more than
once every
day. Mikvah
here simply
denotes bapt
ism of
repentance.
Each
repentance
is also a
change of
status from
impure to
pure. What I
am trying to
point out is
that it will
be
stretching
the point
too far to
require a
baptism
every day.
In fact
repentance
and renewal
and change
of status in
life should
be an
everyday
experience
in the
spiritual
life of the
believer.
The question
is whether
we need to
do it by a
visible
symbolic
water
baptism,
whether
immersion or
sprinkling?
We are
instructed
to walk by
faith and
not by
sight. I am
not against
use of
visible
symbols.
They are
indeed
powerful in
internalizing
and
transmitting
deep
spiritual
messages. I
would
certainly
employ them
if it brings
about
Christian
growth.
Should we
baptize our
children?
We may
dedicate our
children and
they can
then take
adult
baptism when
they are old
enough or
we can give
them baptism
and they can
claim the
baptism as
theirs as
they grow up
- a
confirmation.
In the first
case you are
throwing the
ball to the
child. In
the latter
you affirm
your faith
in his
salvation
and act in
faith. You
have
announced
that you
will
discipline
your child
in the way
of the Lord.
In the
former you
do not take
any
responsibility
of
disciplining
or teaching
the child
and leave it
to your
child
entirely.
The choice
is totally
yours.
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