I would like to hear some baptism stories. They can be brief or lengthy. Have you been baptized? Why or why not? Were you baptized as an infant, kid, teen, or adult? Where were you baptized? How? Were you baptized more than once? Thanks to any who share their story!
12 comments:
I was baptized as an infant in the United Methodist Church. I don't remember this event, obviously. In fact, it's hard for me to even remember that fact that the event happened.
When I was 17 years old I fully surrendered my life to Christ & His kingdom. One of the very first desires that God seemed to place on my was a desire to be baptized (the fact that I had been baptized as an infant didn't even cross my mind). I was now part of the wesleyan church and I wanted to testify to all that I had died to self and was now living for Christ.
I was baptized a few weeks later in a baptismal tank by our senior pastor. I believe it was during a Sunday morning service. I have pictures. I simply shared a brief testimony, went under, and came up to clapping.
I was baptized by immersion at Story City Iowa's Family Camp in the swimming pool, wearing my rainbow bathing suit (not a white baptismal gown). I was baptized by a very stoic and unfriendly-to-children pastor friend of my parents from a different denomination, and I was only six years old. I didn't want to be baptized by HIM. Of course, no one asked me how or when or by whom I wanted to be baptized. (story of my life). They asked me if I had accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior, I said yes, and then I was held under (for three seconds too long). It was a very unpleasant experience. I came up coughing. But it made my parents smile, and gave me a few minutes of their attention, so I guess that is what every six year old wants. And then my baptism, by immersion specifically, caused a family feud between my parents and their parents. It was such a joy to be in the middle of it all. I just love it when children are used as a tool of war in religious disagreements, and also when a sacrament is forced upon someone who is not wanting to receive it at that point in time.
I just had to add a 'grim' story, so as to give a different perspective, expand the imaginations...as i'm sure most people had ultra positive experiences. :)
I was baptized when I was 16 because legally my parents could stop me anymore. I had been christened as an infant, and then my family stopped going to church when I was 4. I went with freinds when I was a little older and got saved at camp when I was 9. I wanted to get baptized then but they wouldn't let me. Every year I asked, and then found out that at 16 a person has legal right to choose their own religion.
I was baptized in the Saint John River at Beulah camp, meaning I came out much dirtier than I went in. My family came and were proud of me. My mom said the only reason they had stopped me before was they didn't want me committing to anything until I was old enough to really understand and make my own choice, so I respect them for that.
On an unrelated note, I don't know when Blogger added spell check to comments, but I like it :)
I was baptised the proper way (By immersion at beulah). I was probably in my mid teens. It was cool.
I was baptized when Iw as 16 years old at then was called Wayne Wesleyan Church, which is now called New Beginnings. I was baptized with my mother. I went first then she went right after me. I was only baptized once.
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I was baptized in 9th grade...well...the summer afterwards. I did it because I felt like I was supposed to (I was raised Baptist...you have to be baptized to get into heaven...blah blah...). But I didn't realize until after my 1st semester at Bethany that I was only a head knowledge Chrsitian and not a heart knowledge Christian. I changed that by my second semester there, but have yet to be baptized in the Truth. I have always wanted to, but my family poo poos the idea of a difference between head and heart knowledge and hence the idea of a second (and legitimate, I feel) baptizm...well, it's just not looked upon as being..."justified"(?)...still waiting for the right situation to present itself...
I don't know what kind of Baptist Jadon and Amberly's mommy was, but I feel (as Baptist) I need to defend a little. My church DOES NOT believe that you must be baptised to go to heaven. Salvation is only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
I was baptised three times, actually, because when I was younger I was a bit confused about the whole thing. However, I was saved when I was 12, and baptised (the final time) a few weeks after that (immersed). (And because I wanted to.)
My baptism story really reflects my life and priorities at the time.
I was "sealed" in a Baptist church (the joke is that now I'm eternally secure no matter what denomination I hop to) during my first year of Bethany. I played the drums for a worship set, then went back to the tank, got dunked with the usual such-and-such, and then high-tailed it into dry clothes so that I could make it onto the platform to sing a special music, hair still dripping.
I wish now I had not been doing platform ministry that day, and could have had more time for reflection. But like I said, that was my life at the time.
Regan, not knocking the baptist church...just the one I came from, and the lies my parents tried to make me believe by using that church to "back them up". It's a pretty fairly common belief in the baptist churches in that southern california belt. That's where I was from. Obviously, I am not baptist anymore, and have gone the non-denominational route due t all the legalisms found within my upbringing as a "baptist". Not saying all baptist churches are that way. But my hometown area was.
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