Ask The Pastor

February 22, 2002

[Name withheld],

Good questions.

> Bro Buddy, I was wondering where you stand on the issue of baptism.
> You helped me with the Holy Ghost/Tongues thing and
> now the baptism thing is what I'm thinking about, especially since my 2
> daughters, ages 8 and 6 are starting to ask me questions. Before last
> fall I thought I knew what I believed, but since then I'm not really
> sure what I think!

The area you are questioning is not without its difficulties. But there are answers. I'll provide what I can. (Since I plan to provide a study on this, on Hebraic-Foundations, I'll keep things rather short.)

> This is where I am so far: I think a person should be baptized
> (fully immersed) in water in Jesus name for the remission of their
> sins, like Peter says in Acts 2. I think that what is said over the
> person doesn't really matter (that one was a little hard to let go
> of!) but the person being baptized should be relying on the name of
> Jesus for the remission of their sins.

Yes, a person should be immersed, and the early Christians did practice baptism in the name of Jesus. You are correct in that the the person being baptized is to rely on the name of Jesus for the remission of their sins. It is the confession of the Lordship of Jesus Christ that sets the stage for salvation.

> I basically want to know how you handle baptism.

I always baptize in the name of Jesus, and by full immersion. The reason I use the name of Jesus in the act of baptism is because this is the name we are given to use. The early Jewish Christians understood this much better than does the modern church. (I'll explain more in the study.)

On a personal note, we accept believers into our ministry who truly confess Jesus Christ as their Lord, regardless of what their mode of baptism was. However, it is common for people who were baptized as children in a church group that perhaps sprinkled or simply poured water on the head, to desire a rebaptism.

> Since this past fall I kind of consider you my pastor, sort of
> anyway. I've never been very comfortable approaching a pastor for
> anything. I've always been afraid of them. But you've helped me so
> much I feel comfortable asking you things. I hope you don't mind,
> and I'll try not to make too much of a nuisance of myself.

I am happy to help. And I am deeply honored that you would look to me as a 'substitute' pastor of sorts. Don't worry about becoming a nuisance.

> I come from a UPC background - sorta heredity on my Dad's side of the
> family. You could probably tell, though, by my description of baptism!
> One other thing, since I'm here: I still go to a UPC church, and
> tonight my 8 year old daughter "got the Holy Ghost" in children's
> church. I really didn't expect anything like that to happen, and its
> kind of taken me off guard. My husband and I talked to her afterward
> about Jesus living in her heart, and how a person doesn't have to work
> for it, He just comes in when He's invited. We also told her that
> "speaking in tongues" isn't necessary to have Jesus live in her heart.
> I'm afraid this experience tonight, though, will color her views about
> it. She's very young and impressionable.
>
> Anything you can tell me will be helpful. Thanks in advance!

[Friend], your daughter "getting" the Holy Ghost is simply part of the environment of where you attend church. You and your husband will need to continue doing what you are now doing. It will be up to you to help her keep a true balance in the things of the Lord. But you still need to realize that as long as you are under UPC teaching, it isn't going to be an easy road to walk. (Let the Lord guide you.)

Be blessed in the Lord,

Buddy
Bro. Buddy Martin - Ask the Pastor

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Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org

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