Okay... talked to Pastor Number 3 (or 4 or something...) this afternoon. He's going to schedule time to talk to me and get the ball rolling!



Sorry for the emoticons... It's a small gesture to show you all how grateful I am for you...

And a small gesture of how excited I am right now!!!!

YAY!

Looking at it from a different angle, baptisms here on Earth are only token baptisms which cannot purify the soul, as many of us have already experienced. The real baptism occurs in the next life when those who are chosen wash up in the River of Life flowing from the Throne of God. In this water are biological mechanisms that can prevent disease and repair genetic decay.

Likewise, the "New Birth" does not occur in this life, although we can redirect our focus and behaviors to obey God while living here. The real "Born Again" experience occurs when our memories/personalities are downloaded into new, cloned bodies at the First Resurrection. Those who are chosen for this experience have proved, by their life on Earth, that they will be obedient servants and not be selfish or rebel against authority.

Technically, as resurrectees, we will be the intellectual equivalent to babies because there will be so much unfamilar information and advanced technology to absorb. After death, we sleep until suddenly awakened into a dazzling experience of sound and light and astonishment.

Jesus submitted to baptism, not because he expected to be reborn or purified, but to point us to the real baptism and the real rebirth

I'm having trouble getting baptized. It was scheduled for very soon, but I just learned they're putting it off. One of the others getting baptized the same day complained that I "hadn't studied enough." He's going on and on about how much Pastor made him study. I was baptized Adventist 20 years ago (been around the block A LOT since and wish to be re-baptized since I actually believe now). I was raised around Adventists. I married an Adventist. I've been reading the Review, etc. for many, many years. This gentleman doesn't know me. We just moved here. He seems to think I just came to a couple of prophecy seminar meetings and that's it. Now I've got to wait 'til after the first of the year to have it done, because of this guy complaining.

I've been a Sabbath-keeper for twenty years. Been trying to apply the health principles for most of my life. Very familiar with the 28 Fundamental Beliefs for a long, long time. This guy just got involved with the church over the summer. I'm glad he's getting baptized. The sooner the better, right?

Yes, it does get legalistic. Yes, I have ministers in other denominations wanting to do it ASAP.

Also, I said if we're going to put this off, I'd rather wait 'til spring and do it in a proper creek, like in my hometown. That didn't go over very well. I was told that is a modesty issue. Question: How is getting it done in a baptistery more modest than in a creek?

Sign me,
Ignorant Redneck Gal

That is worth a good laugh. Thanks for sharing this with us. And can you tell me WHY it is that you want to be baptized by this legalistic church?

Go find a good Christian friend that supports you and have him or her baptize you. DO it the way you want. Invite all those who support you and leave out the legalist elder etc.

If you really have to belong to this legalist church ... come home and be accepted on profession of faith.

I am really confused as to why you put yourself through all this. Just make up your mind and be happy with it. Why you continue to let yourself be abused by these people ... I just can't figure. Don't give them the satisfaction of judging you.

Get on with your life. Go and minister as we have been called to do. Don't let this issue draw you down. You are OF Christ. He loves you and accepts you now as you are. Don'tlet others tell you differently. You don't need any more studies.

I don't see anything in there that says Adventist baptism is the one and only that God approves of. If we are to follow Jesus' practices to the letter, then we'd all best be hopping on the first plane to the Jordan River.

Charis ... there is no such thing as an "Adventist" baptism. Baptism is into the Body of Christ. Membership into the Body of Christ and the Membership into the church are both different events. You join the church by a vote. You join the Body by Baptism. All Biblical Baptisms are the same. You go down into the water and come back up ... hopefully.

Having an "Adventist" baptize you does not make it and "Adventist" baptism. It may be blessed by an Adventist. But it is still joining the body and not the church. Baptism does not make you an "Adventist" no matter WHO does it. Again ... membership into the church is ONLY a popularity event ... a judgment that you are considered an SDA by the evidence of your belief and works.

That's not what I've been told.

Why do people of other faiths who have been baptized wish to be RE-baptized even though they have done nothing to dishonor the baptism they first had in another denomination?

Hi Charis . I don't doubt what you have been told. There are many misconceptions about Baptism. Baptism is a NonDenomination event.

One of the evidences of this is that the SDA church does not recognize you as an SDA until they take a vote. The baptism is not enough and does not make you an SDA. Only the vote does this.

Baptism like I said is into the Body Of Christ. NOT the SDA church or ANY church except the Non Denominational Body of Believers IN CHRIST. Another evidence of this is that if you were baptized at a Baptist Church ... you are accepted into the SDA church by a vote. You do not have to be Re-Baptized.

Re-Baptism is not scriptural. It is another example of tradition. It is like saying that the blood of Jesus is not powerful enough to wash away certain sins that you may have committed after your first baptism. At least this is what I have discovered. If you feel you have committed great sins or gained new committment ... then the foot washing is the "mini - Baptism" that takes the place of any need for the tradition of Re-Baptism.

If we were to follow the logic of Re-Baptism ... we would have to be Re-Baptized every time we gain new understandings. It just does not make sense. It is not designed to demonstrate your continued or renewed committment to God. It is a one time death. We do not have to keep having Death every time we sin or have a new conviction. The one Death of Christ is sufficient.

So, why do people get re baptized when they change denominations? I can find NO good reason. It just denies the Death and the power of God in my view.

so then what does a person do who spits in the face of Jesus, turns around and deliberately walks away from Him and into the arms of Satan?

Baptism is not for God. It is for people. It is a verbal and nonverbal statement of one's hopes and desires.

Or maybe I'm wrong. I seem to belong in the path of wrongsters.

Pam ... I think we have all done that at one time or another. OR if you don't think we have ... He still welcomes you back without any special works on your behalf. That is what is so beautiful about the symbolism. He loves you and accepts you without doing anything more. It shows the long standing permanance of his love, forgiveness and his blood.

Of course the "mini-baptism" of footwashing is there to cover this. But what is beautiful is that He loves you when you were away and He loves you now ... just the same. His blood covered you then and covers you now.

Praise God for this symbolism.

Of course there is nothing preventing you from Re-Baptism. Many do this. Nothing evil with it. But it is not necessary.

If you don't see anything "wrong" with it then I would encourage you to do it. We all see things differently. I can only express things from my personal viewpoint. Don't let MY view cloud YOUR view. You are responsible for reacting to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your personal life ... you are not to react to MY leading unless through your study and prayer HE leads you in that direction.

So ... Go for it if the Spirit leads.