Christ First Forum

Hello Everyone~
It's been a long time since I've been back, please forgive me. I've really missed you guys~ but i wasn't able to go to forums as much as I would like because 2009 had been a very busy and trying year.. :|

I'm not sure if this is the right section, but I need to discuss about baptism.
I've been a Christ follower since Jan 08 (not that faithful at times, O.O) but yes.

At first,when I was younger in the faith, I was just dying to get baptised, but now I'm a little hesitant.

1) My father explicitly stated that I am not to be baptized till after I get married (because he is under the assumption that I'd have to follow my husband's faith). However, I'm quite optimistic about getting around this as my father didn't used to allow me to go to church. (long story, I can expand on this if anyone asks)
But now I'm allowed to go to church every three out of four Sundays of the month. =D

2) This is the point that I'm more concerned about.. I find (through a brief discussion with one of the adults in my current church) that I'm not very willing to get baptized. I feel that I don't know enough about the faith to be baptized, and though I know that it's highly unlikely for me to ever find out EVERYTHING I need to know, I want to know a little more than just the basics.

Also, I think that getting baptized is akin to getting married, except it’s one bar higher.As opposed to marriage (non-traditional, aka modern), there’s no backing out of this. You get baptized, you’re recognized as a Christian no matter where you go, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t associate yourself as one. People still judge you, and the faith based on your actions and speech. You get a cert when you’re baptized, you don’t get one when you decide that ”oh oops. this isn’t working out for *insert own reason*” Thus, until I’m absolutely sure of the faith, and that my personal faith is built on nothing but the truth, and personal experience, I’m not going to get baptized.

(I'm reposting cuz my post automatically disappeared:P)

Hi Sister!

First, let me say it is good to see you again!

Baptism is simply an outward and public admission that you are now a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and a follower of God in Christ Jesus. It does not save you. It is not required for salvation, but is an ordinance of the Christian church and faith. Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

As far as following your husbands faith? We should never deny our faith in Christ to follow anyone, husband or not.

One should not marry a non believer anyway. The bible says that we are not to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever.

Amandaz, It seems like you are beginning to question whether you should be a Christian. Is that a correct assessment? Just wondering by your line of questioning.

No Frank, I'm pretty much sure I'm a christian. Just I don't know at what level..
I'm truthfully not very much into baptism, but the people in church tell me that we should because Christ came to set an example and even He was baptized..

Ritsuka wrote:No Frank, I'm pretty much sure I'm a christian. Just I don't know at what level..
I'm truthfully not very much into baptism, but the people in church tell me that we should because Christ came to set an example and even He was baptized..

That is good to hear! I would not allow the people in the church to pressure you to be baptised. Just tell them that you will when the Holy Spirit promts you to.

May I ask what denomination church that you are attending right now. Baptist have a tendency to push one into baptism. So do some of the churches that believe baptism is essential for salvation. I would be Leary of one that is pushy in that area! JMHO!

Lutheran~
But all the churches I've been to are pushy, esp the mormons.. :/

Ritsuka wrote:Lutheran~
But all the churches I've been to are pushy, esp the mormons.. :/

Stay away from the Mormons! They believe in universal salvation and Jesus is the brother of Satan. Meaning everyone will eventually go to heaven.

Nope, I just mentioned the mormons in passing cause I dealt with them in the past.. but they're very fervent in that area..

Did you know you can ask the Lord to increase your faith?
He is so faithful...I've found there have been times in my life when my faith needed building up, and it is such a blessing to know our Lord is just waiting to be asked. I wouldn't worry about getting baptized. As Frank said, the Holy Spirit will let you know when the time is right. God bless you as you wait on Him.

Hello Ritsuka,
You have received very good advice from Frank and Jeani about the biblical explination concerning receiving baptism.
My only thought as I read through your writings is that you seem very concerned about the 'second' step over the 'first' step. The first step is falling in love with Jesus. When you reach a point in your life that you know you can not get through this life without God. When your whole body, mind, and spirit cry out to Him with a hunger and desire to have Him in your life as your Lord and Savior. As your closest friend. As the Father who knows everything about you..the good and the bad...but he love you anyway.
When you find yourself falling upon your knees and begging him to come into your life and your heart in a whole new way...the born above/again John 3.
When you hunger to know our amazing and holy God, who knows the names of all the stars and calls them out at night, who knows every grain of sand, who created you and knew you before he placed you in your mothers womb. The One Who is the potter and we are his clay. He has plans for your life that you will not believe or ever imagine on your own.
The Man of Sorrows, as Isaish called him. He left heaven a king to come and be born a servant-slave, to live and to hang on a cross and die. He did it to save those he had created from their sin nature so he could give them the free gift of eternity in heaven with him. And we loved him not. But he came and he extends his righteous right hand to grasp our right hand to lift us out of the webs we get ourselves into. He lifts us to higher ground and sits us on the right path as new believers to follow in his steps, to become more Christ like everyday. To spend time with him in his holy Word and in quiet prayer time and in writing him letters from your heart...at the close, ask him how much he loves you. You will be amazed to hear his descriptive answer!
He waits patiently, he is a gentleman and will never force himself on you. It is your free will to choose him and give your free will back to him. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, He is the great I AM.
Fear and confusion are from the evil one. God never wanted us to know either one. He is always steady and never changes. Psalm 103 is a good description of God's character. You will know when the time is right and you have given yourself to him and he has given himself unto you. Then the second step comes.
Gods blessingss and favor be with you, I pray, Pat

Frank's discussion is right on, Ritsuka.

Remember the thief on the cross was not baptized, but Jesus promised him he would be in paradise.

We get baptized because our Lord did--and because it's an act of submission to Him. There are many stories in the Bible, where people were saved and immediately rushed out to be baptized--because, I think, they were on fire to please the Lord. Even Paul rushed out to immediately get baptized.

But it's not a condition of salvation--and I praise God for that. Because think of the people who were just about to lose their lives on a battlefield or a crashing plane or car wreck, hospital bed--those who may have cried out for Jesus and they were immediately saved--maybe at the very second they lost their lives. Those people, in such circumstances, could not have possibly been baptized given their circumstances--and the thief on the Cross demonstrates this gift of grace.

Wow--our God is incredibly loving and compassionate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!