immersion or sprinkling

As a baby, I was baptised in the Congregational church, by sprinkling. As an adult, I joined the Baptist church and was immersed. They told me it was because as an infant, it wasn't by choice. They said it was more of a "Christening", and as an adult who CHOSE to accept the Lord, I should be Baptised. They did it by immersion.

I think the CHOICE is the important part. Some people are not baptised until they are on their deathbeds and CAN'T be immersed. But I think their baptisms are just as valid.

No "proof", just my feelings.

Of course one has to be put under.

Anything else is a compromise.

The same sin everyone accuses Bro. Bill.

No you need to be all the way under veplee.

I see no argument here.

All I can say about this issue is that Jesus was the perfect exampler.Jesus , being sin free was totally immersed,thus setting the example. Total emersion is also representative of Jesus death and resurrection. In our church we follow Jesus example.

Dwight

quote:

Originally posted by buffalo:
Of course one has to be put under.

Anything else is a compromise.

The same sin everyone accuses Bro. Bill.

No you need to be all the way under veplee.

TI see no argument here.

quote:

Originally posted by buffalo:
Of course one has to be put under.

Anything else is a compromise.

The same sin everyone accuses Bro. Bill.

No you need to be all the way under veplee.

I see no argument here.

Buff???

Why? There is no argument for or against it. Doesn't matter. No compromise here.
OK, You're bored, now give it up. Don't tell me "no compromise" is in the bible.

quote:

Originally posted by C.O.B.R.A.:
All I can say about this issue is that Jesus was the perfect exampler.Jesus , being sin free was totally immersed,thus setting the example. Total emersion is also representative of Jesus death and resurrection. In our church we follow Jesus example.

Dwight

quote:

Originally posted by buffalo:
Of course one has to be put under.

Anything else is a compromise.

The same sin everyone accuses Bro. Bill.

No you need to be all the way under veplee.

TI see no argument here.

cob,


They were in a river, OK!

quote:

Originally posted by Gifted Child:

quote:

Originally posted by buffalo:
Of course one has to be put under.

Anything else is a compromise.

The same sin everyone accuses Bro. Bill.

No you need to be all the way under veplee.

I see no argument here.

Buff???

Why? There is no argument for or against it. Doesn't matter. No compromise here.
OK, You're bored, now give it up. Don't tell me "no compromise" is in the bible.

GC,


I agree. It's silly.

As Gifted said, they were in a river. A very shallow one I might add. I don't think John the Baptist had A Moen facet nearby to do a sprinkle.

It is a symbol of rebirth into the holy spirit. I don't see what difference it makes.

Now Bill the Baptist will tell us baptism is not necessary.

I still find that funny.

A few years ago I went to a party in Beverly Hills. A New Year's Eve party. It was lots of fun.

In typical LA fashion, it was multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-everything. A couple of ladies from Alabama were there, sisters, I think.

So, I did five minutes of stand-up for the crowd. I explained that in the South, great strides had been made with regard to race relations, and that we Southerners regarded each other by accomplishments, the character of our hearts, and attitudes much more so than race. I told them we had made much improvement, if more was not unthinkable.

But, I told them, there was one schism that could not be bridged. No compromise was possible, no quarter was, or could be, given.

That is the issue of sprinkling vs. dunking.

Well, the Alabama ladies busted up laughing, and the rest of the crowd could only laugh at us, since the entire issue was pretty much non-existent to them.

Our gracious hosts were Jewish, I'm an atheist, the Alabama ladies went to the FAME church, and the rest of the people there simply thought we were weird for even giving it this much thought.

It's just different out here, and as goes religion, better. Religion is a personal matter in California.

If anyone asked a near-stranger "have you found a church home yet"? a Californian would slowly back off, and pretend the cell phone was vibrating in his/her pocket.

Sorry, I have to take this call. See you later.

Not.


nsns

Fives minutes of standup? Did you get paid?

LOL

Where I live, it's dunk em until they nearly drown. Sooooo unnecessary!

Hi all,

Just to clear the air -- baptism in the Bible is by immersion and the word "baptize" in Greek is "baptizo" which according to Strong's Concordance means: (1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge, (2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe. and (3) to overwhelm.

However, since we are NOT saved by baptism -- it really should not be a divisive issue. The main thing is that, once a person has been saved, has become a Christian believer -- that person should be baptized. Just as a wedding rings tells the world that you are married to your spouse -- public baptism tells the world that you, a Christian believer, are a member of the family of God, and, an integral part of the body of believers, the church, which will one day be wed to the Lamb, Jesus Christ.

So, wear your wedding ring proudly, whether it be a ten carat diamond or a simple wedding band. And, wear your baptism proudly, whether it be from sprinkling or from immersion. It's the thought that counts!

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

NSNS, so true, so true....
It just struck me as such a weird thing to be hung up on- I have never had someone ask me "HOW" I was baptised- just kinda made me shake my head and say "Whaaaaaaaat??????????"

FWIW I am not "from" Alabama, but from a very cold place north of the Mason-Dixon land, where, if someone had asked me that question, I would have spit out my beer and wondering what kind of "trip" they were on....

It's just such a non-issue, I was galled by the question, is all..

In regards to what denomination the woman was a member of I would venture to guess that based upon her opinion on baptism and the area we live she was most likely Church of Christ but could have easily been Baptist or even Church of God.

Here is a link about Baptism that explains it pretty well but depending on who sponsors the website and their feelings you will get different views from different websites and most also will provide their own justification for their beliefs.

Click for Link about Baptism

I've attended Churches that Baptize by Immersion, pouring, and sprinkling.

You will get many answers on the topic and most will also provide Biblical references to reinforce their positions and opinions. In addition to the method you will also run into various people that have differing opinions as to the necessity of Baptism to salvation.

---------

A Methodist pastor and Baptist pastor were having a very intense discussion about the matter and the Methodist pastor inquired of the Baptist Pastor if a person was led into the water up to the knees if that was sufficient? The Baptist minister, of course, answered as expected .. NO!

The Methodist pastor inquired then what about if I led the person to the water to where it was over their shoulders? NO! said the Baptist pastor that's not sufficient either.

What about if I led my parishioner all the way into the water, above his eyebrows all the way into the water up to but not covering the very tip top of the man's head only leaving a thimbles worth of dry skin on top of his head would that be sufficient for baptism? The Baptist Pastor said NO! I'll say again that's not sufficient either to which the Methodist pastor said ..... See I told you it was that spot on top of the head all along and that's where we sprinkle.

quote:

..... See I told you it was that spot on top of the head all alone and that's where we sprinkle.

HAHAHA!

hahaha!

gb, that's funny! Well done, sir, well done.

quote:

Originally posted by vplee123:
NSNS, so true, so true.... It just struck me as such a weird thing to be hung up on. I have never had someone ask me "HOW" I was baptized - just kinda made me shake my head and say, "Whaaaaaaaat??????????"

FWIW, I am not "from" Alabama, but from a very cold place north of the Mason-Dixon land, where, if someone had asked me that question, I would have spit out my beer and wondering what kind of "trip" they were on.... It's just such a non-issue, I was galled by the question, is all..

Hi VP,

Actually, I HAVE had a very similar question asked of me. In the mid-1960s, I was dating a Roman Catholic girl and we were considering marriage. So, we went to Our Lady Of The Valley Roman Catholic Church in Canoga Park, California, to talk with a priest and to take catechism classes together in preparation for marriage.

I told the priest that the Air Force Chaplain had baptized me by sprinkling while still in the Air Force some years earlier -- and I asked the priest if I would need to be baptized again. His exact words to me were, "Well, it depends upon which way the water rolled when you were sprinkled." Honest, those were his exact words -- and the reason it has stayed so vivid in my memory.

But, VP, I do agree with you that it is the act of baptism -- not the method -- which is important.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Gray:

quote:

Originally posted by vplee123:
NSNS, so true, so true.... It just struck me as such a weird thing to be hung up on. I have never had someone ask me "HOW" I was baptized - just kinda made me shake my head and say, "Whaaaaaaaat??????????"

FWIW, I am not "from" Alabama, but from a very cold place north of the Mason-Dixon land, where, if someone had asked me that question, I would have spit out my beer and wondering what kind of "trip" they were on.... It's just such a non-issue, I was galled by the question, is all..

Hi VP,

Actually, I HAVE had a very similar question asked of me. In the mid-1960s, I was dating a Roman Catholic girl and we were considering marriage. So, we went to Our Lady Of The Valley Roman Catholic Church in Canoga Park, California, to talk with a priest and to take catechism classes together in preparation for marriage.

I told the priest that the Air Force Chaplain had baptized me by sprinkling while still in the Air Force some years earlier -- and I asked the priest if I would need to be baptized again. His exact words to me were, "Well, it depends upon which way the water rolled when you were sprinkled." Honest, those were his exact words -- and the reason it has stayed so vivid in my memory.

But, VP, I do agree with you that it is the act of baptism -- not the method -- which is important.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Bro. Bill,

I think it’s such a silly procedure anyhow.

Surely there is a scripture somewhere when viewed at a certain slant that could make it totally un=necessary or even a sin..

Come on. I have faith you could do it.

quote:

Originally posted by buffalo:

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Gray:

quote:

Originally posted by vplee123:
NSNS, so true, so true.... It just struck me as such a weird thing to be hung up on. I have never had someone ask me "HOW" I was baptized - just kinda made me shake my head and say, "Whaaaaaaaat??????????"

FWIW, I am not "from" Alabama, but from a very cold place north of the Mason-Dixon land, where, if someone had asked me that question, I would have spit out my beer and wondering what kind of "trip" they were on.... It's just such a non-issue, I was galled by the question, is all..

Hi VP,

Actually, I HAVE had a very similar question asked of me. In the mid-1960s, I was dating a Roman Catholic girl and we were considering marriage. So, we went to Our Lady Of The Valley Roman Catholic Church in Canoga Park, California, to talk with a priest and to take catechism classes together in preparation for marriage.

I told the priest that the Air Force Chaplain had baptized me by sprinkling while still in the Air Force some years earlier -- and I asked the priest if I would need to be baptized again. His exact words to me were, "Well, it depends upon which way the water rolled when you were sprinkled." Honest, those were his exact words -- and the reason it has stayed so vivid in my memory.

But, VP, I do agree with you that it is the act of baptism -- not the method -- which is important.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Bro. Bill,

I think it’s such a silly procedure anyhow.

Surely there is a scripture somewhere when viewed at a certain slant that could make it totally un=necessary or even a sin..

Come on. I have faith you could do it.

BUFFALO, I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU GUYS AT COC!

Veep,

Although Latin-rite Catholics are usually baptized by infusion (pouring), they know that immersion (dunking) and sprinkling are also valid ways to baptize.

(In regards to Bill's post, I suspect the priest may have said, "It depends on which way the water rolls" because it is preferable to have the water on the head, roll over the crown
of the head, and some times sprinkling hits the face and rolls down the front of the face)

quote:

His exact words to me were, "Well, it depends upon which way the water rolled when you were sprinkled." Honest, those were his exact words -- and the reason it has stayed so vivid in my memory.

Seems like a tongue-in-cheek comment, or some failed attempt at humor. The Catholic stance on the issue is that we acknowledge one baptism, and nobody would need to be re-baptised, as long as they had been baptised in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

quote:

Originally posted by vplee123:

quote:

His exact words to me were, "Well, it depends upon which way the water rolled when you were sprinkled." Honest, those were his exact words -- and the reason it has stayed so vivid in my memory.

Seems like a tongue-in-cheek comment, or some failed attempt at humor. The Catholic stance on the issue is that we acknowledge one baptism, and nobody would need to be re-baptised, as long as they had been baptised in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Hi VP,

No, it was neither a tongue-in-cheek comment nor was it an attempt at humor. He was a young Irish priest -- and he was very serious.

I use to love that church because all the priests were from Ireland -- and I loved to hear them talk. That is the same church I went to during lunch the day John Kennedy was shot. I went there to pray for him; then to Frosty Freeze down the street for lunch -- and, on the way back to work the radio announcer told us that Kennedy had died.

But, just as we often run into Protestant pastors who are slightly skewed -- I ran into a few Roman Catholic priests with the same affliction.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

quote:

Originally posted by buffalo:
I think it’s such a silly procedure anyhow.

Surely there is a scripture somewhere when viewed at a certain slant that could make it totally un=necessary or even a sin..

Come on. I have faith you could do it.

I don't think you will ever find a scripture in the Bible viewing it as unnecessary or a sin.

3 things I know for sure in this world; there is a God, the Bible is true and the Bible is God’s word. I know some of you don't believe that and that's ok. But if you believe in God, the Bible and Jesus, this is for you.

From all the beliefs in this world that believes in some form of baptism, I believe there is only one (Ephesians 4:4-5 – One Lord, one faith, one baptism). I read the scriptures and believe what it says as I see it. It's black and white; not making it say what I want it to say.

Immersion or sprinkling? You decide:

Romans 6:3-5 – buried therefore with Him by baptism
Romans 6:4 – We are buried with Him by baptism
Colossians 2:12 – buried with Him in baptism
Galatians 3:26-27 – many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ

Is it necessary? You decide:

Luke 3:3 – He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remissions of sins
Mark 16-16 – He that believes and is baptized shall be saved
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Mark 1:4-5 – John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins
Acts 2:38 – Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins
Acts 22:16 – Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins
John 3:1-5 – JESUS ANSWERED, “I tell you the truth, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God
Romans 6:3-4 – Don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefor with Him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life

Philippians 2:12-13 - "...work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure"

OK. It becomes clearer now. TheBill likes young, Irish catholic priests. He'll fit right in.

quote:

Originally posted by vplee123:
Does it matter? Does it really matter? I was told today that Baptism by sprinkling, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is not valid, and only IMMERSION counts.
Curious to know what denomination this lady was, and if anyone has heard this....

I've always been taught that the water part of Baptism is an outward sign of an inward cleansing, and so in that context sprinkling is fine. I don't think it matters if you are sprinkled or immersed. It is what is in your heart that matters. JMHO